Peckish

Make sure you're using a topstitch needle. The eye is larger on this type of needle than on most other needles, and the scarf is longer, which means less friction on the thread.

jlm5419

Yes, it is possible to FMQ with feed dogs up. I do it all the time with my Singer 15-91 (mainly because I can't get the feed dogs down). Leah Day recommends leaving the dogs up because it helps keep the fabric from moving while the stitch is made. I recommend her videos. It may take a little time getting used to the rhythm of your machine speed versus moving the fabric around.

SueSew

Maybe you need to reduce tension also?

FYI C&C normal 'dual duty' is 50WT. The 'Fine' is 60 weight and comes on a lavender spool. It is not as perfectly smooth a thread as Superior when you look at it magnified, but it is certainly usable. The Light looks and feels a lot like the 60WT Presencia cotton in my humble OTT-magnified and lit opinion.

I have been thread shopping!!! can you tell?

Onebyone

But what ply is the 50 wt and 60 wt? 3 ply takes a different size needle then a 2 ply. At least it does when I fmq with the different plys.

barny

Have you checked the free motion foot for burrs?

SueSew

Onebyone, Good question on the ply - I assumed 3 - and very timely as I am in thread research. I will untwist it and find out, and let you know!
Thanks for the heads up

cmierley

I was having the same problem with my Brothers. I changed needle to a 14 top stitch and it still kept shredding my thread, which was king tuck. So I changed to a polyester thread and had no problems. I have sewn with the feed dogs up and no change in settings. Actually I forgot to change the settings and lower the feed dogs. It works just fine.

nana2madmax

I always leave the feed dogs up, use a darning foot and don't mess with the stitch length when I quilt on my Janome 6500. I find that by doing so it enables me to have greater control of my stitch length and pattern. There is no need too set the stitch length to 0 as you determine the stitch length by the speed whith which you move the fabric. I have not found any corolation between tension and stitch length.

#1piecemaker

I've only done FMQ on my domestic machine once and it turned out great. I just have one of those cheap Brother machines from Wally World. I'd say that it is probably the thread you are using and the size needle needs to be compatible.

Karamarie

I had the same problem with my new Janome 6600 - it just would not FMQ without the eyelashes on the back. My other Janome free motioned just fine. I finally just put in some regular Coats & Clark thread - and it works perfectly. So much for the 12.95 spool of thread I bought specifically for FMQ. I guess we have to do what our machines like.