Advice on thread breaking
 

I have a Tin Lizzie LA. Every time I try and use it my thread breaks every 12 to 18 inches that I sew. It is driving me crazy. I have did everything the book says. It looks like the needle or something is shredding the thread at the needle. I have tried all kinds of thread, new needles, new bobbins, rethreading, I really would like to take a hammer to it. If I was rich I swear I would. lol Anyone ever had this problem?

What type of thread are you using, and what size needle? Often this is a problem involving a mismatch of needle size and thread type.

I also highly recommend watching this video by Jamie Wallen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1mRhcquZTM
Adjusting the bobbin tension to as loose as possible, then adjusting the top tension until you get a balanced stitch, helped me a lot when I had shredding/breakage issues. The other thing that helped me enormously was switching to Glide thread. It *never* shreds or breaks on me!

Prism99, Thank you. I am using the #18 needles that came with the machine. I have used about 6 different threads including King tut which I love on my other machines. Most have been polyester. Gutterman, So fine, King tut, Coats and Clark. I have some Americana Quilting thread that is 100 % glaced cotten but it does not say for hand quilting. Maybe I will give it a try. Thanks again going to watch the youtube.

I agree with Prism99 about the Glide thread. I use the Glide Delight prewound bobbins and Glide thread. Not one issue with breakage or shredding. I use a high speed Brother PS, size 80/12 titanium coated Topsitch needle. This chart may help you with needle sizes. It lists Tin Lizzy and many other LA brands: http://www.superiorthreads.com/media...edle-guide.pdf

Also be sure your needle is in all the way and eye of needle is straight. I agree with Prism on watching the Jamie Wallen video. Its great and it helps immensley.

Thanks everyone. I do have the right needles and I am going to try the glide thread. What would we do without this board?

Here's where I purchase Glide thread: http://www.bobbincentral.com/embroid...ead/glide.html
The minimum order if $35 but, if you want to try it out first just email or call the company and they will sell you a single cone to make sure it works in your machine.

Also, get out your manual and make sure you are threading correctly. I also have a TL, and I skip one of the holes in the first guide after the spool. I guess I am lucky in that my machine will sew with anything, metallic, cotton, poly, 40 wt, 60wt. etc.
The quilting board is great, however, there is a board dedicated to TL on yahoo that you should also check out.

You might also check your bobbin case to make sure it doesn't have a nick that's snagging the thread. Ask me how I know.

The americana is a hand quilting thread, do not use it in your machine

I had this problem yesterday during a quilting class. New thread in machine and it kept shredding. Had worked perfect the previous day. Changed needles and worked like a charm.

I had had shredding problems since around Thanksgiving. I met the owner of the company that makes my machine and he offered to come to my house to fix it! Do you think that machine would shred ONE THREAD? NOPE, Nada, NOTHING! (I was mortified! lol!) He DID however find a big glob of oily lint lurking in the bobbin raceway. Took him about 15 mins to find it. When I had had time to recuperate from the 4 days at the quilt show, I replaced the needle (had the wrong kind in there..mortified AGAIN! See a pattern here? lol) I tweeked the eye of the needle and VOILA! No shredding! Guess what I will be trying next time I have shredding problems? Hope you find your culprit...its a mystery you have to solve!

If you have checked the thread and needles then I would look at maybe for burr along every point that you lace it thru. I had a teeny, tiny one in the hammer hole; my hubby is a machinist by trade and is the one that caught it after hours of frustration on my part. The needles still might be the issue if they were stamped at same time might all have same issue, maybe try a different package of needles. I hope you get it remedied soon.

Your tension might be too tight.

I had this trouble with my Juki when I first got it. I tried EVERYTHING! It was soooo frustrating. The thing that finally made a difference for me was Sewer's Aide. I run a little line of it along the outside of the spool of thread before I put it on the machine. I think it keeps the friction down when the machine gets going really fast. I also use bobbin genies with prewound bobbins. It doesn't seem to matter what kind of thread I use when I use this "system." I hope you find a good "fix."

I have an Innova and am having a problem with thread shredding. I have a size 18 needle, and am using Glide thread. I have changed needles, re-threaded, checked needle eye position. Quite frustrating.

I had a tiny burr on my bobbin plate that was shredding my thread. I used an emery board to smooth it out.

It is immensely frustrating, and I had the same problem. Since I started setting my bobbin as Jamie Wallen shows in the video, I have not had any problems. And it works with all kinds of thread. I use Signature and King Tut, both behave with the bobbin tension loose and balanced with the top thread. I also skip a thread guide.

I had a problem with thread breaking and finally found out that I had a small burr on the foot itself. The thread kept rubbing against the burr until it snapped. I used my finger nail file to file down the burr and solve my problem.

There are two Innova groups on groups.yahoo.com that may be helpful. I have seen it mentioned there that one of the thread guides can develop a burr and may need to be smoothed out or even replaced. Also, that the check spring can need replacement. Several people keep extra check springs and thread guides on hand. If you can find an old nylon hose, you can try running a section of it through the thread guides to see if it catches on anything. Also check the bobbin case, bobbin case assembly, and needle hole for burrs (try running a finger over the areas).

Just last night, I was having this very issue of my top thread shredding then breaking. I pulled out the bobbin case and ran my finger over every area of the hook assembly. I felt some rough spots and filed them down with an emery board type fingernail file. Problem solved. I have an Innova.

Ive got the Queen Quilter 18 which is the step-sister of the Tin Lizzie. My thread was also breaking constantly. As a last resort, prior to tossing the machine into the pool, I took a piece of dental floss and threaded my needle. I pulled up both ends of the floss nice and high while I screwed tight the needle in place. Shazam! All is well now. I go see the dentist tomorrow, but I don't think I'm gonna tell him how I actually use my dental floss.

Everyone has such good ideas for things to check. It's frustrating, though. We just want to be able to sew!! I have never heard of Glide thread. I now have it bookmarked - gonna have to check it out!

Glide is fabulous thread for quilting. Here's the website for it:
http://www.bobbincentral.com/quiltin...ead/glide.html

Their minimum order is $35 but, if you want to try out a spool first to make sure you like it, just email or call them.

I've not tried this brand yet. Thanks for the link. When I looked at their website I noticed that it has a note saying that it is "top" thread. What thread do most of you use in your bobbin?

I use Glide in the bobbin as well.

Theoretically, it's probably best to use a cotton thread with a polyester thread because the cotton provides a bit of "grip". At least, that's what I've read in terms of getting a consistent balanced stitch.

Edit: I went to the website, as I hadn't noticed that Glide was a top thread. I think they mean it's their top-selling thread.......

Another +1 for Glide. It is pretty and goes through my machine like butter.

Fair warning, Glide is polyester. But the idea that you have to sew cotton with cotton is a Superior-Bob debunked "wives tale".

The one issue: My bobbin winder HATES Glide. The thread slips out of the tension disk if I stop winding even for a second and sometimes even when I don't stop. My solution for the last quilt was to thread the bobbin winder very carefully and to just NOT stop winding, even to cut the thread "tail". In the future, I'll probably use Polycore or cotton in the bobbin.

Fil-tec also sells prewound bobbins, containing either their Polycore or Glide.

Pivkopem's spam post reported. Do NOT click the link in the post.

Try putting the thread on a thread holder away from the machine.

Top tension may be too tight. When quilting on a frame, tension needs to be looser than with a domestic. Go down a whole turn of tension knob, and try again. Also, be sure foot ( if adjustable on your model) is low enough, and lastly , make sure quilt sandwich is not drum tight and takeup bar's not too high.

When quilting on a frame you don't want the fabric to be tight like a drumb

Note - this is an 8 year old Zombie thread that was bumped by a now-deleted spammer.

Love glide thread!! When it starts to break
I need to change my needle. Agree to not put hand quilting thread in quilting machine.

My Tin Lizzie loves Glide thread, too. Be certain your needle is in the correct position -- a bit off center works for me. Like PP, I skip one of the threading holes. Good luck! I know how frustrating this can be, but you've gotten some great information by our fabulous QB members, their personal methods and watching videos.