New sewing table extension? check. Supreme Slider teflon sheet? check. Templates? check. Marking pens? check. Heavier thread? check. Lots of internet videos? check. Practice sandwiches? check. Why won't my threads look continuous instead of like hand-quilting???????? I CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT AND I'M STILL AFRAID OF FMQ! What if I ruin what I have worked so hard on so far? The only thing that looks like I want it to is top-stitching thread but I can't get the bird's nests to stop. I've messed with the tension in every possible way. I want the thread to "float" on the top but I'm getting huge gaps. What's up???? HELP!

Do you have your presser foot all the way down?
With my old Pfaff, it was hard to tell if the presser foot was all the way down when using the "Open toe" foot.

It's down, but honestly I've never thought it went down quite far enough. I can adjust it - would that help????

I have this problem too,how snug does the presser foot go down? It seems like I have too big of a gap .
Rae

Yes adjusting it down might help. You want the presser foot to sit snug against the top fabric, without it pressing down into the batting. At least that's what works on my Janome.

(And I'm assuming you've rethreaded the machine and checked that the bobbin thread runs through its little groove in the bobbin case... That's one reason I get birds nests. :roll: )

Also, fast machine, slow hands. That is the hardest thing to remember. Birds nests are generally present when the pressure foot isn't put down so the upper tension discs don't grasp the top thread and more of that thread is left on the bottom of the piece your are working on. Birds nests will also be present when you are using a regular foot and forget to put the pressure foot down.

I also thought of another potential problem. I'm not using a true "quilting" needle in the machine. Does it make that much difference? What do ya'll think?

Do you take a stitch and pull the bobbin thread to the top? This gets it out of the way. Then take a couple stitches in place then go a medium speed and move the project semi-slowly while sewing you fm pattern.

Just keep practicing.. it seems like it should be easy, but I had sharp corners in my smooth curves for a long time. The more you do, the better you get..

I taught myself by doing a stack of baby quilts that I donated to a local charity.. Not that I can do any pattern, but I'm better... so don't get discouraged!!

Remember, this is FUN!!