Breaking needles?
 

HELP!
So I'm still a bit new to the FMQ world and just now I broke 2 needles in less than a minute! What am I doing wrong? My sandwich is top and back of flannel with Warm and Natural 80/20 batting.
When I put the new needle in I was just thinking how much nicer it was with a really sharp needle and then BAM the needle shattered into 3 pieces!

What presser foot are you using? Might want to check that.

I'm using the darning/FMQ foot that came with my machine. What would be wrong with the foot?

It's really hard to identify your specific problem without observing.
My first question would be ... have you FMQ'd successfully with this machine in the past?

If so, then my next thought would be .... are you tugging on the fabric? or moving it too quickly? as you FMQ, so that you are pulling the needle and thus causing it to snap.

However, having it break in three pieces takes quite a bit. I don't think I have ever broken one in three before.


I know how frustrating this can be, so walk away from the machine for a while to let yourself cool down and relax.

Then when you are ready, go back and start fresh .... take the broken needle out, your foot off, the spool and bobbin out and then put them all back in place again, checking with your manual to make sure that you are doing it correctly, and with the proper settings, right foot and appropriate needle for the thread. It is so easy to do some little thing during this process that can offset your results.

Sometimes the problem just seems to mysteriously solve itself when we go thru these steps.

No doubt for the next while, you will be hesitant and unsure. Try to be observant, so that if it happens again, you might have a better idea as to at what step of the process it is breaking ... for clues as to how to remedy the problem.

I'm thinking that you are moving your quilt sandwich too quickly. If the needle is still in the fabric when you move it, it will deflect just a tiny bit which will be enough for it to hit the foot & break. Try moving the sandwich slower. The general rule is fast feet, slow hands. In other words, run the machine at a high speed, and move the quilt sandwich slowly.

What size needle are you using? A smaller size needle will bend more easily than a larger size needle. Try a larger size needle.

I do have glasses and boy am I glad I was wearing them. The middle of the needle popped right out! I think I was pulling on the sandwich a bit.

If your foot has a spring on it, it should work fine. I've done FMQ with feed dogs down and up. usually down though. you move the quilt slower than the foot pedal speed. the spring should prevent the needle from breaking.

I am not good at free motion so when I try it, I use a heavy needle. This helps so I am not pulling and bending it as I sew. I have some JEANS needles that I use just for this reason.

Do your feed dogs need to be lowered?

Are you using a small round-hole throat plate instead of an (zigzag) oval/oblong-hole throat plate?
Is it possible you have moved the needle just enough that it has hit the edge of the throat plate instead of the foot?

Jan in VA

Did you get all the pieces of needle out of the machine?

The first needle just bent and the sencond one cleared the machine so we're good with needle peices. My foot does have a spring, the feed dogs are down, and I have an oblong/zigzag hole in the plate. What gauge needle would you reccommend for FMQ?

As others have said, you're probably dragging your needle as you move your quilt, so that it hits the needle plate. Needle size is usually determined by thread size - 50wt thread, 80/12 needle - 40wt thread, 90/14 etc. I like a quilting needle, but sometimes use a Topstitch.

Some people have suggested using Titanium needles, but as you'll see from the picture below, they'll still hit the needle plate if you drag your quilt (time I practised what I preach, lol!). It's more a case of arranging good support for your quilt and trying not to go too fast when you change direction. Good luck :)

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WOW, that is one bent needle. In classes, I was taught to find a normal speed on your DSM and watch the rate of speed that the fabric is moving. This isn't fast petal to the metal speed. Try to get to that speed and then move the quilt at the same speed that the feed dogs moved it. Take your time, there is no rushing and breath. As you get more comfortable with practice, then at that point you can gradually increase your speed. But FMQ isn't a race.

I just broke the tip off another needle after double and triple checking everything and taking all your advice! I'm thinking that maybe bending the first needle threw something off in the mechanism. I think my little machine needs to go to the shop. :(

Are you breaking it on your first stitch?
Or are you FMQing for a while, before the break happens?

If you are getting past the first stitches .... my suggestion would be for you to switch back to regular stitching mode and check if you are able to good stitches. If so, then switch to zig-zag, and check the results. If all seems good and you feel up to it, then switch to FMQing and see what happens.

When you take it to your dealer, after they have serviced it, be sure to have something with you to sit down and practice FMQing with ... and ask them to give you a lesson, to be sure you are doing everything right.

Good Luck!

I get through about 3 inches and then I break the tip off. I just realized that I have quilted 2 other small quilts on this machine with no problems. I think maybe the first needle was a little dull from doing all the sewing on flannel and that got me in trouble. I need to get all the fuzz of 3 flannel baby quilts out of the machine. Now I just have to find somewhere to service my machine near my new home.