Can't quilt fast with a walking foot?
 

Today I was using my walking foot to machine quilt diagonal lines on a warm wishes I just made. Since they were straight lines I was moving along at a good clip. All of a sudden the needle fell out!
I put it back together, made sure it was tight and after a few minutes it did it again.
So I changed the needle and started sewing again. It fell out again. I realized it was only happening when I was going fast. I started going slower and it didn't happen again. I have a two-year-old Janome 6300. Has anyone else had this problem? Are you supposed to go slow with a walking foot?

The same thing has happened to me with my Janome 6500 (more than once). I do tend to sew fast when I am doing straight lines but I never realized that might be the reason until I read your post. Each time I reinserted the needle, tightened the walking foot, and continued sewing, but probably at a slower pace. Everything was fine.

I don't have a Janome but I've never had the needle fall out at any speed and I usually have the pedal to the medal.

I haven't had this happen, but I don't go very fast. An instructor in a Craftsy class about quilting with a walking foot gave what I thought was good advice: "Don't rush; let your walking foot walk." She said it works more effectively at a slower pace. Still, I don't think your needle should be falling out--what a pain!

That happens to me on my Janome everytime I sew fast with my walking foot. Weird huh?!?!

Yep me too. When sewing fast with the walking foot and the hopper foot-free motion.

I took the same Craftsy class and I don't sew fast with my walking foot. I don't have a Janome so I don't know how your needle is inserted. Is it possible that the fast speed makes the walking foot vibrate which loosens the needle?

Good idea Tartan. I never thought about that. I did think that maybe because that little bar goes over the screw where the needle is tightened, it might be vibrating it too much.

How frustrating! I have not had that problem when machine quilting, but I don't quilt all that fast. I'd be curious to know what your dealer has to say about it...

It's called a walking foot, not a running foot!! Lol

Never exceed half speed while using it, it's designed to do a certain task a certain way.

What you lose in speed you gain in accuracy, stitch quality and less puckers and distortion.

The instructions for my Baby Lock say to sew at a speed "between slow and medium" when using the walking foot. The instructions for my Bernina indicate a maximum speed of 900 stitches per minute when using the walking foot.

I've never had that happen with a Janome, Singer Featherweight or Viking but I don't sew fast. I like to enjoy the process, see and feel the fabric as it goes by. It's like eating a delicious meal and savoring the flavors. I'm a pretty rammy person in other things but sewing is my stop and smell the roses activity.

I have never had that problem with my Pfaff, with the IDT, and I often sew fast. The walking foot that attaches must be vibrating it loose.

I think this is one of the best statements I have ever heard on machine quilting. Think of what the walking foot has to do. You want the layers to be feed evenly thru the DSM. I have never had this happen to me but I own a Bernina.

Yes, I've had my needle come out with a walking foot on my Babylock. I'm sure I'm going beyond 'slow to medium' speed. So, I'd better let it walk!

Yes, I totally agree with this. I have a Janome 7700 and my needle has not fallen out. Hope I don't jinx myself. :D