Yes, I had to have the bobbin case changed 6 months ago when I took it in for a tuneup. The machine hadn't been used for months so I took the bobbin case out to clean it and I guess I didn't get it back in quite right. The bobbin case was destroyed because the needle kept hitting it!

I've used the embroidery feature quite a lot. That was the whole reason I bought the machine. I use the machine to embroider the quilt labels that go on my finished quilts. Here's a sample of a quilt label:

Very nice label. I bought this machine because I had visions of embroidering tons of quilt blocks. Yeah, that never happened. About 2 months after I bought it, I took a full time job where I am still at today. Last time I took my machine in to be cleaned I asked them how I could add new embroidery patterns to the machine since it only took the old 3.5" floppy disks. Brother sells an adaptor for $129.00 that I'm not willing to buy just yet.

I'll have to try making a label now!

How do you have your machine set up Sande? I have a 2003 model and I am having difficulty setting it up to FMQ. I sent you a message asking some other questions as well - I hope that is okay.

There are much better quality of thread out there than Coats. Next time buy some Guttermann thread instead and try it.

For anyone that is trying to FMQ using a Brother ult 2003d embroidery machine, here are the steps that I took that finally made it possible for me to FMQ on my ult2003. I now love to FMQ on my Brother embroidery machine:

1) Feed dogs down
2) Used Q presser foot
3) Choose stitch 1-30
4) changed tension to 3.6
5) wore quilting gloves
6) used coats machine quilting mercerized cotton - 30 wt on top and bottom (tried other threads and this Coats was the only one that I could get to work!)
7) used a cone thread stand (the thread was happy when I did this)
8) I use ONLY Schmetz 'topstitch' 80/12 needles. I use topstitch needles for all sewing including embroidery. They work the best and keep the thread for fraying and breaking.

Lots of steps but now it's like a dream come true!

Good luck,

Sande

I think most machines have a certain or recommended adjustments for using fmq. So some fiddling is normal.

On Coats and Clarks threads I must disagree, I have and use many different threads for different things and I have found that C and C is a good thread, my machines like it and make great stitches and it is strong. So I think maybe for some people they don't like it for their reasons, but I also know a lot that do like it including me.

You can buy a floppy disc drive to transfer from computer to sewing machine. I have a HV Designer One that still uses floppies and my new computer did not have a floppy drive. Just google external floppy disc drive and you can find them from $25 on up.