I have tried this. I kept getting loops of thread on the back. Read here a bit & discovered that I needed presser foot down.

So presser foot down,

now the thread loops are bobbin thread on the UP side.

Help?

can you give us a little more info, are feed dogs down, did you try rethreading your machine. Are you using a darning foot, have you adjusted your tension at all.

Yes, feed dogs down. yes, rethreaded.

I tried darning foot, but if it is down (to activate tension) , then I can't slide the fabric.

gaaaahh!

you slide the fabric with your hands. Put the pedal to the metal and move your hands slowly.

*waving* Hi, Jennifer!

okay. Will try again.

Also, I have FMQ gloves.

What I do is lower feed dogs and if you can lower speed of machine and just put your foot on pedal and go moving the fabric if still getting loops try speeding up the machine usually if loops you are moving fabric too fast compared to machine at least that is what I found out. I cannot explain you just have to try moving fabric faster or slower or whatever works it does take practice and I am not any expert by any means. But it is different strokes for different folks.

I just read in the current issue of Quilt Magazine a continuing article on free motion quilting. The author said that even when you drop feed dogs to also dial stitch length to 0 to disengage the mechanism and save wear and tear on the part. This makes sense to me.

Holice is right - I move my stitch length to 0. The stitch length that shows up on your quilt is because you've moved the fabric.

I'm not an expert by any means, it does take practice.

Oh - try Leah Day - she's awesome. http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...tart-here.html

While I've never had a problems with looping, this just seems to be the best advise I have ever read. Thanks Holice for posting.

Make sure you are pulling the bobbin thread to the top of your quilt. Leah Day is also awesome!!! She has a lot of wonderufl tips.