FMQ on Janome 8900 Please Help
 

I just brought home a Janome 8900 and am trying to learn how to FMQ. Problems began when I started piecing and was stitching over thick areas; I noticed a skip or two. Then when I began to FMQ, my stitches were skipping, sometimes an inch or more. I looked in my manual and it said that it was either a threading problem or a needle problem. I have rethreaded and rethreaded. I read that there is a purple needle that helps with this problem. What in the world? You pay this kind of money for a machine and it's skipping? Has anyone else had this problem with a good solution? I bought the machine several hours from home so taking it back any time soon is impossible. Please help me know what to do. Thanks in advance for your help.

What size needle are you using is a sharp point or a ball point? You might need a bigger size, maybe try a size 16 sharp point.

I had an 8900 that skipped stitches. I had it serviced and was told that the things were off and to try useing a Universal needle when doing thicker intersection items. It did help but machine was very touchy really had to change the needle more on this machine than any other I have ever owned. Good luck. I hope you can get it to work for you.

A large topstitch needle should fix the skipped stitch issue. I use a 14 or sometimes a 16 ...

I just posted almost the same scenario on the MSQC board. Changing to a different size needle isn't helping. I am glad you posted, maybe between the two boards, we will see a solution.

Okay, I worked on this late into the night, google and everything else. I ended up lowering the quilting foot as low as I could get it and still maneuver the fabric. My husband read that if it was up too high, the threads would not catch. I also changed out the needle to a 90/14 (it's not the purple one, but he also said that it was a 14). I noticed that the tension wasn't good on the stitches, so I took it off of auto and put it on either 3 or 4. I stitched for awhile with no problem. I'm still not brave enough to do my baby quilt, but I think we're on the way to solving our first problem. She sure is a touchy machine!! Thank you, thank you all for being there for me. This quilting hobby may just be the death of me. I'm not giving up, though!!

Have you gone back to the dealer? Give them a chance. Take a sample of what you are working on, and show them.

What batting are you using, what thread? Those things all make a difference. Have you tried a quilting needle?

You might want to check out the Janome 8900 yahoo group. Lots of helpful info there.

I had the same problem when I started using my 8900 for FMQ.
Stitches skipped and [cotton] top thread kept breaking.

A friend of mine tracked down the solution:
Make sure you are using an Organ or Janome brand needle.
(they are actually the same, but cost more when branded Janome.)

I was surprised at the difference that makes on the Horizon models.
Organs work better for piecing on the Horizons, too.
Luckily, Organ brand are relatively inexpensive.

I have stippled successfully on my 8900 using Organ sizes 11 thru 16 - depending on the fabric and batting.
I also found that using 60wt thread in the bobbin eliminates eyelashes on the back.
My tension is usually set to Auto.

I took it off auto tension and fiddled with the tension until it was just right. It help to put the spool of thread on an external thread holder. Be sure you have the same thread on top as the bobbin..some threads work better. A size 14 needle is best. I love my 8900.

I did talk with the dealer and they are more than willing to help--they suggested to first try the purple needle. I'd like to try and resolve this without having to take my machine into them if possible. They are a good 25 minutes away and its a heavy machine--but yes, I think they will try and help further if it can't be resolved with some of these suggestions or the ones on MSQC's board.

I do note that I have just finished some additional piecing on my batik top and this time no skipped stitches--but I have changed away from the 1/4" piecing foot and am not using the regular standard foot. I am also using a 90/14 sharp.

No batting yet--I did put a purse together on this machine, at least most of the purse. No problems--just piecing.

We have Schmetz and Klasse needles around here and a few Janome dealerships that will sell their needles, of course--is there an online resource for Organ brand needles?

Hope this issue resolves itself soon. These machines (7700, 8200, 8900) are unfortunately known for their difficulty in sewing over multiple/thicker seams, regardless of needle, etc. I owned a 7700 and switched it out for a Juki.

DDIL's machine was doing that. I tried everything, and was ready to send her to a dealer for repair. Noticed the needle looked funny so I decided to change it. She had changed the needle and put it in backward. Turned the needle around and the problem was solved. Remember, not all machines thread from the same direction.

As Patrice said, the solution is use Janome or Organ needles.
My 6600 will use any needle, but not the 8900. It almost drove me mad at first. Until I bought some Janome purple needles - end of problem.
My machine doesn't think much of the Janome red or blue needles either. I have to use the purple, or Organ HAx1SP Super 90 originals. These have the snake tip same as the purple Janomes.
Piecing and fmq is now a dream on it.

So good to hear--now to get some needles. My LQS is out of purple.