FMQ learning curve - try what?
 

I got a Janome 6600 in February and thought it would solve all my FMQ issues - skipped stitches, breaking threads, nests on back ... well ... until I've finally been patient enough to deal with one variable at a time those problems went with me from my old Brother to my new Janome. So ... after much frustration and much ripping I finally have some things narrowed down. I'm not trying to recreate LA quilting - I don't think that's possible. My stitching may be a bit primitive, but I'm okay with that. I'm certainly no expert, but I have moved a little farther down the path.

What I've learned:
Read everything you can because some of it will make sense - both on here and in books/magazines.

Try stabalizing the quilt with some zigzag or scallop stitches that divide the quilt into sections. Then FMQ within each section. I spray baste and this has worked very well. Also allows me to start quilting in the outer blocks without concern that the whole thing will shift as I sew.

Develop a repertoire of simple stitches. Use them until you're tired of them and then work on a few more. I started with the simple meander, added loop-de-loops, hearts, flowers, leaves (I think these are really feathers, but they feel like leaves to me), and echo quilting.

If thread is breaking it could be - tension too tight - change it a TINY bit looser, could also be dust bunnies in bobbin case

If skipping stitches try a larger size needle - I'm currently using a 16/100. After you've done that if still skipping stop and rethread both top and bottom.

When things are working take a picture of your machine to save the settings.

If stitches are not right on back - little loops of threads - tension is too loose. Tighten it a TINY bit. If big loops on back then tighten two tiny bits. Also slow down your hand movements.

Clean out dust bunnies from bobbin case with every bobbin change. Change needles with every quilt.

Be sure the weight of the quilt is supported - I put a stool next to my chair, but know people like to use small tables and ironing boards for this. I sew on my dining table with the machine far to the right - that leaves room on the left for some of the quilt.

I was making too many changes to too many degrees and creating problems as I solved other ones. So tiny changes, then sew to test the change.

Check the back OFTEN so you don't end up ripping miles of stitches.

I have made many FMQ quilts, but with varying success. I understand the idea of making practice sandwiches, but ... so far... haven't done that. Trying to finish my last project I got so frustrated I pulled out my little old Brother to finish. Hopefully writing down these hints will help ME remember what I'm doing that's almost working. And hopefully ya'll can add some others or refine mine.

What can you add to this list? (Edited to add: I have no idea why my sewing machine is upside down - interesting - or why the pic of the block is fuzzy, but hopefully you can still see what I'm talking about.)

Thanks for the info. I have just started to FMQ and the back is not pretty. For my first one, I was ok with it. Now I hope to improve the tension.

Your work looks really good!! Well done. I am still happy with SID, but I will save your suggestions, just in case I get brave some day. Thanks!

Dina

I too have begun to play with FMQ. I want to be comfortable doing my own quilting. I only have a DSM, and I am totally infatuated with FMQ. I have done many of the same things that you suggest. Iwas wondering what is the timeline for you, from start to where you are now?

Timeline - hmmm - not quite a year? I know last June I was at a quilting retreat and had started doing some. A girl there was doing FMQ and people were very impressed. I had done several at that point so was very interested in what she was doing. She favored an allover pattern. I've done some of them, but like to do my little patterns better for now. The quilt I'm working on right now will be #95. Probably the last 30 have some sort of FMQ in them. If I'm in a bigger hurry - or just don't have the time to experiment and rip - I still do straight line diagonals - starting corner to corner with a marked line then sewing parallel lines from there. I like the way that looks, but the FMQ is so much more fun!

Of my 95 completed quilts I've sent maybe 6 to a long-arm quilter. I like to do mine from start to finish, but the biggest reason is budget. Just can't afford to add the cost of LA quilting to what it takes to complete a quilt.

I think you are really doing great. The leaves look fantastic and I LOVE your flower motif. I've been tracing it on the computer screen, but where exactly did you start?

For the pictured flower I started from the lower right corner of the block - entered the block then did a loop-de-loop then not quite a straight line to the center to make the little circle that is the center of the flower - then just make petals for as many layers as I have room. That flower has pretty defined petals for the inner ring. Others I've made have the inner ring looking pretty much like the outer rings - maybe more like a camillia than a daisy. It doesn't matter what corner I enter from - depends on what I've done just before.

Your FMQ looks really nice. What thread do you use with the 16/100 needle?
Is this quilting needle or something else? Thanks for sharing your experiences
with us.

I was using Aurofil thread for the needle and a quilt shop pre-filled bobbin for the bottom. THat's one of the things that I changed. Now I use exactly the same thread on top and bottom. I now have a Connecting Threads thread in the top and in the bottom. So ... when I'm quilting anyway - no more prefilled bobbins for me. For piecing it seems to work just fine. THe needle is simply a larger one. Someone on this board recommended I go to it to avoid the skipped stitches I was having. I usually use a 14/90. The 16/100 is the next size up. It may also be called a denim needle. I'd rather use the smaller one, but ... no skipped stitches since I changed.

I think you've got it! :thumbup:

I think I'm getting closer. In another year who knows where I'll be, but I'm not where I was. :)

Your free motion looks great to me. I quilt my own too, just because I want too. Mine aren't as pretty as along arm but I do the best I can.

JanTx ... your work looks really great

The Janome 6600 is a great machine. Til I had it, I had no use for FMQ, as it just didn't seem to click for me. What made the difference for me was ... the blue dot bobbin case as well as the FMQ special packet of three interchangeable feet. I really liked the clear plastic foot. With these, I seldom had problems with the back threads.

You didn't mention whether you have these or not ..... so I thought I would suggest them to you.

Another suggestion for all ... when you are changing things to get it right, only make one change at a time. If you make more, you have no idea what works, or what doesn't. Trying different variables can be time consuming, but at least you know.

Though, with the above extra accessories, it took very little effort to get my machine set up whenever I wanted to FMQ.

I do have the blue dot bobbin case - but have better luck with the red dot one. Go figure. I also have the clear foot - that works great for me.

Okay - went back and traded out the red dot bobbin case for the blue and --- those back stitches are as perfect as I think I'm going to get. One of the variables I had changed was using the regular case- the red dot - since the blue one - made for FMQ with slightly looser tension - didn't seem to be working as well. Now that I may have the other variables in place putting that one back in was the strawberry on the sundae. QuiltE - thanks for pushing that one little step farther along the way!

this quilting looks fine to me,, i am not seeing a problem

Thanks, Jan. I really want to try FMQ again. Last time I tried I couldn't even sew a
straight line without having all kinds of nests at the bottom.

Oh please don't see it as pushing .... you hadn't mentioned it or the extra feet, and I know a lot of people with the 6600s have never been told by their dealers that they are available. Keep up the great work.

You "pushed" me to the strawberry on top of the sundae! (Should have been cherry, but oh well.) I was ready to turn this machine back in - somehow - and it was such a big deal to break down and get it. Slowing down my changes - doing one thing at a time - and listening to the fine folk on here - each one a tiny little nudge in the right direction. Thanks!

Cherries on Sundaes are always good .... just don't forget the whipped cream, first!

Harriet Hargraves machine quilting book is full of info for fmq. I took classes from her and her book is invaluable. She specializes in teaching beginners. Amazon has her book. Be sure it is the blue book. More current than the red one.

Jan Tx, thank you for sharing your FMQ journey so much of it brought back sore memories:) A tip that I would add that I found in Charlotte Frable's "Quilt as Desired" book is to use topstitch Needles, they cut down considerably on thread breaking and fraying, in fact she says that a lot of quilters like them so much that they use them all the time, I do now.

What a wonderful post. I have a Janome 6500 and I'll try all of them. It looks like your tension is at 6 and the other settings are 3.5 and 0?

I think I read in a QB newsletter that if you practice a design everyday for 3 weeks, you'll have it down pretty good. That's what I've been doing and can see a big difference. I finished my second quilt top and want to do the whole thing myself, but is applique with Large open spaces- I want to do bubbles there since the quilt is whimsical. It's much easier to do a confined space instead of this, but it's the look I want and just don't want to mess it up too bad. I'm determined not to work on another one until I get confident enough to tackle it! Practice practice and a lot of reading. I practiced on paper first.

I appreciate the original poster who suggested a step by step approach to solving her 'problems'. FMQ is a challenge because most machines are really designed for straight stitching and have lots of stitch variations. When we FMQ we have to over ride the machine's design. We see lovely machine quilting on a DSM. Patience is rewarded in the learning process. I took Harriet Hargrave's class and have her books. They are very well done. I've also incorporated information from lots of others to find my own path-and I'm willing to try just about anything any of you suggest. I do think that the right needles (topstitch) and the right size thread are essential.

Another Janome 6600 owner (and lover) here. I also have the blue dot bobbin case and clear foot--and they make a huge difference, IMO. I always set the machine to Mode 2; foot pressure 1. For me, machingers gloves are a must.

I think your practice and study has paid off. Thanks for all your hard work collecting this valuable info.
peace

Okay, ladies. Help me out. I have the Janome 12000MC and have the bobbin with the yellow dot. Then there's the regular bobbin without a dot a'tall. What on earth are the blue dots and red dots? What are they supposed to do?
I am also wanting to use the quilting motifs that are built into this machine. Feathers, hearts, other cool stuff. Is anyone out there doing any of this type of machine quilting?
Thanks to everyone who talks a lot on this board. I've learned sooo much!!
Pat

Thank you for your invaluable information and pics. You sure do great FMQ. Terrific!

JanTX - your advice has been great!

It can also apply to trying to get the tensions right on a serger - one small change at a time!

I have the 6600 and found via the Janome 6600 yahoo group a couple of things that helped me greatly. I adjusted the bobbin tension just a little, I set my top tension knob at 7, use mode 1 or 2 - don't adjust stitch length at all and put pressure foot dial at 0. I set my speed at about medium and put on my fons & porter gloves! Then I FMQ - works like a charm every time! I use just regular needles, but a new one when I start quilting. I also fill several bobbins with thread before I begin to save time later.

I think your stitches look great!! You are to be congratulated!! Keep up the good work!!

Sure looks good to me. FMQ intimidates the heck out of me so have not really given it a try but one of these days I definitely am going to give it a whirl. Tks for your helpful suggestions.

Jan: Thank you for starting this thread and contributing your hard earned knowledge. I am about four months into my adventures with FM. Hope to be as far along as you in a year. I lucked out in that my machine did very well in terms of tension etc., now the thread on the bottom doesn't have the stitch definition I would like. Will try some of your trouble shooting methods. The skill I have acquired so far is a better feel for the speed of the machine vs the speed of my hands. I hope it will all come with time. My word to anyone starting out, don't be afraid, just jump right in. My first FM quilt has a lot of flaws but gave me enough encouragement to keep on going.

No matter what machine you use fmq takes practice and lots of it. Drawing your design first on paper or a dry mark board or preview plastic are all ways to get the design into your muscle memory, so when you get to your machine it comes automatically. Using a practice sandwich of a fq or 1/2 yard really does make a huge difference in what your stitches look like. I didn't do this until recently and have been fmq for 10 yrs. It DID make a difference and to the good. Plus do your trial on the practice sandwich to test your tension, types of thread, needle size, etc. If it messes up, you don't need to rip it. I've also found my machine just doesn't like some kinds of thread and no matter what I change to try to make it work, it doesn't. Eyelashing on the back is not a tension issue, usually, but not coordinating the movement of the fabric with the speed you're sewing. So in other words, you're moving the fabric too fast in relation to the speed you are stitching. I also highly suggest watching Leah Day on her website. She explains all of this plus you can watch free videos of her stitching hundreds of stitches. You can find her at daystyledesigns.com or the freemotionquilting project.com.

Looks good to me.

Great tips, and practice, practice, practice. You really should try to make a sandwich of the fabrics and batting that you are using in the quilt. Make it large enough that you can work out all the tension issues and machine related problems before you start on your quilt. Ask me how I know

The biggest reason I get nests when FMQ is because I forget to put the pressure foot down. When using what I call the FMQ foot - it's easy to forget as it doesn't sit down on the fabric even when the pressure foot is down.

I also have a Janome 6600 and I love it. I use the blue dot bobbin holder and always put a new needle in. I hardly have any problems with skipped stitches. I usually use Gutterman thread - but have used other successfully.

The quilting looks wonderful! And I love all the tips.. Sometimes while quilting, it is good to just slow down and take a breath and relax.. I always have to remind myself it is not a race to get it done..

Hi JanTX, I started on the FMQ quest about 3 months ago, I am on my second quilt, I love your pictures, you are doing great! I am not there yet but I am practicing. I love the tips you gave and will trying those too. I have an old Singer 15-91 it's working pretty well, not thread breaking or knots of thread on bottom side. Like you, I am getting some of the kinks worked out. I'm looking forward to see more of your work!! Debbie