Fmq
 

I'm a newbie at this. I finally got the stitches right on top and bottom but now my upper thread winds around my needle as I sew and breaks the thread if I don't catch it in time. Sometimes the thread shreds. I've tried changing the top tension but that doesn't help. I've tried sewing faster but that didn't help either.

Any suggestions?

Kathy R.

Sounds like you are using the wrong size needle. I use a Top Stitch 100 when I do FMQ.

I talked with the shop where I bought my Janome and was told to use 80/14 for machine quilting but I'm ready to try something else. Of course, I live an hour and half away from town but will put it on my list. Thanks

I agree with the recommendation of a larger needle. I use a 16 or 18 for quilting. Does your machine thread the needle from front to back, or left to right?

For me with FMQ it all comes down to speed of machine vs. speed of hands. I can use the same needle I piece with as long as I coordinate my speed correctly. Medium machine speed. Slower hands. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying it is easy or that I do it well, but I can now let things I have FMQ'd been seen by family and friends. For a long time, I just pitched them in the trash.

If the thread is wrapping around your needle ... are you sure you have the needle threaded correctly?

I also use the same size needle I use for piecing. I was at a quilt show a couple of weeks ago & was told by one of the gals that you shouldn't change tension for FMQ. I never change my tension & it works for me.

It threads front to back.

I did a baby quilt with just some simple hearts in the blocks for my first project. The top stitches were pretty good but the bottom was often railroady. I didn't change the tension. However...my thread never broke. I've left the feed dogs up and covered them for this queen-sized quilt. I'll lower them today to see it that helps. I've read where lowering the feed dogs sometimes messes with tension so that was why I left them up this time.

Yes, I've gone over and over the route. Ugh!

If dropping the feed dogs doesn't work today, I'll try going back to regular tension. I'm just afraid that I'll get crappy stitches again. Thanks.

When I start to stitch, I ALWAYS make sure I am holding the two tails of the threads, once you get going you should be find. I do agree with the larger needle and it should be a topsitch needle that has a "Larger Eye".....
I change the tension IF I am using a thicker batting....are you sure your Feed Dogs are down.....

There are SO many ifs, ands and buts ... however there is no absolute!

It it works for you to not change your tension, that's great.
The variables are endless.

To be advised that it should NEVER be done, is oh so poor advice.
Be careful when someone says always, must, never ... they're almsot always wrong!!!!!!!

I put the feed dogs down, still no improvement. I changed the top tension gradually, still no improvement. I changed the bobbin tension by a quarter turn of the screw. Bottom stitches went back to being crappy so I returned the screw to where I was getting good stitches. And yes I always hold onto the tail. It's only when I get on down the stitching line that the top thread either wind around the needle or it starts to fray and breaks. I would think the looping is because the tension is too loose but the fraying tells me the tension's too tight. I'll just have to take the machine back to the dealer along with my quilt and show the quilting expert there just what it's doing. Thanks to everyone for their responses.

Kathy

is the thread feeding in horizonial or vertical?? Might try using a cone thread holder.

I was looking on-line for top stitch needles. I have found 100/16. Would that be correct to buy? Thanks

Sounds to me like the thread might be catching somewhere. I was having a breakage problem and some knotting. I was advised to make sure my needle was sharp and maybe try a different thread. I was using a heavier "quilting" thread. Switched out threads and needle and life was good.

I have a vertical thread feeder so I'm using cone now. I have ordered some thread that Leah Day recommends and I ordered the 100/16 Top-stitch needles. Hopefully, in a few days my troubles will be over.:o

Well, I've ordered new thread and needles so I'll report back when I've tried them. One good thing about being postmaster of our little town I know exactly when my stuff comes in.:o

I have never had this particular problem, although I certainly sympathize. Do you "set" the thread in the tensioners? (pull slightly to get it clear in). Always thread with the presser foot up. I say this because it sounds like an upper thread tension problem to me. Speeding up usually does not help with FMQ problems. Are you using all of the "thread path" to control the thread? There are only a few reasons to bother changing the tension setting, such as extra light/heavy thread. Usually if I have thread shredding, I suspect 1) a needle burr 2) lint in the machine, especially around the feed dogs. 3) burr on bobbin/bobbin case. Of course, any time I have problems my general approach is to stop, clean/oil the machine, completly rethread it. Both my quilting instructor and my dealer say this.

I hope I have not been too heavy handed with my answer.

Thank you, QM. Not heavy handed at all. Yes, I've rethreaded so many times I can probably do it blindfolded. I've changed needles, and not using feed dogs. But I will soon try new thread and needles so I hope to have a success story in a few day.

I use a size 16 needle and Hobbs cotton/poly blend for batting.

If the thread is shredding it indicates the eye of the needle is too small for the thickness of the thread.
Try using a metalfil or topstitch needle size 90 or 100. They also have a slot on the shank for the thread to nestle in whilst the needle goes through the fabric. Change the needle about every 8 hours of sewing. If you hear a popping sound as you sew, the needle definitely needs to be changed.

The only thing I could possibly add is to try using Sewer's Aid on your needle thread. I had a problem with thread breaking when I first started fmqing. I tried EVERYTHING. I really believe it was the Sewer's Aid that finally solved my problem. I used to be able to buy it at Hancock, but the last time I had to order online. It comes in a bottle that looks like fray check. If you are placing an online order, I also highly recommend bobbin genies. I think sometimes it comes down to the right combination of "tricks" for each person and machine.
Good Luck and keep us posted.

Are you using the round pressser foot with the spring? You should be. I get a mess when I forget to change the feet.

Thank you. I am using the genie already but will change needle soon.

Yes, I'm using the free motion foot. I've followed Leah's adaption.

Have you changed needles and completely rethreaded the the machine, including taking the bobbin out and reinserting it? My Janome was having farkles the other day and nothing I did made it work right. I decided the clean it, and when I did, I discovered that I had the bobbin case in wrong. I was about to decide the devil was tormenting me because I was making a table cover for the church. LOL! Good luck!

Farkles? Lol! This is too funny to me - my husband travels almost every week for his job, and "Farkles" is his term for people at the airport who don't travel often and have no idea where they're going or what they're supposed to be doing.

Yes, Mimibug I have done everything but stand on my head and rethread it but that might not be far away.:o I'm going in Florence this evening so I may not wait for my new needles in the mail but buy some tonight if they have the right size. There is two small quilt shops there so hopefully between the two of them I can find what I need.

I read on line today about some problems with tension with the Janome. I hope its just a rare thing and I don't have it.

I was told by my dealer to use 80/14 for machine quilting (Janome 6600P) and I haven't had a problem. It does take a lot of practice to get the machine speed and hand movement coordinated. Make some quilt sandwiches and practice, practice, practice.

It is a tension problem, one I had with an old singer treadle. It was frustrating. Turns out it was a missing spring in the tension unit. Once the spring was replaced it kept the correct tension on the thread and that stopped the thread from rapping around the needle. So recheck how you are threading your machine and if you are threading your needle in the proper direction. Hope this helps.

Sorry to get off topic, but it's MimiBug's and Peckish's fault, lol! Anyone else here remember the Farkle Family including little Sparkle Farkle from Laugh-In?!

I have a Janome and use a 80/14 for machine quilting. I was having problems with tension and thread breaking and after I figured out two things it seems to have gotten better. First, I was holding the needle thread, but it was coming off directly from the needle without going under the free motion foot. When I started pulling it under the foot, things were better. The other problem I had (and still have, but I'm working on it) is that I was moving the quilt too fast for the stitching speed. I set a higher stitch speed and slowed down my hands and things are looking up. Who knew there was such a huge learning curve to FMQ??? When you watch Leah Day or someone do it online or in person, it looks easier than it is, that's for sure.

I don't understand how a dealer can prescribe a needle size when s/he doesn't even know what size thread you're going to be using. A size 80/12 needle could be disastrous if you were using a 70wt thread like Bottom Line (or smaller) in the needle - nothing but skipped stitches. The same needle used with a 30wt thread or larger could give you a lot of shredded thread and breaking.

Match the needle to the thread you want to use in the needle. Set the tension on your bobbin case for the thread you're using in the bobbin.

Balance the tensions using the normal foot and feed dogs on a practice sandwich of the same weight as your quilt. Make sure that neither the bobbin or the needle thread tension is tight enough to cause puckers. Both threads should twist together inside the sandwich, not loop or lie flat on the top or the bottom.

When you have achieved a good stitch for normal sewing, lower the feed dogs (if you like to and are able), put the free-motion foot on, set the stitch length to "0" and try some FMQ on the practice piece.

Look closely at the stitches. If there are loops on the bottom, the bobbin tension is too tight relative to the needle thread tension. If the loops are tiny, either tighten the needle thread tension a tiny bit or loosen the bobbin a tiny bit. If the loops are bigger, you may need to tighten the needle thread tension considerably more and perhaps loosen the bobbin tension as well. Keep testing until you get a nice stitch.

If there are loops on the top, the needle thread tension is too tight relative to the bobbin thread tension.

You may not have to make any adjustments to the tension at all. Balancing tensions is not nearly as complicated as some dealers want to make it sound. And if ever a dealer told me not to ever touch my bobbin tension, I'm afraid I'd laugh. :D

I went back to read your original post. Hopefully the new needles will take care of everything since the stitches looked fine before. In addition to the Top Stitch 100, I also use Top Stitch 90/14. But I think the 100 was the size I was told originally. Send me a PM to let me know if this solved the problem because I might miss your post.

Free motion quilting
 

I had a similar problem with the railroading on the back when I tried FMQ. Tried 2 other machines and got same results. A friend told me she increased the top tension about several numbers higher than regular sewing. I finally tried that and -- waahoo! It worked for me. About the shredding thread, maybe the thread is old or the needle has a "burr" on it. Change needles and see how it does.
Good luck.

What kind of thread are you using? The needle size matters but so does the thread type. Also, sometimes when thread is miss behaving try taking the spool and sitting it in a cup behind the machine so that it comes off the spool differently. This does help sometimes. Leah Day puts all of her thread in a cup when FMQ because it acts better. Good luck. I agree with the others, you shouldn't have to mess with your tension. Have you checked out Leah Day's website; it's all about FMQ and has great free advice and tutes

By the way, are you also using the same thread in the top and bottom; this is also important.

Boo Hoo! I took my machine in to the dealer I bought from. The needles I bought yesterday did not solve the problem. I had to leave it. Won't get it back for a week! I'll go in to withdrawals. Lol! Thank goodness it's still under waranntee. (sp) I'll report back next week.