Quiltingboard Forums - FMQ tension- bobbin thread laying on back on fabric

Quote:

Originally Posted by noveltyjunkie (Post 5838090)

Well, I just had a little play with speed. Seems like my width adjuster does not double as speed controller, sadly.

Again, the stupid question: When I upped the speed and slowed my hands I just got lots and lots of little stitches (the bobbin thread is still laying flat, but it would not come out because it is nailed down by a zillion stitches. I don't want to do this because I could never rip anything out, and also I would use a ton of thread!)

Is this what you meant or have I misunderstood? Maybe my definition of slow hands is just waaaaay slow? What sort of stitch length should I be getting?

You are starting to get the hang of it. Does your machine have a stop/start button where you don't have to use the pedal. If so, use that instead of the foot pedal so that the speed is consistant and then you just have to worry about the moving the fabric. I was told when doing FMQ, you go left to right and up and down but not in circles, like a steering wheel. Good luck and I hope you figure it out soon. I took a class at the quilt show last yr in NC and it helped alot.