Free Motion Quilting on Brother SE-400 - Need help, please.
 

I am a beginner quilter and want to learn to quilt my own small quilts. I have a Brother SE-400 that I love. I bought the open toe quilting foot (darning foot) and today I started trying to learn. I bought the Brother foot that is recommended for my machine so I know I have the right foot. I have my stitch length set to 0 as recommended. My feed dogs are down. I'm trying to move the fabric but it doesn't seem to move as easily as I think it should. My stitches are jagged. It almost seems like the presser foot is pressing down too much? I know it takes a while to learn FMQ but something just doesn't seem right. I would appreciate any help.

Thanks in advance
Lynda

which one did you buy, the SA129 is not the best

I would get this one
http://www.allbrands.com/products/11...uilting-and-em

just make sure its the low shank one

Thanks for your response. I did buy the SA-187. I researched it before and knew that is the one I needed.

Look in your manual for 'darning'. Might be an additional setting needed to use the hopping foot (my machine is a different brand, but I need a special setting for it to work). Also, double check that the foot is attached correctly. Most hopping foots (feet) have space between the needle and the bed when not stitching. When a stitch is made, the foot comes down (hops) to hold the fabric in place for a split second to take the stitch then comes back up. You also just might be moving the fabric too quickly. remember, fast foot (run the machine at a high speed), slow hands.

Tartan,
Thanks for your reply. It is the one with the spring. I'll go look at Leah's site. It is not moving smoothly. I'm using some warm and natural that I had on hand, but can get a lighter loft.

Princess,
Thanks for your reply. My manual is fairly worthless. There are two pages on fmq and a few paragraphs on darning. It says to use the buttonhole foot or zig zag foot for darning. I'll keep looking through the book. I took the foot off and put it back on and I'm fairly certain it is attached properly. I didn't realize the foot was called a hopping foot. Thats what it seems to be doing - hopping after a stitch. There is space between the foot and the bed until i drop the presser foot lever and then it sits right on top of the fabric. Maybe it is just inexperience - will keep working on it.

Problem is solved, I think! I did not have it installed correctly. I watched just a few minutes of Leah Day's video and realized that I didn't have the bar on the foot on top of the lever for the presser foot. I think that did it! Thank you so much for your help!

Glad to hear the problem is solved! Let us know how it goes. BTW, are you wearing gloves? It makes a big difference for me.

Laura,
No, but I know I need them and they are on my shopping list! :)