I'm trying to learn to free motion quilt, read the books, practiced, practiced, My problem is the thread tenson, it always loops on the bottem. Am using a Simplicity Quilter, have cleaned and oiled, changed thread several times,still can't get tenson right, looks better when sewing forward, but when I go side to side or backward loops, yes I lowered feed dogs, going slow, or fast does not make any differance, any help would be much apreciated. as it has a drop in bobbin, don't know if bobbin thrad can be tightened.

do you drop your needle down and then raise it back up and take hold of the bobbin thread to bring it to the top? that is important. usually the cause of messy thread on the back. you hold the bobbin thread and top thread and take a few stitches almost in place. then you can start quilting and stop and clip those thread ends to get them out of the way and continue sewing.

interesting...but sadly, this is one of those situations that SEEING it is what helps us figure out what is wrong...what about your needle?? Did you put in a NEW really fine needle?
What type of thread top/bobbin? So many variations...hard to pin it down without actually seeing it as it happens!

Is there an owners manual to the quilting machine. On mine, I have to adjust the bobbin thread first, the manual explains how to do it. There is a little screw that I turn for the tension righty tighty, Lefty loosy. That is the first thing I learned when I bought my Jewel quilting machine. I would read your owners manual before I mess with it though.

Could be a problem with your thread and/or needle size/type. What thread are you using? Is it a new needle? What size and what type of needle?

It sounds like your top tension is too loose. Since you don't know how to adjust the bobbin thread tension, you will have to adjust the top tension until it no longer pulls too much thread to the bottom. Make up a lot of samples and keep trying until you can get the tension worked out. Sometimes a thicker thread in the top will help also. Good luck.

Whats your tension setting. Is it at 0. Can you adjust the presser foot pressure. Does it have needle down function. Most of it is practice, but sometimes it can be the settings on the machine.

Another idea is to use the little plastic washers in the bottom of your bobbin. La Pierre Studios,
Little Genie Magic Bobbin Washers available from J. Hittle Sewing Co. online.

So sorry you are having probems with your FMQ.

I know its hard, but try slowing down...ALOT! Especially on the curves..remember: its a learning curve. (no pun intended! sorry! lolol) In my case a BIG learning curve!

I have read that it's not so easy to successfully FMQ with a machine that has a drop in bobbin, so I hope you can crack it.

I never heard that one! I think it's just a matter of practice. :) When I first started out, I had all the same issues everyone else does...tension, eyelashes, etc. One day it just all seemed to click and now it always looks pretty good!

I use the bobbin washers, and it has made a huge diffrence, if you want to try it, pm me and I will send you one.

Nativetexan is absolutely correct. This will set your tension.

I know exactly how you feel. I cannot FMQ at all on my domestic, setting the top tension from 1-4 almost, and nothing makes a difference...speed, thread, needle- ARG!! I have since bought a Juki 2010 and was able to FMQ just fine right out of the box- no adjustments at all! I am going to take a FMQ class and take both machines- perhaps they can show me what is going on with one and not the other.

I have a Brother Sewing and Quilting machine and I have to set my top tension to 8 for it not to have loops and make sure you have the feed dogs covered (mine has cover) and lever down ( senior moment) and use open toe or emb foot..Hope this helps some.

Yup, pull both threaaaads to the top, don't have a mess on the bottom, the bottom thread just lays there ,dos not meet between the layers like it should, an using a 90/14 Singer quilting needle ( new) :(

they call that 'railroad tracks' when the bottom thread just lays there. It means one of two things: but don't adjust both at the same time. Either your top tension is too loose or your bobbin tension is too tight. I would try the top tension 1/4 turn to the right (while chanting 'righty tighty lefty loosey'...sorry! I could not resist!). Adjust the bobbin tension SPARINGLY, especially if you had good stitch quality just sewing. If it is the other way around, and you are getting pokeys on the TOP, the top tension is too tight, or the bobbin tension is too loose.

Hope this helps and is not too confusing..

To FMQ you must use an embroidery foot or a darning foot. It really makes no difference if the feed dogs are up or down. It sounds like your top tension is to loose. Try tightening it. Then, if you need to, you can adjust your bobbin tension by adjusting the little tiny screw on the side of the bobbin case. Move it in small increments.

OK, thanks for thr suggestiond, we are going to try this again, usinf 100/16 singer needles, Signature Tribobal polyester thread, both top and bottom.
thanks for all of your suggestions!!
Maggie

I have a drop in bobbin and have never had any problems. My machine is a simple Brother machine...I drop the feed dogs...set my tension to about 7...almost the max...and pull up the bobbin thread before I start stitching. I also set my stitch length as low as it will go...which is only .2 on my machine. I don't even need to check the back of my quilts anymore because doing these few things always work. Once I started pulling up the threads and tightening the top tension, all my eyelashes and pulling on the back went away. Works no matter how fast or how slow I go. I have never touched my bobbin tension.

Oh, and I use a size 14 needle. Since I sew kind of fast, it helps keep up.

Good Luck! I hope you get it figured out!

This post hit a discord with me. Teachers are not sewing machine repair people. We might know our own brand of machine but do not know others. Contact the teacher before the class and ask if he or she might be able to help you with the problem and then make an appointment outside the class. Please don't take up class time trying to correct the problem. Take the machine to class that works for you. Also the one you will be doing FMQ on at home.
Another thing.....don't bring to class the Featherweight or little Jamone Gem..... You can't successfully learn on these little machines. Now what I just said has been my experience teaching many FMQ classes. Some people may be able to machine quilt their King size quilt on a featherweight but I can't.
Several years ago I was getting ready to teach my first FMQ class and called a friend from whom I had taken a class I asked her what she meant in the description by the statement "know your machine" and she said "you will find out". I did find out because two students picked up their new machine on the way to class which they opened up the first time and another student brought an off brand machine that her husband had bought her to use when at the summer cabin. Her's never worked and she kept saying "I hate these machines" . It just took up class time and denied the other students my full attention. So, my point is........get to class with the machine you know how to use and will be using at home.
I hope you will forgive my ranting this morning, but this subject just hit me the wrong way.

Those loops are often not a tension issue at all. It is frequently due to moving the fabric too fast with your hands.

Might be a silly question - did you remember to put your presser foot down? First time I tried FMQ I ended up with a very impressive nest on the back when I didn't drop the presser foot.

Cheers, K

I took the "Know your machine" class at our LQS. In spite of the description requiring that machines be in good working order, at least one was DOA and wasted a lot of time with the teacher. While I probably could have skipped the class as it turned out I knew my machine pretty well, I did learn some tips about cleaning and maintaining that are very valuable. I would have been very upset if someone unboxed a new machine in the beginning quilting class that has the the KYM class as a pre-req.

Cheers, K

Some excellent advise on knowing your machine. We had some ladies not even knowing how to thread their machine! I try to read everything before I start.

[quote=Holice]This post hit a discord with me. Teachers are not sewing machine repair people. We might know our own brand of machine but do not know others. Contact the teacher before the class and ask if he or she might be able to help you with the problem and then make an appointment outside the class. Please don't take up class time trying to correct the problem. Take the machine to class that works for you. Also the one you will be doing FMQ on at home.
Another thing.....don't bring to class the Featherweight or little Jamone Gem..... You can't successfully learn on these little machines. Now what I just said has been my experience teaching many FMQ classes. Some people may be able to machine quilt their King size quilt on a featherweight but I can't.
Several years ago I was getting ready to teach my first FMQ class and called a friend from whom I had taken a class I asked her what she meant in the description by the statement "know your machine" and she said "you will find out". I did find out because two students picked up their new machine on the way to class which they opened up the first time and another student brought an off brand machine that her husband had bought her to use when at the summer cabin. Her's never worked and she kept saying "I hate these machines" . It just took up class time and denied the other students my full attention. So, my point is........get to class with the machine you know how to use and will be using at home.
I hope you will forgive my ranting this morning, but this subject just hit me the wrong way.[/quote
Sorry to upset,Just looking for a little help. No class in progress, do it yourselfer. Thanks all for the helpful advice. will be trying some of these the next few days. Have had machine since 2004 and use it almsost daily for regular sewing.

That was my problem. sped up the foot and slowed down the hand and got it.

I use a regular old foot and that works the best for me. I learned to lower the pressure on the foot to 0, stitich length 0, feed dogs up, open toed foot to see where you are going and you're off! I finally found the control I could never get with a darning foot and no feed dogs.