I've just spent quite a long time struggling to start some FMQ because of an issue with either my machine or my technique - not sure which. I start to sew, and immediately there's a "clunk" and I have to stop straightaway as there'll be a birds nest on the back of the quilt. It's happened before and I can't work out what causes it - once I've got going, the machine sews quite happily. I've checked that the pressure foot is down and that all is correct with top and bobbin threads and the bobbin case.

Did you pull the bobbin thread to the top ???

Try bringing your bobbin thread up before you start. When you are ready to FMQ, take one stitch (or use your hand wheel to put your needle through your fabric and then turn it till you bring the needle back up up). This will bring your bobbin thread to the top. Pull the bobbin thread and your needle thread under your presser foot towards the back of the machine. Then start your FMQ. That should eliminate the birds nest on the back.

And if the bobbin thread has been pulled to the top and your holding it to keep it from drawing back with the first stitch, the presser foot is down, the machine is threaded correctly. And it's still nesting. I start looking for the following, is the bobbin in right? Any fuzz/lint in the bobbin case area? I also look for that last little thread in the case that will cause the nest.
Just a thought..

Yes, I always do pull the bobbin thread up before I start, so it's not that...

Taking out the bobbin case and cleaning it does sometimes help, but not today. The weird thing was that it happened almost every time I started sewing the actual quilt, but not nearly so much on the practice piece (same fabric and batting), so I did wonder if maybe it was something to do with my technique as I started, maybe being a little less relaxed when it was the quilt?

My machine makes a "clunk" sound when I lower the feeddogs. Could this be what it is? If it is just when you first start, perhaps the feeddogs are not completely dropping until you start to sew.

needless to say....feeddogs are down....
and yes...take a couple straight stitches before you start
the quilting.....

are you holding onto your bobbin thread so it does not go back down thru the quilt....quilt very slowly in the beginning....

Is this that troublesome Janome AGAIN?!!!! I'm sure there must be a problem - get it serviced by a Janome approved engineer then book yourself in for some lessons. These problems are apparently unsolvable by online advice from any forum. :?

No, it's not that - they're definitely down - the machine's been set up for quilting for the past couple of weeks.

Yes, I'm afraid it is THAT machine again! But I don't give up easily.. I've spent so much on having it checked and serviced and then being told it's fine - and I really don't think I'm THAT incompetent! When it decides to play, as it has for the past week or so, we get along OK, and I now have a stippled quilt to prove it! But I'm going to an FMQ workshop next week, so it'll be interesting to see how that goes.

Thanks Deborah. I wonder if I'm trying to get up speed too quickly? Will try a gentler start.

yes that is very possible.....
If when you lower the feedogs they make such a noise...maybe do it a couple time to really make sure they are down...down...

Today this has only happened a couple of times. I think it may have been because I didn't start off slowly or smoothly enough. Hope so anyway, as that's easily fixed! Thanks for all the help.

start slow then increase speed. always make sure you have both thread tails in your hand when you start so the bobbin tail does not go under......

Honestly, one of the things that has really helped me is QUILT VERY SLOWLY IN THE BEGINNING! I have been told the bobbin begins spinning faster than you think in FMQ.

Make sure you start with a FULL bobbin, new needle (I use a 90), and have de-linted the machine, drop feeddogs and go slow at first. Holding the ends of the thread so they can not backfeed into that terrible esty thing is a must _ HOLD THEM TIGHTLY !!!

I surely do hope the info here on your post helps. Nothing like trying to FMQ and go wacky from it all

:roll:
JUlie

Ah - that might explain things. I'm using a bobbin washer for the first time: need to in order to get the tension right. That might increase the speed at which the bobbin spins. So starting slowly is definitely the way to go. I probably had more problems on the quilt than the practice piece because I was more tense when I was about to sew the real thing.

Thankyou all for your help!