I have a question on free motion quilting. I do practice runs on the same kind of material and batting to get my tension set. And then I start the quilt. It is very hard to get a nice pretty stitch on the back of the quilt no matter how much time I spend getting the machine set. Then when you have to put in a new bobbin in the middle of the quilt, I almost need to remove the quilt and do some more test runs. I have a Bernina 170 and was not satisfied with the stitching on it. I brought a Elna 7200 with the wider area and in all honesty the stitch on the bottom is sure not what I thought it would be. Please help with suggestions. I have a pretty decent looking stitch on top.

Your practice stitching is coming out fine? That sure is a mystery. Is the problem that the stitches are uneven on the backside of your quilt...or are there little "nests" or loose loops of thread when you look? Every machine seems to be different, but with mine (Janome) both the tension, feed dogs and presser foot have to be adjusted to darning. That seems to solve the balls and loops of thread problem. If it's the stitches that're uneven, that's practice, practice, practice! I always have to remember to relax and watch my machine speed. Hope this helps :D

My biggest problem is that on the bottom it looks like the thread could be pulled out in one pull. So it has to be the tension setting. The practice piece has a few places where the bottom thread looks like it is laying on the top of the material. Sometimes I wonder if I am pulling it too fast. I know it takes practice.

I seem to have this same problem with free motion quilting. Top stitches look great but bottom looks like it's all over the place. I haven't practiced enough I suppose, and feel discouraged to do this, even tho I want to sooo bad! Bernina has a new foot out now to help with this...unfortunately I don't have a bernina. sometimes I feel there is still too much space between my quilt and foot. It can be very frustrating!!!

I remember when the stiching on my practice quilt was looking good. So I started on the real quilt and it was like I never sewed a stich in my life.

I figured out I was so nervous that I would mess up that I did. At first was going way to slow then got a little faster. Also noticed the certain motions were easy to do then other and iI would speed up on a certin design turn.

The thing you need most to remember is find a comfortable pace for youself and practice practice practice Enjoy and go with the flow on free motion don't fight it

I've been quilting for a few years now, and am still terrified of free-motion quilting! I wish I could do it, but the idea of messing up my quilt with a wonky needle or crazy stitches keeps me with a hoop and needle....

taketimetosew, i know EXACTLY what you're talking about. i have a singer engenuity(sp) i have spots that are perfect, top and bottom then i have spots that look like the top tension is 0. i know if you change directions too fast it will do it, just about the time i get a good rythm going i run out of room or bobbin thread. in other words.i feel your pain. the one i'm working on now i'm going to finish then look at the back and take some of it out and do it over. some of it i will just have to grit my teeth and accept becuase i can't aford a longarm (machine or quilter) and i aint gonna live long enough to do them all by hand. i know i didn't help you any but at least ya know that it's not just you! LOL
kathy

thank goodness for that...I was beginning to doubt my abilities... I have a hard time slowing down cause I want to see the end results of a quilt so i can start on another one. You've made me feel better...I am not alone!!!!

have you figure it out you have to have more then one going at all times.

you always run out of bobbin thread just as you finaly get settlte on a good pace and everything is going smooth. then you start up and back at square one. Gotta love quilting

I'm not trying to be a brat here, but I started free motion quilting about a yr and a half ago. I praticed and praticed, till I got my speed in check. I'm not experiencing any problems that your talking about. My top and bottom stitches are good, I go with a large type stippling method. My problem is still with my turns every now and then, but I curve around instead of turning. If I turn to quickly, it skips a stitch or two. I haven't tried following a quilting pattern with free motion, So maybe thats why I'm not having those problems.