hello everyone........ so sorry that I havent been around but I've had some family issues.

On to my question........ I'm trying to complete a quilt and I'm down the free motion part and I keep getting these "eyelash" looking things on the back of my quilt. I've adjusted the tention up and down... and I'm kind of at a loss right now. I've been working on it for about 4 hours (just the tension) not the quilt.

I have a Designer 1 machine.....

Thank you :)

It may be how fast you are running your machine vs how fast you are moving your quilt around :wink:

Kimmy, are you pulling your bobbin thread to the top of the quilt before you start stitching?

Try re threading your machine. Sometimes the upper looper comes out and it is not easy to see. Just pull the thread out completely and thread the machine again.

do you have some sort of lint or anything stuck somewhere in your threading route. also check the bobbin. I am still thinking it has to do with tension but as to where I am guessing. If you have eyelashes then it is the upper tension tha tis way off.

ok thank you all very much........ I'm going to try all these things in a little while.......right now I'm so stinking frustrated with this quilt all I've done is cry..... :( But I will get it together in a few minutes and tey these things you all suggested :)

Thanks again :)

If your bobbin thread pulls out without any resistance, then it is the upper tension. When I get loops on the back, I find my upper thread is feeding too fast. I run my upper thread thru my bobbin winding hook. Do you have one on top of the machine?

Also: your thread. Thread that is wound on the spool like the old fashioned thread should stand on an upright spindle. If it is wound by crossing the threads around the spool, it should be layed on its side. Could this be the problem? Suz

is your foot down???? it must be.

Are you using monofilament thread or regular cotton/poly?

I had to same problem not to long ago. I had threaded my machine wrong. Rethreaded and all was well.

ok ............. I tryed everything that every one suggested..... and I'm still stuck. I turned the machine off and on, I re-threaded the machine top and bottom and I even took a bobbin in put it up top thinking that it was the thread up top and still no luck.

The top thread is being pulled through to the bottom. And I'm using the thread on a cone, it is standing behine my machine.

The thread is cotton thread.

And the thing is that I did a quilt about 4 or 5 months ago and I didnt have this problem. I've also tried using the foot contol and not using the foot control...... I'm stumpped.

Thanks for your help everyone :)

Turn you upper tension to 0 and turn it up 1/2 until the stitches are sewing like they are suppose to. I have to set my tension to 1 to get good stitches. If you have a bobbin winder that has a knob or lever to push to wind the bobbin be sure it is disengaged all the way. Even a fraction engaged will cause havoc with stitches. Also be double sure you are threading through the tension properly. Check your manual pictures even though you know it by heart. A few days ago my FMQ was going super for a few hours and then the thread started breaking. Never did figure that out. I just changed to another machine to finish up. I don't spend time fussing with a problem I go to my back up machine and let the problem work itself out. Usually by the time I get back to the problem machine it works fine again.

Regarding your thread, is it the same on the bottom as on top?
If you turn your tension knob to "O", there will be no tension on the top thread. I suggest going the other direction to perhaps 8 or 9 and then back off one number at a time.
Already suggested, but are you putting your presser foot down? It has to be down in order to engage the upper tension.
S

I have the same tension problem on my long arm. I'm not quilting much because it is so frustrating. I have turned the top tension knob so much, who knows where it is actually suppose to be. I've also turned the bobbin tension, which I hate to do. I think I'll never get it to where it's suppose to be. Wish there were pictures somewhere that tell us how to adjust for each problem. Like eye lashes on the back, adjust the top tension... which way.... If you have heavier fabric, like flannel, how do you adjust the tension. You would want less tension, right because your fabric sandwich is thicker???

If the top thread is going to the bottom, try adjusting the tension on your bobbin.

Use a different thread and also redo your bobbin. That had once worked for me. Also change the needle. Don,t give up.

Thank you all very much....... I'm so frustrated with it now that I just turned all the machine. :( I'm going to try again tomorrow...... my head hurts :P

I'll let you all know how it turns out :)

You have to be frustrated! I'm glad you're stopping for the night, good plan. Have you used this particular thread before? Like Rosalyne posted just above, how about changing your thread and needle. Put your tension back to what you use normally, and try again.

I also have a Designer I and turning the machine off doesn't reset ALL the settings. Start over, from the beginning.

I get those every time I try to go too fast around a curve. Frustrating, aren't they?

If your top thread is pulling to the back, your top tension is too loose. All the above mentioned situations can also play a part. I suggest you make a test sandwich and practice on it until you get the problem solved so you won't be worried about having to take the stitching out of your quilt. After a good night's sleep, rethreading the top and bottom I am betting it will be a lot better!

OMG!!! I fixed my tension problem. I have a Queen Quilter18 long arm. The tension has been a huge problem for months. This is what I did. Take the bobbin out, leave it in the case & pull on the thread. Does it pull out easily? or does the bobbin come off your hand with the thread. It should "bob" like a yo-yo. Not too loose so it flows freely, and not to tight that it brings the whole bobbin with it when you pull on the thread. Once you get the bobbin set, then adjust the top tension to match. Mine was almost 3 full turns to tight. Now quilting will be fun again! I'm so excited.

Good job quilter47. Have fun. You probably helped others who had the same problem. Roz

Home from work and I 'm going to start dinner then I'm going to fire up the machine again....... I'm also going to try a differnt needle. I'm using a 90 right now, so I'm going to drop down to a 70 and see what that gets me :)

yep, had eyelashes when I forgot to do this as well!

Ok I tryed everything everyone suggested....... and I chenaged the needle from a 90 to a 70 and "some" of the eyelashes have gone but not all of them....... I have class tonight but I will work more on it tomorrow. :)

Thanks again everyone :)

Kemmy 1476. Tighten your bobbin!!! Roz

How do I do that ? Do you have a designer 1 ? If so can you tell me how to tighten it ?

Thank you :-D

This sounds crazy but if you can't find a tension problem try misting you thread cone or putting it in the freezer for an hr. sometimes my thread drys out and this works for me. good luck.

You might try bobbin washers. They help the bobbin turn smoothly. This is an idea from Leah Day.com. I know I keep saying this but she has the best FMQ ideas I've found. Good idea to let it rest for the night! Keep on trying, the small test pieces are a great idea, also.
When I get frustrated I also like to read the Bitchy Stitcher's blog. She will make you laugh out loud!

Hi Kimmy. Hold the bobbin open side to your left and there is a little screw that you can turn to the right. Just do a 1/4" at a time. I hope this is the type of bobbin you have. Get out your manual also and go to trouble shooting sometimes we miss the smallest thing to make it right. Good luck. Roz Kimmey I should have said bobbin HOLDER DUH!

Kimmey !!! Good news I went on line and this is what I want you to type in. The help is right there on line. so here machine goes .type in designer 1sewing machine loose bottom thread.Roz

I had the same problem quilting and I was only doing SITD. I was asking about it on another thread, had other problems (stretching my blocks and getting tucks), too. I loosened the pressure on the presser foot, and put on another foot so I could use my walking foot. I'll bet my thread is dried out, too as I have not sewed in about two years. Next time I quilt, I am going to also try changing the tension, though. This just reminded me to change my presser foot pressure back again. Thanks to all of you once again! I just love, adore, and appreciate this board and all you wonderful quilters!!! :-D :-D :-D

I had the same problem. I finally rewound my bobbin and re-threaded my machine and whatever the problem was, was gone. Good luck!

Thank you all so much......... I'm very sick this weekend I have laryngitis and pink eye..... :( I'm afraid that if I touch that machine that it will just blow up. It been that kind of day.

Roz- You might just be my hero :) Thank you so much :)

I hope you feel better Kimmey! So glad I could help in some way. Take care and let us know how you accomplished fixing the machine. Roz