Frustrated - ready to give up fmq
 

Whenever I fmq, my top thread keep breaking. I have tried different threads and lowered the tension but it keeps happening. very frustrated. Any advice?

You will soon get lots of good advice here but my first thoughts are - are you sure your machine is threaded correctly? Needle in correctly? And are you bringing up your bobbin thread and putting the presser foot down? Wait for more suggestions and then let us know how it goes.

Try a needle with a larger hole, such as denim or metallic. Sometimes thread breaking is due to moving the fabric too fast. Try slowing down just a bit.

I had to put on music. It helped me move my fabric at an even tempo. Slow down. All else fails take a class on fmq.

Try changing the brand of thread too. My machine like to shred threads too and it shreds threads like Mettler but Guttermann seems to be the one that it likes. I also have less problems if I leave my feed dogs up and change the stitch length to zero. Keep trying :)

What machine are you using? What kind of thread? What kind of Needle? This will help us help you. You could be pulling the fabric thru and not sliding it. You may have to much pressure on your foot. Your fabric needs to glide thru. You may be moving your hands to fast for what your machine can handle. You may without realize it put to much pressure or drag on the fabric causing tension on the needle and thus the thread. Most Domestics like a slow waltz pace and you have be moving easy and smooth.

Also what thread my machine likes when I piece will break when I try and FMQ

On most all machines, your tension doesn't change when you turn the dial if the pressure foot is engaged.

What foot are you using? I hated FMQ till I started using an open toe darning foot of good quality. I'm still not good at it, but I'm not frustrated any more.

Have you tried starting with fairly small quilt sandwiches, maybe placemat size or even slightly smaller? That way you can eliminate drag as one of the culprits and look at other possibilities like the type of needle, thread tension, etc.

Try using a new topstitch needle in 90/14 size. Worn needles can cause thread to shred.

Also be aware that build up of thread can also cause thread breakage, so if you are trying to quilt a pattern that requires travel stitching along the same path multiple times, that can cause breakage if you are not using a good strong thread.

Check your needle plate for burs, they can also cause thread breakage.

Make sure your bobbin is inserted into the bobbin case properly. Check your manual to see if the thread from your bobbin should hang down from the left or the right side as you insert it into the bobbin case. An incorrectly threaded bobbin case can cause top thread breakage

Next, using a small practice sandwich try the following:

With your presser foot up, loosen your top tension slightly.

Thread your machine, making sure your presser foot is up so the thread goes into the tension discs correctly. Thread your needle. If you lowered your presser foot when you threaded your needle, raise it and pull the end of your thread toward the back of the machine, it should feel smooth and have little to no resistance. If you feel resistance or it doesn't pull smoothly, rethread.

Using a small practice sandwich try the following:


Relax your upper body and try to move your hands smoothly. Start out moving in a line or a gentle curve to see how that feels. Don't try changing direction, just go in straight lines, or gentle curves at first. Try to speed up your machine without speeding up your hands. If your machine has a slider bar to control the speed do not set it too slow, better to start out with the machine a little too fast for your hand movement than the other way around. Try some straight lines and gentle curves moving from front to back, then try some from left to right, etc. Next, try doing some large circles. If you are having success with those movements and no thread breakage, it's time to try doing changes of direction. Start out with something easy like a series of undulating horizontal or vertical lines. Once you're able to do those it's time to work on an easy all over pattern like stipples.

Hope all that helps.
Rob

You may want to try Sewers Aid. It's a silicone lubricant for thread. I wouldn't FMQ without it.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...id-t65173.html

I use Sewer's Aid on all my thread. The Bernina tech and Brother/Janome tech told me it will not cause a problem with the machine if used as directed.

A couple things that haven't been mentioned...

You could also loosen the bobbin case tension. Or there could be a burr on your hook.

Removing the needle plate and cleaning the bobbin area is a great idea, too.

I had a similar problem and after rethreading, changing needles for size and type I discovered that the foot to my FMQ foot was loose. I have a Janome 8900 which has three interchangeable feet to FMQ (open toe, closed toe and round plastic). The screw that holds that part of the foot on had become loose and I didn't notice it and it allowed enough give in the stitching to break the thread. I also adjusted the pressure of the foot against the fabric to be a little more so the fabric stayed closer to the bed of the machine. Between those two I was up and running.

If you have a speed control on your machine I found it helpful to find your "sweet spot" speed wise and then all you have to worry about is regulating the speed with which you move your hands since you can just push down on the foot pedal without having to control the speed of the needle.

Considering finding a quilt shop which will assist you....you bring in your machine, threads, needles and quilt...for a nominal fee the personnel will teach you, usually

Use a polyester thread! Something like Isaacord or Madeira. That is what Leah Day uses...and it is wonderful!

I've FMQ on several different machines- and I have one that simply will not do it nicely - broken or missed stitches. And it happens to be my main sewing machine too, so I was ready to give up.

But then I tried it using my old Singer 15 with a hopping foot- and I can do almost anything with it. I've tried several others, but so far I've not found one that does better than the Singer 15 (and I've done it with three different 15's with good results on all of them).

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...psc10bdb62.jpg

I use it for smaller projects and embellishments that I don't want to do with the long arm.

I had one quilt and was trying to FMQ border only. Just 3-4 inches wide and using the same machine I always use. It just would NOT work, thread broke every few stitches. Tried everything, nothing helped. Finally I switched to another machine and was able to finish it. Wished I hadn't. Never did like the way it looked though I had been sure it was what I wanted to do.
I think my machine was trying to tell me something! and I wouldn't listen........
And by the way, have had no further issues with the machine.

I use a size 90/14 or 100/16 top stitch needle. I don't have problems with the thread breaking once I changed to using the top stitch needles. Slow down on the curves and that will help also.
Sharon in Texas

I agree with Tartan and Rob. Slow down because you won't get even stitching by speeding. You have to be able to match a comfortable speed on your machine and move the quilt as the DSM would have.

I read all the suggestions, but one idea was missed. Your needle might have a burr. Even with all the quality controls needle companies have (and they take pride in the product they make) sometimes you get a bad needle. Try replacing it? I find a bad needle about once every few years. I just accept it as a cost of doing business. Also, make a sample sandwich to test on, until it works right. (I make my test samples all 12.5" in certain colors, so I can use them in QAG)

Before you start messing with the adjustments on your machine..try going slowly...slow machine speed, slow hand movements. I think most people watch the videos of the professionals and don't realize that they have longarms and stitch regulators..us mere mortals need to start slowly till we get the hang of it!

When I have those days I do this: Make sure you have a clean machine. Rethread even though you know it is threaded right, change my needle to a denim #16. If you are already using a 16 then put a new 16 in. Put stitch length to "0" One of those things usually fixes it in my experience. You will get lots of good advice so hopefully someone can help

Try using a needle with a bigger eye.

Lots of great suggestions here! One other thing...

Make sure when your thread breaks to clip the thread up by the spool & then pull the thread from the needle down to remove the cut thread. That will help pull out any little fuzzies in the thread run. I got a tiny grey fuzzy caught in my thread run the other day & the thread snapped. Sure enough, when I pulled the cut thread down, the fuzzy came out. I rethreaded my machine & was good to go. You might even try doing that a couple of times before you start up again. It will clean any tiny fuzzies or bits of thread out to ensure it travels smoothly to your needle.

I would try turning off the machine, putting in a new needle, rethreading both top thread and bobbin, then try again.. Then try on a practice piece

OP Breathe, as you can see by reading all the replies many of us, probably most of us have had this problem at one time or another.

I have not seen this comment.

My 20+ year old Kenmore - made by Janome - always shreds thread if I mix poly and cotton thread. It was never the needle, tension, threading, just a mix of thread types. Of course I forget at times, but she reminds me pretty quick.

I have not tried mixing thread types on my new Janome 2030.

I also would say, I try to avoid seams. Some threads have weak places in them. Look close at the thread after it has broken. I pull off about 12 or more inches. Be sure to relax, that helps too. The more often you FMQ the better you will get. Just keep trying and you will get it.

Most teachers will strongly recommend you draw, draw, draw on paper to practice . Fill a sketchbook (use big, cheap tablets). You have to build muscle memory and that only comes with repetition. I say all this as one who was on the verge of giving up, too, nit long ago. Then I started on solid color sandwiches, and now I am getting the hang of it and ....drumroll please... really liking it. :thumbup:You can do this!

Give your machine a good cleaning - the bobbin area, take it apart to get all the lint out. A new needle frequently helps. And remember, it's not a race. Take your time and move it along slowly!

Free motion..... You love it or hate it. Why do you think there are so many longarmers in business?! A few things that might help. Thread shreds because it's not moving through the needle properly. It's either too big or too small. So start with a basic quilt set up. Needle: 90/14 universal Thread: cotton 50 weight Batting: low loft!!!! Quilt top: good fabric Foot: name brand made for your machine. Don't buy third party feet. If you have a Janome buy a foot made by Janome. Use good materials. Don't think because you're a beginner you shop in the dollar bin. Bad material make bad product. And finally, and this is the hardest one to hear, FMQ is one of the most stressful things you can do to your machine. They don't all handle it well. I live to FMQ but it's one of those things that you material and your machine make all the difference. Good luck and if you love it don't give up

Wow this is such a timely posting. I like you avoided free motion quilting. Whenever I would attempt it the back was all laddered and looked terrible. Then several weeks fmq was brought up and several many members gave some tips. I thought I must try again. I am proud to say I have just completed fmq a lap quilt. It turned out pretty well. I would post a picture, but it is in the washing machine. I also used Elmer school glue basting my quilt so I need to wash it out. Elmer school glue for basting is another tip I learned from this board. So here are the methods for fmq that work fro me. Before you begin. Pracitice and practice drawing the pattern you want to use. I used a pen and the Sunday paper. You need to imprint the pattern in your brain. (Or at least I needed to). The I did the following; 1. Use a 90/14 needle. 2. Use ths same colour thread in the bobbin as the top. 3. Spray baste, or use Elmer school glue to baste your quilt. 4.DON'T DROP YOUR FEED DOGS. BUT DO USE YOUR HOPPING DARNING FOOT. I tried using both methods, but dropping the feed dogs didn't give me the control I needed.
5. Practice, Practice, practice.

I find a glass of wine helps me to relax and improves my free motion.