So I just got the Grace Frame set up and ready to try out the quilter, which is also set up but maybe not correctly? I am getting a 'birds nest' on the back of the fabric and a cluster of threads caught in the bobbin area. I need help!

Hi,
When you start to quilt only sew one or two stitches then pull up your bobbin thread through to the top.
You do this by raising the foot and moving the machine a little and pulling on the top thread until the bobbin thread comes through. When the bobbin thread is left under your project it tends to make a mess like this.
You can go to you tube and type in pulling up bobbin thread and there is a demo.
irene

make Sure you put the foot down, so many people forget with a quilting machine, and as was said, pull the bobbin thread to the top, hold it and take a few tiny stitches then cut it off, be sure to cut it off or you'll get tangled in it

To me this is the hardest thing to remember to put the foot down. I don't know why, because you do it on the sewing machine when you piece, but it seems to be something I always forget to do on the frame. Had to put a note on the wall that says" Now I put my foot down"

Okay the foot was down. I did pull the bobbin thread up I assumed it was like my embroidery machine and needed to do that. I forgot to mention one thing in my previous post. The needle won't go down to the bobbin now.

Make sure your bobbin is threaded correctly. Sometimes I put my bobbin in wrong (counter-clockwise instead of clockwise). Also check your tensions on your machine. Are your feed dogs down?

Don't forget to check your needle. It can be installed backwards and cause the same problem.

Hi take a deep breath and exhale...... Okay, I had this same exact problem with my bailey. Birds nests, needle jammed, me sweating and NOT enjoying my new acquaintance. So, the solution is simple, of course make sure threaded right, there are two areas on top of machine where thread goes over the levers, those have to have the little black rubber stoppers on them, next 100% cotton thread (did not like my sulky thread). Of course put foot down, now your ready Except the bailey needs to sew holding still for a good hour( no kidding,I was shocked) to warm up, lubricate, whatever so while it's on the frame keep your Bailey in place and just move the fabric. I used alot of scraps, use a real sandwich batting too. Now before I start any quilt I do a small 6x6 swatch just to warm her up. I hope this works for you. Let me know. By the way my Bailey and I are great friends now that we have gotten to know eachother :)

also there is a Bailey "support group"on yahoo.

From the photo it looks like your bobbin case is not clicked all the way in. That little lever part has to fit into it's slot.

no one said to hold your top thread till you take those first stiches

yeah I did (say hold the thread for a few stitches)

I am still having trouble. I have checked the threading to make sure its done as directed. I have double checked the bobbin casing it appears that its installed correctly, and that the bobbing thread is going in the correct direction. I tried hand turning the knob and moving the machine over the fabric and it appeared to be doing fine. Then I started using the speed regulator button and it appeared to be doing fine until the thread broke - URGH!!! So I re-threaded it and started again. I accidentally hit the button on the regulator when trying to pull up the bobbin thread - now the needle is stuck in the down position and I cannot turn the knob to get it up. It might be slightly bent at this point...

Maybe it's time you called chuck at the Bailey company, he was very helpful. Did you sew for about an hour without moving the machine like I suggested? I know it sounds nuts but seriously you need to try it. Or worked on mine and Chuck told me that seems to be the biggest issue, cause we are anxious to quilt right away.

I wish I could sew for that long at all... the most I get is 30 seconds. grrr!

When I got my Bailey I was having the same problem and Grrrr. Very frustrating. Tried all the suggestions given - still no luck. Then I actually looked carefully at my threading and I found it was not in the proper place as I went around the tension disc. I was threading it from the side as it was on the frame and I guess I didn't get it right. Anyhow, after figuring that out, it has worked like a dream since then. No problems, no broken threads ever. You will love this machine.

Cheryl, I forgot to mention that, it is sooo east to think you have it between the disc but it may actually be just in a crack! Kristen when you get it figured out you won't regret your purchase I promise. I went thru a lot getting the kinks out and just getting to know BabyGirl Bailey, I told my husband one time if I could get it to the window I'd chunk the damn thing out(two story house)! but now I ove her. :)

Could you take a picture of that area and post it here? I want to make sure I am not doing the same thing. thank you. I am sure I will eventually be really happy with her its just frustrating right now. I wish the instructions had better pictures along with the directions and labeled pictures of the pieces so I could verify what is what.

Hi Kristen.

I tried to take a picture but don't know if you can see what it is. Stand on a stool so you can look from the top. I used a stileto to try to point to the place. If you look down you see springs toward the back and the thread discs in the front. Make sure your threads are not in the springs. That was causing my problems.

THANK YOU! I will have to check that. I looked at that and wasn't sure where it was supposed to be lining up.

I just got my Baileys home quilter, a week ago now. I find it difficult to remember to put the foot down and when I did that it left a big mess on the back of the quilt and jammed it almost every time, it was frustrating. When I first put the bobbin case together, I tried to put it together wrong. Make sure after you put the round fork part in, then put the next piece with the flat side out, I was trying to do it the opposite way and remember to put the pin-like raised point in center and the other 2 sides, move the flaps over top of the raised pin-like areas. When you put the bobbin in it clicks into place. I have finished my first quilt now, didn't do any fancy work, just stitched in the ditch. I have it on my bed and am very happy with my quilt I finished. My husband likes it too.

Janny40, good job working out all the kinks. I love quilting with my Bailey.

charmar100
 

I just got my Baileys Pro 17 a week or so ago and had all kinds of problems with it. It turned out to be the thread kept coming out of the lifter and then that took it out of the tension springs. I was so frustrted I wanted to send the machine back. Then my husband put shrink tubing on the lift and it started working. I was able to quilt all weekend. I decided to practice again this evening before I put a real quilt top on the frame and now, the machine will not sew. It runs and I can pull the thread up, make a stitch or two, then it starts sewing long stitches and pretty soon there is no bobbin thread. I have removed the bobbin and took the whole case apart, reassembled it and no luck. Any suggestions for what I am doing wrong?

I am new to the longarm quilting also and I purchased a Baileys Pro 15 off craigslist with a frame at a really reasonable price. When I first started it up I was haveing the issue of the nesting underneath and it was a tension adjustment that fixed mine. But then one of the sensors was bad and had to wait for that to come in. It finally did and now I have an issue with the needle gettin jammed in the down position. It does fine in the beginning then all of a sudden it just the needle jams in the down position and I have t remove the whole bobbin assembly to release it. I have changed the needles plus broke a few. The needles I am using is what came with it. The manual I have does not specify what size needle. Can anyone help. I have tried I think eveything. But Im new to this longarm stuff so I might be missing someing. Thanks and sorry for long post.