Hi everyone,

I seem to be breaking a lot of needles when doing free motion quilting. I have lowered my feed dogs, put my pressure foot tension down as far as possible. What else can I do? The owner of my local Husqvarna shop suggested using a hoop. Any other suggestions.

Thanks

are they hitting something and breaking? maybe your moving the fabric while the needle is down? we all have trouble geeting our timing right at first

I guess my 1st question would be what kind of needle are you using? Sometimes I use the denim...sometimes the quilting....sometimes the topstitch.

Then it just might be a timing issue on your part. It is hard to find just the right rhythm sometimes...

Are you using a hopping foot? I had given up on ever being able to do free motion quilting until I starting using a hopping foot for free motion quilting. I'm still no expert but it's one hundred percent better than it was before.

that would also be my question. Are you using the right foot? I just started fmq myself and I have a very old husqvarna too. My needles break if I pull the fabric the tinyest bit.

What size needle are you using? It may be too fine. I usually piece with a size 80 needle but fmq with a size 90.

Is a spring loaded darning foot the same as a hopping foot?

I was told by a knowlegeable friend that a certain Husqvarna would not do free motion quilting so I didn't buy this used machine. It was a machine about 10 years old or so.

Yes, the spring loaded darning foot is the "hopping foot" Marge

I am using the foot that hops. I have been told by the store owner that this machine is a good one for fmqing. I have a machine quilting needle in it right now that is a size 80. Maybe I need to try a 90 instead, and then maybe I should try some different size needles.

This wouldn't be a Sapphire would it? I have one, and had the same trouble.

Check that the thread isn't getting hung up somewhere along the thread path - it can even snag on the spool. If you have the spool on the horizontal spindle, try the vertical. A separate thread holder might help, too.

It's also possible that you nicked the needle plate after you broke a needle. You can use crocus cloth - a very, very fine sandpaper - to smooth out any burrs you might feel.

If this is a Sapphire, make sure it's set up for free motion quilting. There's an item in the tools section for "pivot height," and you can try to set this to -2 --that hint is actually buried in the users manual.

I hope this helps - good luck.

Janet

in the juki machine on the grace quilter I use 16/18 needles....after the quilt relaxes the holes don't stand out.

Loretta is absolutely right...you need to try all these things, then you need to "hold your mouth just right"..well, thats what my Mom used to always say..

and then stick your tongue out the corner of your mouth just the tiniest bit.....lol. Good luck , hope you figure out the problem, it can be very frustrating.

I have been using size 90 topstitch needles... they seem to do well for me, and also if I choose to FMQ with embroidery threads.
Thank you for answering my question :D:D:D

Are you quilting too fast. I was having trouble with thread breaking and I think I am quilting too fast. Quilting slower gives you more control too.

thanks for asking this question, I've been having the same problem but just on one particular quilt. I never thought of using a denim needle. It's a Christmas quilt (well not gonna be done this year!) and I used some cheap polyester batting because it's just a wall hanging, plus some thick muslin for the backing. I'm going to pick up some denim needles and give it another try.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I got some very very fine sandpaper, and smoothed out the throat plate. I did try a size 16 jeans needle, and my thread kept fraying, so I went back to a 14 quilting needle, and I did not break a needle at all. When I told my dh about some of the suggestions, he liked the sandpaper idea, so that was one of the first things I tried this morning.

This board is wonderful with so many knowledgeable people on it.

Thanks again

Fast feet, slow hands. If you are moving your fabric too fast, your needle will break. Slow your hands down and see if it helps. Thanks, GG

My bobbin winder on my Viking Designer I sometimes winds threads too tightly. If I happen to be free motion quilting quickly, the bobbin thread pulls on the needle and causes it to break. If I unwind a few inches of thread from the bottom and cut it off, I'm sometimes lucky enough to reach a part of the bottom that has been wound better and then my fmq goes smoothly. If not, I change my bobbin and try again.

I read all the other suggestions and they are right on. Here's another one. Does your machine have a 1/2 speed or can you adjust the machine speed. Remember to bring up your bobbin thread and when you start sewing don't jerk to get started. Make you some quilt sandwiches and practice first, then move on over to your project. Relax and enjoy your creativity.

Hus has what is called FAB U MOTION I bought one & it is wonderful

I found the reson for breaking needles is that you are moving your fabic to fast. try slowing down and make sure your thread is not catching on anything. hope this helps. Hot Grandma well my grandaughter thinks so anyway.

I also have a husquvarna and had the same problem with the needle and the thread, tried all I could think of as well as the problem solver section in the handbook. It turned out to be the thread, was using gutterman varigated @ $13.99 for 300yrds. But it could be worse the machine could have been at fault.
Another thing that can happen is if you move your hands faster than the needle is going you will break needle as it gets pulled to the side and hits the needle plate. hope this helps.

Some of the varigated thread is a little thicker. Try using a topstitch or embroidery needle, that should keep your thread from breaking :D:D:D

good suggestions ... the bigger needle (and, just because a needle is new, doesn't mean that the needle doesn't have burrs - - nothing is perfect <g>)
The hopping/darning/embroidery foot (and, I found out that if you don't lower the presser foot, even though it isn't touching the fabric, your life won't be worth nothin'! <g>)
And, slowing down ... not moving your hands as fast as the machine is going ... a little like patting your head and rubbing your tummy, but a consistent, moderate speed will make a nice stitch, (a good tip even for those of us with stitch regulators )
And, bring your bobbin thread up to the top of the quilt BEFORE you take off quilting ... it is the only way I know of to avoid a rat's nest in the back, and if you have never had one - - you will ... even quilting machines require that one step ...
Enjoy! <wave>

What stitch length are you using? I had been told to set it at 0 now that really broke my needle a lot as I was trying to move the quilt while the needle was down. I change it to 2 and it works great but I am still afraid to FMQ because I hate the needle breaking sound - I scream and my dog runs through the house barking and this wakes my husband - that opens a whole can of different issues. Good luck Emily

:lol: :lol: Emily....you seem to have a whole nest of problems past the needle breaking... :lol: :lol:

I have Viking Designer 1 & never had problems with the bobbin winder. Did you ask your dealer about it?

I just finished a king sized color falls quilt that I fmq'd on my Viking Sapphire. I w as breaking needles too, until I realized that I didn't have the quilt supported well enough on the table, and it was pulling just enough against the needle to let it hit the plate. Try making sure that all the weight is supported well on the table or on your shoulders.