Ok, I finally gave up. While I'm still new at free motion stitching, I've done pretty well until today. I was working on a sm. sandwich pc. before I went to my new wallhanging when I started breaking needles. After rethreading & rethreading amd checking out everything I could imagine, I continued to break needles until I lost seven needles. So I had to give up.

Can any of you help me figure out what's going on? I'v done a few tablerunners without this prob. I thought maybe I was pulling my sandwich a bit too hard & bent the needles but I really tried not to. I'm frustrated & desperate for help.

Ok, this might sound stupid, but when I first started FMQ, I kept forgetting to put the presser foot down. Because it doesn't grab the fabric as hard as a normal presser foot, I couldn't distinguish as easily between it's up and down position, and kept forgetting to put it down. That led to a lot of problems, including broken needles. I still feel pretty silly about it, but I can't be the only one who has ever done that (I hope!)

Also, make sure you're using the correct type of needle for your machine and inserting it properly.

Try checking the manual for trouble shooting, or just not the day to sew this.
Know this wasn't helpful, but will send a {{{ hug }}} and a hope for better results soon !! :)

Ok, I have had that problem too. One time I forgot to drop my feed dogs (dah) and most times, it is because I am moving too fast. Good Luck! Don't give up!

Duuuh, I just might have forgotten the presser ft. I'll go try again & be sure it's down. As for needle, what type are you referring to?

is the thread snagging on anything? can you sew a straight line without it breaking?

take out the bobbin, and clean the area out..oil it if you have the wick in the bobbin holder, just a drop.

by chance is the spool on right? it's not catching on the little notched out part on the bottom? (which should be on the top,so you just flip the spool around. )

widh i was there to help..

No to all of these. My machine doesn't require oiling according to the tech who just serviced it. As for the thread catching on the notch on the spool, I sure hate when that happens. I've ck'd everything mentioned so far. I'm going to go try again just to be sure it wasn't the foot left up. I had the feeddogs down.

This was the big mystery to me. I took off my FM foot & raised my feed dogs & just tried straight sewing. Worked fine. I'm going to run upstairs & try again & be sure to watch for all of the suggestions so far.

sometimes, it's best to walk away from the machine,and sew tomorrow! lol

I just mean using the right needle for your machine. I have three machines - a Kenmore, a Brother, and a Bernina, and they all take different needles. I can't just buy any old thing from Joann's and use it. The needles aren't interchangeable between machines.

When I had these problems, I was going "backwards" what machine are you using?

please tell me you have a cover plate with a large hole area and not a small one for only straight stitching!!
and you need a darning foot (one with a spring on the shaft).

You're not the only one - I did that several times today. When I'm using a walking foot I have a hard time telling if it's up or down unless I feel for the lever thing. LOL

Thank goodness it's not just me!

This is what I thought for a long time. I finally found my problem. You won't believe it. It had nothing to do with my machine (Viking) or needles or anything like that. It was the piece I was working with. It's one of those pads where you fold ea. pc. in half then lay them criss crossed on ea. other. Then you turn it inside out. It was TOO thick. It has I think 6 layers & my needles just did not like that much thickness.

I started to work with a 3 layer pc. & it worked just fine. I even got my wallhanging done. Here is a pix without the binding. Just don't look closely at my pattern though. Or lack of one. LOL I should have done what some of you suggested & put it down for today but I was so determined since I gave myself permission to spend the day at my mach.

You'll see it's my version of Patti's beaut. flower basket. I just couldn't get the soft colors she used though. I still love hers best but mine is fine for me.

I want to thank all of you who gave me advice on how to solve my problem. I knew all of you could help.

Cute wallhanging! I love the yo-yos. And am glad you found out what your problem was.

I put batting behind the basket to give it dimension then free motioned it. Since I was only working from a pix of Patti's basket, I had to invent part of it.

So very cute after a very trying time at your machine! Love seeing how yo-yo's can be used. Success!!!! Aaahhhh!

DID YOU MEAN FEED DOGS? NOT PRESSER FEET.

nope, I meant presser foot. I know, I know, but I kept doing it! For some reason it's difficult for me to tell when the darning foot is down, compared to the other feet, so I think I've put it down when I haven't. My presser foot lever is in the back of the machine, so I can't see it when sewing. Then I start FMQ and either break a needle or get a tangle of thread. I end up cussing, cutting stitches out, and starting over.

I can't tell you how many times I have done this, spent two hours Unsewing once because it messed up on the back.

i LOVE LOOKING AT YOUR HAPPY BOUQUET. :lol:

Beautiful bouquets. No, none of the machines like 6 layers. Glad you figured out the problem & now you can get on with your piecing & quilting.

That part didn't occur to me til I noticed how stiff my piece was. Now it has 2 1/2 sections done. Guess it's a goner. No more 6 layers for me. I had no trouble building the pc. in the beginning. That lesson cost me 10 needles. Just couldn't give up til I figured it out. I don't know if that makes me dumb or persistant. LOL

That is a pretty wall hanging. Gotta love those flowers. Great job and I'm glad you figured out the problem

What a gorgeous piece! I have done the same thing breaking needle after needle until I realized the layers were too much for the needle I was using.

Thank you. I'm so glad I'm not the only one with that prob. then. Only cost me 10 needles to figure it out. Sure won't do that again.

The first one of us who can claim to be perfect, well that's saying a lot. The more I rush, the more mistakes I make.

ARE YOU USING A WALKING FOOT? IF NOT THAT MAY BE THE PROBLEM.

How adorable! Glad you found the problem.

Been there, done that a few times.

great quilt. Now I want to make one! glad you figured out the problem.

Right, if you're SEWING too SLOW and are moving the fabric too fast, it will break a needle.

Absolutely beautiful. Glad you found your problem and didn't give up. You put a lot of work into that quilt.

ooooh i love the yo-yos. do you mind if i copy you some day? did you tack your yo-yos down in the middle?

Thank you but I can't take full credit. I copied it from Patti's basket which she posted on here awhile back. Hers was so beaut. in soft pastel colors. I just knew I had to make one.

Yes, for my part, you may copy mine. As for my yo-yos, I actually hot glued them on. I felt that was the most secure way. The flower part of the wallhanging is rather heavy.

That's what I thought was my prob. in the beginning but it got so all I had to do was 2 stitches & the needle broke. Talk about frustrated. I was able to get part of it done before this started. Once I figured out my prob. that pc. I did get stitched was stiff as a board. I had to toss it out since it was so unfinished. It was a 10" mat. I forgot to mention it also had a layer of Insul Brite. I should buy stock in the needle company. LOL

Lovely!

I have a Viking, too, and have found that I need a more heavy duty needle when FMQ - a 90 usually. I don't put the feed dogs down even with a darning foot and actually have more even stitches that way.

I think it was 90s I was using. I admit I need to learn more about diff. needles though. Are you saying you don't put the feed dogs down even for FMQ? I don't understand how that can work. I may be misunderstanding what you're saying though. I found that my uneven stitches are due to my speed. I tend to slow down my speed when I shouldn't. I'm so new at it though but I'll get it eventually. I'm sure enjoying it. Thanks so much for your help.