Help - Trouble shoot free motion quilting on Janome 6600
 

I have been trying off and on for a few years to learn to free motion quilt. Each time I really put my heart into it I do accomplish just a bit more - but by the time I am ready to try quilting something else I just can't do it. I just finished a baby quilt last month and was so happy with the quilting - front and back (just got it mailed yesterday - bummer). It was the first item I did a something other than practice blocks. I actually remembered to write down my settings and tried to duplicate it - but it is awful. I have move my settings all over the place. I am posting a picture front and back on a scrap block that I just tried on and you will see my top thread (on the back) is all loops. The picture of the machine is the settings that were used on that block. Of course that was about the 6th different settings I tried. Can anyone help me? I tried changing the needle - retreading the top and the bobbin thread to no avail. I'm not sure how much you can tell by these pictures. Thanks for even looking at my posting. Pat

[ATTACH=CONFIG]541740[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]541741[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]541739[/ATTACH]

They sell a bobbin case that has a blue dot on it. It really helped me with the eyelash problem. Also, I do not lower my feed dogs. I just set the stitch at 0. I also do not use the foot peddle. Move the fabric slowly around a curve. These things have improved my free motion on that machine. I still do not like to quilt by machine, but usually quilt by hand.

Is 5 the factory setting? I think the top tension is too loose and maybe you are moving the block a little too fast on the curves. I would tighten the top tension first and see if that helps. Good luck.
Sue

did you put your presser foot down? It looks like there was no upper tension at all.

I have a Janome 7700 and my tension is always better if I leave the feed dogs up and set the stitch length to 0. Keep trying, you will get there.

I agree with PaperPrincess. It looks like you forgot to put the pressure foot down. Also, it helped me to lower the speed where you have those arrows above your cut button. Set it half way so you are not trying to sew too fast. You will find the sweet spot of machine speed and moving the quilt.

This machine should tell you if you forgot to put the presser foot down.
When I FMQ my speed control is way down near the bottom range. This keeps my "lead foot" under control as I tend to speed up on curves, causing those eyelashes.
I also put my stitch length to 0 rather than drop my feed dogs.
On mine, it always runs around "4" for FMQ, but that's neither here nor there as all machines are different.
Also, on my machine, it doesn't like it if you have different thread in the top and bottom. I know you're trying to show the problem here and that's why you have two different threads, but mine acts funny when you do that, right off the bat.

Watson

I also bought the blue bobbin and it made a really big difference in my free motion I am certainly not good but better with every one I do.

The blue dot bobbin is a lifesaver, high five to you Janome.

Hope you get it figured out, I'm still in the practicing mode.

is the second picture the back??? If it is your top tension needs attention double check make sure the top is threaded correctly and increase the tension try it see how it looks if it still is loose go ahead and increase it again. Don't be afraid to adjust the tension. Hope this helps.

I have to crank my tension up pretty high....i have had it up to 8 or 9. I don't use the foot pedal anymore because my speed would vary too much (I have a led foot). I have never used the blue dot bobbin, maybe some day. I don't know what the trick is, I know that I try and try and when I am just about to give up it starts to work :)

Thanks so much for the reply, Spark - but I think I have already covered most those bases (thanks to help other times from all the board members). I have that bobbin case and also use a bobbin washer with it. I tried with the feed dogs up and down. I NEVER use the foot pedal - only tried it to see if it worked when I got the machine about six years ago. I'd be totally lost without the Start/Stop. I must say tho that I probably don't slow down enough on curves and that could be a big problem.

I agree - I'm sure it is too loose - I just kept changing the tension, one number at a time and that was where it was on the last try - out of about 20 tries - trying everything but turning the machine upside down - LOL. We do get desperate sometimes.

When I first started I had the white thread (same thread) in the top and in the bobbin. Thanks for the reply.

I have had this problem with different threads. I also ran into this when I had a bit of thread that got stuck inside the thread track in the machine, an aged but beloved Kenmore. I ended up doing a full clean and oil after that and the problem went away.

I have to set my tension around 7 or 8 on my 6600 when I FMQ... I also noticed your speed was to the right of middle... I personally wouldn't be able to FMQ that fast. I had not heard of a bobbin with a blue dot but it will be on my next shopping list. Good luck.

I have a 6600 and do a lot of machine quilting. I've got the tension thing wired now.
I learned all about tension from Cindy Needham and these two handouts really helped me:

http://www.cindyneedham.com/text/MAS...ION%202012.pdf
http://http://www.cindyneedham.com/t...ous%20Four.pdf do this one first.

When I quilt:
1. When I get those eyelashes, many times it's because the machine isn't threaded properly.
2. I never have the speed that high when I machine quilt. I have it on the lower half of the speed setting.
3. I find superior so fine 50 or bottom line in the bobbin helps, no matter what thread (any brand) I'm using in the top.
4. I keep the feed dogs up .
5. Interestingly enough, I very rarely set my top tension above 5. My machine may be adjusted differently than yours.
6. I have a blue dot bobbin case but not sure if it makes much difference.

I wish you were close by so we could put our heads together to solve this. It can get frustrating. Good luck!

I go back to my manual & walk through the settings recommendations.[ATTACH=CONFIG]541780[/ATTACH]

When I had something like this happen (actually more than once), it turned out to be a tiny piece of thread stuck in my bobbin tension path. Very hard to see and I had to use the head of a pin to remove, but it fixed it. Very frustrating because it was not readily visible. This has happened to both top loader and front loader bobbins for me.

Jmoore - just want to make a clarification before you go out shopping - it is a "blue dot" bobbin CASE that's been talked about - not a bobbin.

I finally got it going smoothly tonight - after fiddling around and changing setting back and forth. Yes, one of the things that helped was moving the tension to a higher number - even tho the manual suggests a lower number. It is a baby quilt and I only had time to get it half finished tonight and then I really hated to turn the machine off while it was going good....afraid it will forget what it was supposed to do by morning. ��

Don't know how I'd ever manage without this board. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!

I usually play around on a spare "sandwich" (2 pieces of scrap fabric made into a sandwich with batting in the middle) until i get the kind of stitch i am happy with. I do also use the blue bobbin case holder, the washer and supreme slider as advised by Leah Day.

i keep my dial on 3 and it looks like you have yours on 5. that is the only difference i see.

Yes, I also use the Supreme Slider and like it a lot. I sometimes wish I had the larger one but they are so pricey and I tell myself I only need it where my hands are and it works. I also use quilting gloves and I know I couldn't do it without the gloves....I see that when I start to quilt forgetting to put them on.

This thread is interesting because my 6600 is not this fussy when it comes to FMQ. I change the foot, set stitch length to zero, slow my speed down, and loosen the presser foot and that's all. I don't drop my feed dogs and I don't usually fiddle with tension at all. I don't have the blue dot bobbin case either. I do get this same eyelash problem sometimes - for me it's either moving too quickly or my bobbin isn't threaded right. Strange how the same machine can behave so differently! Maybe I keep my tension looser in general? I can't remember what it's set to right now, I rarely change it.

I use teflon baking mats in place of a Supreme Slider. They cost about 1/8th the price - I bought enough to cover most of my sewing surface for less than a single Queen size Supreme Slider. They aren't self-sticky so I taped them down with Gorilla tape. They work wonders for managing a quilt! They're black, so not as nice looking as a Supreme Slider, but for me that wasn't an issue. I cut a square into one so I can remove my needle plate without having to un-tape my "sliders". I tried just cutting space for the bobbin door but the edges kept catching fabric, so I cut a larger square and taped around it - works great!

These are the ones I bought: http://www.amazon.com/LARGE-Teflon-O...lon+baking+mat

The times I've had that happen is when I forgot to put the presser foot down, which is easy to do when FMQing.

Rob

Hi
I am glad you made this post. I am also just getting into free motion quilting.
I see a answer to this post that talk about The blue dot bobbin. What is this? Where can I get one.
I would like to see if I can get one for my machine.
Can anyone post a picture of this blue dot bobbin?
Thank you.

here is a picture....http://www.sewingpartsonline.com/bob...FcVffgody88CtA....

Thank you I will go to the link and check this out. I am always looking for helpful gadgets

I believe your machine speed is way too fast. You are starting in 5th gear straight out of the shoot which leaves you little time to react. Try slowing it down and then go move the sandwich at a STEADY speed. Good luck.

The bobbin can be bought at various outlet....be sure to shop around. I live in rural location and ended up buying my from online store - i usually check amazon if i can for reviews ....i don't always buy from amazon but i do appreciate the reviews

First, don't mess with the tension. Sew a sandwich with a straight stitch. Tension OK? THEN DON'T CHANGE YOUR TENSION, IT IS FINE. Eyelashes are formed when your hands are moving too fast for your machine to catch up with that motion. You can either slow your hand movement or speed up your machine. The Blue dot bobbin works great. I have two 6600's one for home, one for cabin. Love this machine.

I have the same machine - the Janome 6600 - and I do FMQ all the time on it. Tensions differ on all machines but I increase it to 6 for FMQing and I also put a bobbin Genie in the bobbin case. Hope it starts working better for you.

I also have a Janome 6600 and I had the same problem. I took it to my LQS where I had bought it and she used a piece of dental floss to clean out the thread tension spring and then rethreaded the sewing machine. It now works like a dream. You might want to try that before you spend any money.

I have the same machine, are you sure you raised the foot when you threaded the machine, this releases the tension and allows the thread to seat in the tension disc's. Then when you lower the foot the tension is set. It looks like this is what is happening. Set your pressure & stitch length to 0, your speed to medium, make sure the thread is seated in the tension disc, slow down on your curves, buy the blue bobbin case and you should be good to go. Have quilted many fm quilts on my Janome and it does beautifully. Good luck

I heard a tip recently when it comes to things like this and it was TNT. Many immediately think they have a tension issue when that is rarely the case. First check THREAD. Is your machine threaded correctly and are you using the same kind of thread you used when you weren't having any problems.

NEEDLE - is your needle dull, bent, inserted correctly. Are you using the right kind of needle for the material and the thread. In your case are you using the same kind of needle you used when you had success? I had a very frustrating time with one project with skipped stitches and such. It turned out to be the needle was not compatible with the blue batik that I was using. When I changed to a sharp needle from a universal needle the problem went away.

TENSION - if all else fails it could be the tension. I never have to change the tension on my Janome 8900. The only time I have is when I was doing gathering for a project and my instruction book that came with the machine told me to change the top tension to a certain point for that stitch.

Speed is a big factor in FMQ and stitch quality especially when going around curves.

Hope these tips help.

I have a similar machine and unless I use Aurifil thread for F M it is a mess. The machine uses any thread otherwise.

It's a manufacturing error. After many times taking mine in for repair, they finally called the main manufacturer and found that it was a glitch in this model.(6600) The newer Jamones the error was fixed.
What you need to do is when you are done machine quilting for the day, set the feed dogs back up in regular position BEFORE turning off your machine. Never turn it off with feed dogs down!!!
That was the problem. I've never had a problem since. Hope this will work for you too!!.

I also crank my tension to between 8 and 9. I put my feed dogs down and I use my foot pedal with the speed bar all the way to the right . I can't get the hang of using the start/stop button and I have never used the blue dot bobbin. Don't try to push the quilt too fast or jerky . That's when I have problems. I've found wearing gardening gloves helps with that

I have to put in my two bits here. I have a 6600 too which I love. Most of your comments are what has worked for me, but when I was having big eyelash problems, what I found was that I was inadvertently using my pressure foot knee lift when I went around corners, which lifted the pressure foot, and goofed up the tension. Now I FMQ without the knee lift, so that this mistake doesn't happen. (I have one quilt on my couch that I love, but was too lazy to take out when this happened :)

From the looks of the second picture, are you sure the presser foot was down?