How perfect does your FMQ have to be?
 

Why I'm asking is because I have an older bernina without a stitch regulator. Mostly I'm pretty good now, but there is a bit of eyelashing every so often. Can it even be helped if I'm quilting a queen sized quilt on this machine? If I rip these out every time I'll never finish anything. If they don't seem to be loose enough to catch on anything and rip out later is it OK to leave these? I know I'm suppose to slow down around curves, but if I'm human how can I get every curve right?

I have quilted on my Bernina 1530 since the late 90s and I never had any eyelashes. I use the Mettler silk finished thread and Schmetz 14 needle. I would first check your tension. If you are speeding, I would slow down a bit because you could be moving the quilt faster than the machine can stitch. Yes, I myself am a perfectionist and I would take them out. Just being honest.

I may be way wrong here, but I believe eyelashing is a tension problem, for the most part. If the eyelashing is on the backside, you will need to tighten the top tension (mine usually 8-9). As for what you have already done, yes, it needs to be "undone". Where you see the eyelashing, the thread is just laying on top of the fabric and probably not just on the curves....so it is pretty easy to rip out. If you don't fix it now, I am afraid you will be unhappy later.

Also check to see if the eyelashing is only on curves. This is a common issue if you go to fast on curves.

That's the problem I've had. If I just remind myself to go slowly on the curves, I"m okay. No eyelashing.

Yes they are mostly tiny. If I take your advice there really won't be much I have to redo. I know it's those corners. Part of the design I'm trying to do is FMQ straight up and down lines and all of that looks fine, so it is turning corners and wanting to go too fast. And I got concerned about it and started looking at it under a magnifying glass which is really just torturing myself I guess.

I want to ask something else. Does the batting every show through on the front? I think it may be a problem on this quilt for just one of the fabrics in it.

Just to let you know I have an old Bernina 1530 and like the FMQ from it as well as I like the Bernina 830 that I have. I hate the stitch regulator on the 830. If you have eyelashes you are probably moving too fast. Slow down and enjoy the process.

I had bearding only on one fabric and it had a looser weave

I was thinking 'at sharp turns' right before I read your post. Yup, I run into that problem, too. No, I don't take it out because - well, it's a lot of work! And, I've found that it kind of 'disappears' after washing.

If the eyelashes are big, then, yes, they come out.

I am with you on this if you ripped out you would never finish just keep plugging away and I would almost bet that
you will see fewer eyelashing as you continue.

My motto is if it really bothers you take it out. If you can live with do so.

Experience speaking here - It is probably a tension problem. I had one that I didn't know was making eyelashes until I was done. Oh dear, I had to keep that quilt because I was too ashamed to give it away and too lazy to take it out!

I am of the opinion that striving for perfection in FMQ is not something that should be dwelt upon too long. Yes, eyelash problem sounds like a tension solution and easily resolved. My first FMQ was, to put it mildly, a disaster and my seam ripper and I got much too close. After practicing and practicing and more practicing I can say that I'm pretty happy with my FMQ now. Making pictures with the thread in negative space is something I love to do. I find that if I relax, my shoulders aren't even with my the top of my ears, I do much better. It is quilting, not open heart surgery, and we need to remind ourselves of that and not strive for perfection. God only asks that we do our best to be good people, He doesn't want us being goofs. He already knows we're goofs, so have fun!

I agree with the posters who said eyelashes all over are tension, but eyelashes on corners or curves only are speed. I had to learn to not speed up on curves, and it definitely took some practice. My "trick" when doing a corner or point is to hesitate there just for an instant to make sure the needle goes in the fabric right at the point. Then I can change direction without eyelashes.

In general, my FMQ looks an awful lot better after washing the quilt LOL! Many defects of imperfect stitch length and other issues just aren't visible after the quilt crinkles up a bit. I don't quilt for shows and I don't quilt arty wall hangings that are never washed, so I am happy with my non-perfect quilting.

Pam

Something that has helped me is to put a teflon bobbin genie under your bobbin. It helps so the bobbin doesn't spin too fast when going around curves which then results in eyelashes. I don't know if they work for front loading bobbins - mine is a drop in bobbin.

I found the easiest way for me to slow down is to quilt in my bare feet. I have no clue why this works, but I have much less errors or lashes since I started doing this.

I consider eyelashes to be improperly formed stitches & they are one of the very few things I was taught to pull out.

I took the opposite approach of most here. Instead of slowing down my hands, I speed up the speed pedal going around a curve. Either way works -- just have to match your hands and the machine speed. I just couldn't figure out how to get nice smooth tight curves (e.g. 1/2" feather tip) while moving my machine slowly. On long winding curves, I agree that slow is better. For tighter curves, if you can't get them the right shape while moving slow, try pressing the speed pedal just a little bit more as you go around those curves & then let up again to slow down hands & foot as you come out of the curve.

PS -- For the batting ... what kind did you use? Some batts have a top & a bottom side. You might check to see if that's indicated on the packaging.

Tried the kerchunck method someone mentioned and it does help Thanks.