I need help! with bottom stitches
 

What is going on with this? I changed needles, rethreaded the machine, cleaned out the bobbin area. I haven't touched the tension. The top looks great. This is the bottom. I have to finish this quilt today!

Can you sew a straight stitch, not fmq, without an issue?

Have you tried a new bobbin?

Does this happen with all thread?

When you cleaned out the bobbin area- did you take the plate off the feed dogs ? Since it is the bottom that is bad it is a problem with the top tension - but still clean out everything really well. Try rethreading it again , a new full bobbin, another new needle

I bet you forgot to put down the foot. Often when FMQing when we start up again after cleaning/rethreading we forget the pressure foot. From your picture there isn't any tension on the top thread.

yes that is what it looks like-no top tension

That's what it looks like to me too. Put the foot down.

Also check what type of needle you are using, is it a quilting needle. Are you pulling up your bobbin thread when you begin?

Thanks everyone! It seems to be working ok again. I tested the bobbin tension and tightened it a little and tightened the machine tension too. I guess that's what the problem was. I don't know why it decided it was going to start doing that. I used to work in a Tech Center and the first thought is always "What changed?" The only thing that I can remember that "changed" was a new bobbin. It was tooting along just fine. I didn't even know it was doing anything until I finished for the night and was checking out my work. Wow. It took 3 hours to rip that out last night. I thought I'd change everything out and start fresh and WHAMMO! Same problem. That's when I came to The Internets!

Thanks for everyone's help! I might get this one wrapped in time to gift it!

Check your top thread - it looks like its not in the tension discs - when mine gets like that I always re-thread and check my tension discs - sometimes the discs get linted up and the contact is not good. Try it again