Janome 6600 serpentine stitch problem on quilt
 

I tried the serpentine stitch on a practice quilt sandwich and it worked fine. When I tried using it on my border (for a doll quilt), the first few stitches were fine then it only stitched the left side curve and not the right side curve. Had to pull the stitches out. Any idea of what caused this?

Sometimes I forget to make sure the stitch width isn't larger than the foot opening. My walking foot won't form full stitches if the needle nudges it.

I had done the stitch on a practice piece and it worked. Went right to quilt and the first few stitches were fine then it only did the left side.

did you use all the same fabrics, batting, top and bobbin threads in the practice piece that you are using for the quilt?

The fabrics were both good quality fabric store cottons. The batting was the same as was the thread and bobbin thread.
It is a mystery. Tried a different pattern on the practice piece which worked and then went right to the quilt and the same thing happened - the first stitches were ok and then only the left side came out and not the right.

I agree with Patrice-are you using the same fabrics and batting? Sometimes that can make a big difference. I have a Janome MC6600 and have not had any problems with that stitch.

Thinking this a little further .... was there something else different?
Such as ........

Was the quilt spray basted? whereas the test piece not?

Were both sets of fabrics all pre-washed? or not?
While you said the fabrics were both good quality, were the same fabrics in both?
or a different set of fabrics for the sample vs. the quilt?

Were both simply fabric to fabric with batting?
..... or does the quilt have piecework where you are quilting?
but the sample, simply plain fabric?

Just some thoughts to help you trouble shoot!
Good Luck!

Whenever weird things happen like that I clean out the bobbin area and feed dogs and change the needle. Often, that does the trick.

Are you using the built in serpentine or a programmed one?

In reply to gale and Quilt E - I was using the built in stitch for the machine (I believe it was #29). Quilt E may have given me an idea. My practice piece was small and held by pins but the small quilt was spray basted. Neither practice nor border were pre-washed and there was no piecework involved in either piece. The fabrics were different. The sample piece was made from different fabric than the border and backing but the batting was the same. So right now the major difference seems to be the spray basting as the fabrics are good quality quilt store cottons. It's just odd that one side of 2 different built in stitches start out working then quickly just do one side.

Glad that I have led you to some of the differences!

With what you have shared, another possibility may be a different needle is needed.
Not just a new one of the same, but perhaps a different type and size.
I have found that can sometimes make a huge difference when quilting.

If you have the same fabrics, make your next sample exactly as the quilt,
including the spray baste.
While your different fabrics are quality ... there can still be a difference.

Please be sure to let update us, when you get a chance to work on it.
Good Luck!

Hi there! Don't know if this will help ... I have a Juki DX-7, and I've found that, when using the serpentine stitch on a large project, the quilt has to be supported (it can't hang over the side of the table ...), otherwise the serpentine stitch will go a bit wonky!!!

Sometimes it helps to move the needle bar position over to the left or right one notch. It changes the timing just slightly and sometimes fixes the problem.

My machine is inset in a cabinet and the quilt is small so completely on the cabinet. Thank you for thinking about the problem.

I will give this a try on a bigger sample piece that I have spray basted too. When I pulled out the stitches from the failed stitches, it has left holes in my border fabric.