Janome eating fabric at the beginning .
 

Brand new machine eats fabric at the start or when sewing over layers!!!

Not sure what you're sewing, but you may want to try running a scrap leader piece of fabric through before feeding your blocks through your machine. If you are feeding triangles or bias edges, machines like to eat those.

You may also need to put a new needle in. Are you using a sharp or a ball point? Are you sewing heavy fabric like denim or just quilting cotton?

Try using a leader scrap. This is a small piece of fabric that you start to sew on before you start sewing your good fabric. I just use the cut off corners of my binding strips, put one under the presser foot and then start to sew. When I sew off the leader piece, I then put my quilt pieces in place and continue sewing.

Looks like we posted at the same time!

In addition to the leader scrap,try holding the thread as you start.

Get the straight stitch plate. It comes in a package with the 1/4 foot with guide.

Can you get a straight stitch throat plate for your machine?

http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...oatPlate15.jpg

http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...olia-7330.html

My Janome does the same thing- hate it. Worse when you are trying to sew several layers- putting tension on the thread will help, also starting a couple stitches further down the seam and backstitching has helped me. Haven't tried the leader fabric as advised above.- guess you'd just cut it off the finished block? Good luck- I do love my machine other than this problem.

All machines that I've ever sewn on will eat the starting fabric if you don't use a leader, or a straight stitch plate, and/or hold the thread tight when you start. It's just the nature of the zigzag-capable sewing machine. I'm not sure what you mean, though, when you say "sewing over layers." Is that when you're in the middle of a seam and encounter another seam? If it's happening then, the only thing I can think of would be a dull or incorrect needle, like PlanoDebbie mentioned.

also make sure you are using a sharp needle.

if it's brand new and under warranty i might take it in, because i have two janomes and neither one does this unless it is improperly threaded, the needle is ridiculously dull or the piece i am using is too small to withstand the downward pressure of the needle.

aileen

Try this tip. Begin about an inch down seam reverse to beginning and forward. My janome doesn't eat fabric when I do this.
Leaders also work but I forget to use them hence the above tip. Good luck.
I love my janome except for this problem.

How many layers?

The eating at the beginning is the whole reason for leader/ender quilts using small pieces that you plan on using somewhere else...

But the part about sewing over layers and chewing up fabric would concern me. The other is someone normal.

I agree with the above posters. Even though I hate to use a leader! It did help when I used a straight stitch needle plate. Smaller hole for fabric to get lost in. Also helps to hold the thread tighter.

I'm not sure what the difference is but the Juki's have no problem with that. Try Bonnie Hunters leader/ender trick that makes extra blocks while helping with this problem.

I had the same issue but I switched to a throat plate with only a single hole and started using the starter fabric and the problem went away.

Yes that is what I mean, when u r sewing block and many pieces to make up the block sewing two together.


thanx for all your help.

When there are more than two layers of fabric the machine eats it pulls down into the bobbin housing and ruin the seam and most times the block.

thanks everyone for all your help, I knew this was the right place to ask.

:D:D:D:D:D
Love this board!

You should not have to use pieces as starting fabrics. If you do something is wrong with how you are feeding the fabric into your machine.

I know this is totally opposite from what we have been told - but - I find that if I do one stitch before the fabric, it doesn't eat the corner of the fabric. This seems all wrong, but for some reason when it takes a stitch or two before it hits the fabric everything is fine. Go figure! Ann (Janome 11000)

I solved this problem with my Janome by using the straight stitch plate. The zig zag plate is only on the machine for special projects. Also use the leader, all the mess is on the scrap piece of fabric. And a new sharp needle.

I use the leader/ender techigue...and make a postage stamp quilt at the same time...solves my problem with fabric getting stuck and I also use up my scraps and make a quick tabletop or quilt at the same time as my planned quilt.

This is only one of the reasons why I have intensely disliked my Janome 6500. It has been famous for eating fabric at the beginning even though I changed needles and thread, invested $50 in a single hole feed dog plate, used leaders etc. My Juki does not do any of this and I love it as much as I have hated my Janome. I know many quilters who have loved their Janome but I am definitely not one of them!

Yep, I either hold the thread off to the side, not to the back, or use a leader/ender. The bonus with leader and enders is with a little forethought and planning, you end up with another quilt after a while.

I've had 3 Janomes and the feet in front are long. To make sure you don't get fabric eaten you need to make sure you have the fabric far enough under the foot to start it out and it'll work out fine. Once you find that sweet spot, you'll be golden.

I was having that problem with my class machine the other day and it just needed a good cleaning. Since I don't use it a lot, I had forgotten that little task. Ordinarily, I clean after every bobbin. Not having the thread in that little loop at the top of the needle shank can do it to.

All of the above, but maybe the feed dogs need adjusting, too? I need to take my Pfaff in for that. It was cleaned, but it still grabs the fabric if I have layers and/or turn a corner.

I also have the janome , 9000, 4000, same thing , have a juki 98e and bought all new years ago,l also had the same thing happen, was told to use a starter cloth on the janomes .I love the juki for piecing, this machine doesn't do this . So I can relate to you on this , Your not along .

Try stitching on a small piece of fabric, before your quilt fabric, be sure to hold your threads when you start stitching.

I did not read all of the posts so if I am duplicating an answer, please forgive me. When I couldn't put my hands on my "single" hole plate, I taped a credit card over my plate with a hole punched in it. Now you probably cannot do that when sewing because you cover up your feed dogs. It did work for me while FMQ. Also, a new needle is good advice.

I was gonna put my two cents in; but ya all beat me to it !LOL :-)

My 6500 tends to want to do the same.
I hold the top and bobbin thread until the feed dogs have a good grip. OR I'll use a small piece of fabric and let it go through first..I think they are called "leaders"
I love my Janome but not as good as I love my vintage machines. No problems with them eating fabric..

Milli, you got great advice. I have had similar experiences with every machine, from the 1960's Pfaff I learned on, to my Janome today. What everyone says about starting your seams works like a charm. Sometimes just holding your starting threads is all you need to do.
As for the troubles you have sewing over bulky layered seams, using a nice sharp needle in the correct size helps a lot.
If that doesn't do the trick, try using a "hump jumper". It's a little gadget that helps you sew over layers without ending up caught there. Sometimes these are called a "button reed" too, because the tool is used when you sew on a button by machine, to make sure there is a bit of a thread shank under the button.
You just place the hump jumper under the back of your pressor foot so that the foot is no longer climbing up at an angle. This effect can be duplicated by using folded cardboard too. The hump jumper also helps when coming off the layers where you often end up with a skipped stitch. (You reposition it to the front of your pressor foot)

Pulling the thread tight from the back when you start out keeps the fabric from getting crunched up, also by leader fabric they mean, start on a small scrap of fabric and place your project fabric next to it and sew right onto your fabric from there. My Bernina has the same tick, my 40 year old Elna SU didn't have that problem.

I agree with cindynvb. This is what I do to avoid bird's nest and eaten material.

I have never heard of a straight stitch plate. Can someone please explain more about it? I have a Janome 6600 and am very interested.

Try a smaller needle?

A straight stitch needle plate has a single hole for the needle so you couldn't zig zag. There is no room for the fabric to be pulled into. Great for piecing and FMQ.

http://www.amazon.com/Janome-Straigh.../dp/B002EZS0CO

I haven't seen this yet. But when I had issues I found out in accident that if I keep the needle down and put the fabric against the needle then it doesn't get eaten. Now I am in the habit of holding the thread tails as well and using leaders. I figure I need all the help I can get lol