Juki 2010Q owners please advise
 

Having trouble FMQ on my machine. Dealer serviced twice last week, no problems identified. Finally have switched threads and (cross your fingers) doing better for the moment. Question - is King Tut thread too heavy to use for FMQ on this machine? I increased needle size up to a 16 and it still messed up. Spent hours ripping out stitching and this top will never be the same. I will finish it, but probably headed for Goodwill....
I know I've used the King Tut thread with this machine before, but maybe I was using my walking foot ?? can't remember. I thought it was a good brand of thread, and didn't anticipate this problem.

I have used King Tut before without problems, what is it doing?

It was making micro stitches, then huge long stitches (up to 1 inch!). I am not the worlds best at FMQ, but have never had issues like this before. Usually when I mess up I know that I was at fault, but it's like this machine was possessed! You never saw such a mess.

Could be a bad batch of thread. I don't care for King Tut -- too linty and too heavy for my tastes. I would suggest trying out Glide thread or Metro Sigma thread (or Isacord), all polyester threads. They are easier for me to use than cotton thread, fewer issues, and less linty than cotton.

Edit: should add that dark cotton threads and variegated cotton threads tend to have more problems simply because the dyes and manufacturing process are harder on the thread.

Have you bothered with the speed control? I had the same problems you have with the Juki with a Brother 1500.

I do use the speed setting as my inner timing seems to change every time I sit down. I have the feed dogs down, but can still sense them moving as a hint about how fast or slow I'm going. I've successfully used clear poly for a whole quilt - not bragging about the actual quilting which was not as even as I'd like it, but got the needle threaded and the tension right so the machine just sewed.

If your bobbin and top thread aren't close in size - I grabbed a bobbin of embroidery bobbin thread with a heavy top thread just for decorative and it got messy.

I just had some fits with straight line quilting. Think I had King Tut or Superior on top, and a lighter thread on the bottom. The stitches were way off. I switched both to a fine poly and things got better.

Maybe it's not a thread problem. I have used many different threads on my TL2010 with no problems. I have even used Sulky 12 wt thread with 50 wt cotton in the bobbin and a size 18 needle. I did have to make some tension adjustments.

You said you have the machine serviced twice last week. Don't like asking: but is their service/maintenance up to par?

Thanks everyone. I always keep the same thread on top and on bobbin. I was using a variegated King Tut thread. Now using one color Isacord and it is better. I had not adjusted the speed control, didn't think of that. I usually keep it on about medium speed.
The dealer I took this machine to is the local retailer for the Juki and has been in business many years, I think the service dept. is alright, but the owner today suggested we might need to send my machine in for factory service. The technician last week was the one who suggested trying a different thread. I was hesitant to do so as so much ripping out involved. But now I am just going to finish this quilt with 2 different threads, and ....never use King Tut again.
Thanks so much for all your thoughts.

Know you aren't on a long arm, but when I do use King Tut on my long arm, I have to use a size 18 needle otherwise I just shred thread. Also, when I was still FMQ on my Elna DSW, I found that having a little longer needle (which means a bigger one too usually) helped the stitch quality.

The Superior thread site says to use 90/14 size needles for King Tut thread. I have used them with no problem on DSM but not on a long arm. Good luck. I hate to rip out, too.

I will sure remember to watch my needle sizes in the future. My usual thread is Aurifil. But there is less lint for sure with the Isacord. The Juki is such a simple, straight stitch machine and I have enjoyed it.....until now. Love to look at long arms, though.
Regarding the ripping - I think maybe I needed to further develop my patience - so the universe provided an opportunity!

My Juki is really sensitive to lint buildup. If I don't keep the bobbin area really clean it messes up the tension. Mine has fmq'ed on everything and the only real problem I had was when i was trying to quilt a heavy T shirt quilt with French Fuse interfacing behind the shirts. The only solution I found was to use a topstitching needle. They have a longer eye and so they don't skip sts like the regular needles were doing.

Try your fmq with your feed dogs UP, and less pressure on the pressure foot. That works really well on my Juki-- helps me to make more even sts.

Also your 'micro sts' sound like the the quilt got stuck in some spots-- maybe where it was thick from seam allowances? The feed dogs up will help keep moving the quilt along as you fmq.

So far I have only used my Juki 2010 for straight stitching. Want to learn free motion quilting but too many other projects in line first. I was watching a video this evening where Rob at Man Sewing is giving great, free lessons online. Tonight he mentioned just what you describe. He showed how it acts and he said often you will be using the free motion foot and forget to drop the presser foot and that's what happens. He said with the free motion foot it is very hard to tell if it is up or down, especially where the quilt is thick. He said it can cause you to go nuts trying to find the problem. He says to remember to always check that the presser foot is down. Said it has happened to him and he has been free motion quilting for years.

Just Jan - I have also forgotten to put the presser foot down on occasion. Usually catch that one pretty quick. It does indeed make a mess.Good luck with your FMQ when you get to it - normally it's fun, my favorite part of quilting. SewBiz Girl - thanks very much for the suggestions. I had not heard of a top stitching needle, but does sound like a very good idea....
It is so nice to be able to get suggestions from Board members. Thank you everyone!