Machine quilting?
 

I've been busy quilting today and just realised I can see daylight through the quilt! I'm using the correct needle according to the manual for quilting (purple tip). The backing fabric is quite a heavy african fabric in black. Its nice to touch but not so fine as the regular backing I normally use. With the sapphire I started using top stitch needles for quilting, primarily to prevent thread breaking. Would changing the needle help to minimise this? I've done about a quarter of the quilt in one of the preprogrammed designs. I assume that as it is labelled as 'quilting designs' that it is ok to use these for quilting? Haven't experienced this before. Possibly a combination of needle and coarser fabric? Any advice appreciated thank you

Are you, by any chance, talking about the places where the needle is going through the fabric during the quilting? I wonder if this will correct itself when the quilt is washed after it is finished....

I forgot to add I'm using sulky viscose 40 (gunold). Could this be the problem?

Yes I am. I wonder if I should unpick it? OMG it's quite a big quilt too :shock:

I have a sapphire 960Q and I use the embroidery needles when using those quilting stitches. I haven't had any trouble with the needle holes being too big. I don't use Sulky but I have used Madeira PolyNeon with no trouble at all. I am also wondering if after you wash it everything will close up.

I wouldn't unpick. Chances are high that the holes will close up in the first washing. Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. Washing and drying tends to tighten fabric fibers (especially if the fabric was not washed first).

Ditto what Prism said. The holes will close up after washing and drying. I wouldn't worry about it.

Thank you. I've decided though to unpick as I think the design was too fussy for the quilt. That's the price of steaming ahead playing with my new toy rather than screwing the nut down! The holes have disappeared from the area I've unpicked so far. But it's going to be a long process! Act in haste.......

I noticed the same thing on a quilt i did when my daughter was testing it out on the floor. We all got under it like it was a fort and i realized that it looked like we were camping out under more stars than i've ever seen. I wasn't sure if it was normal so i didn't panic and after washing you can't see a single hole. That one was all pre-washed fabrics and everything has settled into place.

I agree, the holes will shrink up when washed.

washing does wonders, but "viscose" scares me. doesn't sound like a stable quilting thread. sounds like it will melt away. Just an odd thought ;-)

Rayon thread isn't as strong as cotton or poly, but I have used on my DSM when the color was right. I know nothing about quilting machines, but my first thoughts when I read your post were that the needle is too large for the fabric or it has a tiny burr on it. I'd try a new smaller needle or at least a new needle in the size your machine likes. I use a new 12 for each quilt.

Thank you. The holes have disappeared on the tiny bit I've unpicked so far and I'm sure they will disappear on the bits I'm leaving. Unpicking is proving very time consuming as the design is double stitched so each stitch needs snipping

Interesting info. Thanks. By the way, does anyone know the quilting stitch and settings to use on a Janome 6600? I'd appreciate the help.

I have a Topaz 20 and am using embroidery patterns to quilt inside Rings that Bind quilt blocks. I am using 40wt embroidery thread with a quilting needle. I tried the embroidery needle and it didn't look good on the back. When I used the quilting needle the back looked as good as the front. I don't know why the difference but it works. I can see light thru some of the holes but when I wash it and it puffs up and crinkles I am sure the holes will close up.

even when you sew on your dsm you can see needle holes after washing they usually close up