If you are a visual learner you might try going on U tube with your request for tension issues. You can learn so much from the wonderful videos there! Good luck and don't get discouraged.

I agree. It sounds like the top thread isn't seated in the tension disc correctly. Be sure the presser foot is UP. This opens the tension discs and allows the thread to go between them. Then when you put the presser foot down to sew, the correct tension is on the upper thread and won't ball up underneath.

When is the last time you cleaned your Bobbin area? Lint can make your machine do many strange things. Take the whole thing apart and brush it out. I use a makeup brush. When you put it back together, put just a touch of machine oil in the bobbin case.
Rethread the machine.
Change your needle.
increase the stitch length
Good luck!

Gee, I have one of those irritating women in my mirror too. She tries to mess me up and I have to keep correcting her. Let me know if you ever figure out how to catch and get rid of her.

pooks088, A warm welcome from NC. Hope you got the chance to work this problem out. It is frustrating when you want to move ahead but something keeps stopping you. I see you are in Seattle. My son just moved there this year (he's an executive chef) so I hope to visit someday in the future.

Welcome to the board! I had all sorts of problems. Rethreaded the machine, new needle every thing being said here. Nothing worked. I goolged my problem and found some different answers. One was when threading machine and bobbin make sure you here the thread click into the tension holder. The one that ended up being my problem was CLEAN the machine. I guess I wans't doing it enough or good enough. Boy did I feel stupid.

Welcome from Porter Ok. Glad you could join us.

One cause of nests of thread on the bottom is when the top thread has jumped out of the tension discs. When you thread your machine your presser foot needs to be up so that the discs are open and the thread gets between them. Hope I'm explaining this right--if not, someone jump in and clarify.

Welcome from Spring Branch, Texas!

Lots of great ideas here for you to try...I sure hope that after you got home, and did everything people suggested, that you were able to quilt with no more problems.

Welcome from Wisconsin!

Tangled threads always mean something is not threaded properly. Mine keeps jumping off the top hook or the bobbin thread is not in the case correctly!

Hi from Ms.

But don't jump at adjusting the bobbin tension. It can really get messed up if you don't know what you are doing.

What kind of a machine are you using and how old is it?

Check to make sure that your bobbin is inserted in the right direction in the case. Some bobbins wind clockwise and some wind counterclockwise. It will snarl if it is feeding wrong. Also, is the bobbin wound evenly? Hope this helps.

Check to make sure that your bobbin is inserted in the right direction in the case. Some bobbins wind clockwise and some wind counterclockwise. It will snarl if it is feeding wrong. Also, is the bobbin wound evenly? Hope this helps.

Check to make sure that your bobbin is inserted in the right direction in the case. Some bobbins wind clockwise and some wind counterclockwise. It will snarl if it is feeding wrong. Also, is the bobbin wound evenly? Hope this helps.

I agree with al who say re-thread machine. If the top thread has jumped out of the little arm it will tangle the thread. It happens to me if I try sewing too fast. Welcome from No. ILL

Welcome from NE Ohio.

that is the trouble spot on my thread issues also. if the thread pops outta one of the guides-mess underneath everytimeonly happens when I get a lead foot tho :mrgreen:

Do you have anyone that can show you how to use your machine. And give you some pointers on machine quilting. I take it you have all of your blocks put together. Did you use your machine to put your quilt top together?

Make sure you don't have the bobbin in backwards. I do this sometimes. Good luck>

sometimes its the quality of the thread which you might consider after doing all the suggestions above which also work. also make sure your feed dogs are engaged. Are you using a walking style foot on your machine?

Not really sure if I'm right or wrong, but do you have your feed dogs dropped? I'm new to FMQ, and I make that mistake alot. Also, if I keep sewing but don't move the fabric, I get tangles. Just a thought. I'm sure the board can help you out.

Welcome to the board...Are you using a walking foot? That is a must use tool to machine quilt!! Good luck..be sure and post a photo of the finished project for us to see...crafty_linda_b

in addition to the other bobbin tips, be sure to use that little brush that you wondered what it was for, to clean out the housing that the bobbin goes in to. lint and tiny thread snippets are brutal.

Please do not adjust your bobbin tension__the very last thing!!! and usually it is not the bottom tension. Just rethread upper and lower threads, clean bobbin area. Then pull up bobbin thread, hold both threads (pull up about 4 inches first) then sew on a scrap and keep sewing onto your project, most likely your thread will not bunch up when you try this.
Hope this works for you. Good luck!! Marilyn

This works for me. Sometimes I don't get it threaded right.

Also try a new needle. That and rethreading the whole machine sometimes odes the trick.

I don't think you need to feel silly or otherwise. Believe it or not, I've copied out some of these answers and now I have a "go to" file for this problem. Besides, I think this is a great way to learn something - asking questions!
Just glad you got it fixed!!!!

That would be my suggestion - my viking jams everytime I forget this - I also start sewing on a scrap cloth - I find it helps with my 1/4" seams

You may need to get a better quality needle, and make sure that the bobbin thread is pulled to the back of the machine after you place the quilt under the sewing foot ( I use an even feed foot on my Janome for top stitching quilt layers), and you hold on to the top thread for the first 2 or 3 stitches. each machine is quirky and you get to know what your machines likes.

Make sure the needle isn't in backwards, too!

LoriAnn

Pooks- did you get it fixed?

I would really focus on the bobbin thread. What kind of machine are you using? I have a Janome and it is very fussy about the bobbin being threaded correctly. Are you using a walking foot for stitching in the ditch? If not, that might also be why you are having trouble. Hope someone here can help you solve your problem.

I suggest that your problem has something to do with tension. Remove the bobbin, put it back in, making sure that the thread goes through all the places it is supposed to go. Then for good measure I would re-thread my machine. One of the ways to avoid this problem is to have a "leader", a small remnant of fabric that you sew onto when you are finishing piecing and then something you sew from to begin piecing again. This leader will also save some thread by not wasting it by ending your stitching, pulling the thread out and then cutting. I hope that is making sense.

Hi and welcome from Alaska.

I never heard of pulling the bobbin thread to the top of the quilt. Is this only for quilting or for all sewing/piecing? What does this accomplish in the sewing process?

Have you lowered your presser foot?

Yes rethread your machine, and make sure your needle is up all the way when you do.

Welcome from Illinois.

I wonder if the feed dogs are up?
Welcome to the board and welcome to the wonderful art of sewing and quilting!

wifes baby loc's bobbin cover wasn't snapped down. bottom thread was a real loose mess. 80 miles ans 5 sec later was fixed. go figure