Hi everyone! I'm a quilting newbie, actually a sewing newbie, and was hoping someone could help me. I'm doing a simple log cabin quilt and just stitching in the ditch. My problem is that the top thread keeps going through all the layers and getting tangled with the bobbin thread. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong? Thank you so much!

Hi and welcome to the board from Iowa.

you'll need to explain a little better.... are you quilting?
what do you mean it goes thru all the layers? and how is it tangled?

thank you!

Hello! Yes, I'm quilting. My top thread is poking through my quilt sandwich and I end up with a tangled mess of thread on the bottom of my quilt. Is that more useful?

I'm sorry I'm not clear. I'm really new at this. Thanks for your help!

Try re=threading your machine both top and bottom and then try again. This is what I do first.

Chances are it's the bobbin thread that's getting tangled, check that you have the correct bobbin for your machine, as well as rethreading the machine. if that doesn't help you may need to adjust the bobbin tension

Re-thread, make sure the bobbin is in right and then check the tension.

Also, before you start a line of sewing, are you bringing the bottom thread to the top of the quilt? When I was brand new, I was not aware of this practice and it was a problem!

To bring the bottom (bobbin) thread to the top, take the first stitch (I just turn my wheel) down into the quilt and back up and pull the loop of bottom thread up, hold the tails of both threads for your first few stitches.

Are you pulling up the bobbin thread before you start? That will leave a mess on the back. Also, check your bobbin tension. You should be able to smoothly pull out the bobbin thread with gentle pressure or if it's the front loading type of bobbin, you should be able to hold the thread in one hand and the bobbin will slowly drop into the other hand. Also, did you loosen the top tension and increase the stitch length? Quilting stitches are longer & looser than normal sewing stitches.

NO! I didn't know about pulling the bobbin thread to the top. I will try that and also will try adjusting the tension. So helpful! Thanks! (If only I could take the rest of the day off and go home to play around with it.. I'm antsy to get off work now! 6 more hours. Ha.)

As these ladies have said, check your tensions, pull your bobbin thread to the top... and ... make sure your needle is sharp. Sometimes that can be caused by something as simple as a dull needle.

Thread tension and are you using the feed dogs up or down? Using a walking foot on your machine? New needle, and correct needle for the size of thread? All of this makes a difference for your particular machine, how thick your quilt is, and what your batting is. There are generally adjustments to be made when going from piecing to sewing the quilt top, batting, and backing together.

Welcome to the board from Southern California!

Welcome from Kansas

Also, do some practice with a small sample sandwich to get everything set before attempting it on your quilt. Also, is your presser foot down? Because of the thickness of the sandwich it's easy to forget because it LOOKS like it's down.

Sounds like your top thread it jumping out of your take up lever, this will leave a "bird's nest" every time!
Michelle

Hello, and welcome to QB, from western Nevada!

make sure that your top thread is properly threaded through the tension discs. you can only do this when the presser foot is in the up position.

It sounds like your upper thread has come off the uptake lever. Try rethreading your machine.

i know somebody who sometimes forgets and puts her bobbin in backward. that can make a mess of things.

can't tell you her name.
she lives in my mirror and eats my best snacks.

someday i will catch her and find out who the heck she is.

Welcome from VA

And make sure your needle is inserted correctly. I had the same type of problem and after many adjustments and thoughts someone suggested this. I flipped the needle and PRESTO all fixed.

Another thing is ensure the needle is correct for your machine. I have a machine that WILL NOT quilt with certain types of needles.

Good luck!

Welcome from SW Missouri and good luck with your quilting. You have gotten a lot of good advice already so keep trying.

Does it sew OK on just fabric with no batting? I'm thinking it's a threading issue. I know with my Viking I always sew a couple of lines before starting cause sometimes after changing the bobbin it tangles.

Know how you feel. After 12 years of quilting I still can't wait to get home if I'm working on something and I try to sew for at least one hour every day, more if I can. The info above is all good stuff. Hope it works for you.
peace

Sorry Xpost

Also make sure you're putting the pressure foot down.

Mine does that if I don't have a good hold on both threads when I take the first few stitches. I did learn to just bring the bobbin thread to the top and that helps a lot!

If I forget to hold both threads when I make the first few stitches, then my bobbin thread gets all tangled and makes a bird's nest. Could this be your problem?

check for lint in the bobbin area - that used to happen to me when i used Connecting Threads cotton thread.

Welcome from W TX! I hope you get this figured out.
I see that your from Missouri so I thought you'd like this link to the shop hop!
http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-157730-1.htm
oops wrong post. :oops:

welcome from DE.

Take the throat plate off of the machine and clean all the fuzz from around the bobbin area. Then retread the machine and the bobbin. It sounds like the problem is in the bobbin area.

Sounds like stiches to big nothing to grab on to

I agree, my first line of attack is to rethread, second is to turn off machine and walk away. Third, (do return) is to start over. This usually does it for me, but not always. Then I get out the instruction book.

Take the thread all the way out of your machine and thread it again take the bobbin out and make make sure you have it in properly.
Are you using a quilting or top stitch needle.
Did you cleaned and oiled your machine before you started.
Are you using a good quality quilting thread?
Good luck.

It sounds like a tension problem; when the mess is on the bottom it's the top that needs attention and vice versa. Try just rethreading your machine from the beginning to see if that helps.

Bring bobbin thread to top by manually turning hand wheel, stitch in place holding threads, then start stitching

Howdy..... from Texas.

Welcome from IL and thanks for the question. I've learned a lot.