Quiltingboard Forums - Nolting funquilter

Hi, First Sergeants Lady... no need to go back to hand quilting - it sounds like a call to Nolting Manufacturing (Iowa) is the best place to start before you get much more frustrated! I promise you that they dont want you to struggle any more than you want to struggle!

Some thoughts... i do not have the Fun Quilter, but i do have the Quilting Bee. I bought it last October and am very happy with it! I had no lessons, but was able to jump in and get going pretty quickly without trouble. However, my machine is their basic model - no rollers, stitch regulator, or computerized anything. I believe my machine is a couple steps below yours, but it appears that they have in common the same body and basic workings. My setup does not include rollers, computers, handles, etc - i move the fabric - not the machine. Mine machine is basically meant for free motion quilting and ruler work. Your machine has more in the way of moving parts and electronics, so its understandably more complicated (and a much bigger investment).

In consideration of all of the above and what i read in your first post, some questions come to mind. I am trying to be thoughtful here - when i do that, it might not mean brief!

1) you are winding your bobbins on another machine - you may or may not be aware that a bobbin winder is available for your machine. You may want to check with Nolting on this, but depending on your particular package - one should have been included. I got this quote from their website concerning your particular machine: “If you choose the full system with commercial frame the packages include: 12' table, bobbin winder, needles, bobbins, laser, cable chain, 4 pony clamps, 5 patterns” . you might want to call and talk to someone about that if you understood one to be included but it was not. Even my basic package included the Nolting bobbin winder. I sure would at least check to find out if a bobbin winder should have been included? If it were me considering all you have already invested, i would seriously consider buying one if it was not included in your package.

2) now might be a good time to “reboot” and start over by reducing all of your variables down to a single common denominator. You have established that you believe that you have tension issues.

I help many people with computer problems and the same principals can apply in this situation! There are things you can do to troubleshoot the situation yourself in preparation for a phone call to the manufacturer. I have made some suggestions below.

3) I dont believe you mentioned the brand/wt of thread you are using or whether you use the same type/weight both on top and in the bobbin. Maybe restart there? For the sake of simplicity and troubleshooting at this point maybe use the same thread top & bottom and experiment to get good top/bottom tension from that starting point.

Most of the time i use Aurifil 50wt cotton and/or Glide 40wt polyester. But i have used other threads with no trouble. Someone else mentioned matching thread and pre-wound bobbins might help - i have an order in to try some this week.

4) Are you using spools or cones? You can use either - if you are using spools just pay attention to how the thread is wound on the spool. This is important when considering your top thread - If it is stack wound (instead of spiral) you will likely need a horizontal spool holder to use it as your top thread.

To reassure you once you have resolved your expressed tension issues... I have found that I really dont have to use the same thread for both the top and bottom (in fact right now i am using YLI Variations/35wt-2 ply trilobal polyester on top and Aurifil 50wt cotton in the bobbin - quilting a batik lap quilt). To use the YLI I have mounted my top thread spool where cones are traditionally mounted, but covered the circumference of the spool itself with a thread sock to keep that thread a little more under control. It works great - i was not having trouble, but having done free motion quilting on my domestic machine for years that is something i definitely learned helps with shiny polyester thread

5) Try to work only with the top tension adjustments at first to get the results you are looking for. While i realize that there are times when you have no choice but to adjust the bobbin tension try to confine adjustments to the top only at this time. I was told by the Nolting guys who delivered my machine that it should be rare to have to adjust the bobbin tension - but keep in mind that i have a different machine than you do. If you start with adjusting top tension only and find that you still dont see what you expect, it might be possible that in your previous attempts to adjust everything simultaneously that maybe the bobbin tension is now way outta whack. It happens... we try to fix our own stuff as best we can. 🥴 We all do it!

6) to keep things simpler while you work things out - maybe turn off the stitch regulator (if you can)? I know many people who ordered one after never having used one - and had a hard time adjusting to it! Try turning it off if you can while you work on the tension issue.

7) i also wasnt sure from your post whether free motion quilting is new to you or not - or whether that was actually something you were trying to do when the tension issues started. If free motion quilting is new to you, dont worry... it takes time and practice! My thinking from what i believe you have said is that it would be best to work out the tension problem first and proceed from there?

8) does your machine have a speed control? If so, turn it down to mid-range and see how slowing down effects your quilting. Before i got my Nolting i did all of my free motion quilting on my Janome 6600. I was having trouble with stitch issues around the “arcs” as i was going too fast! I dialed down to mid-range, which gave me more time to think and anticipate changes in direction. After a while slowed down (which i hated) i was eventually able to resume full speed with much better control (bat-outta-hell-pedal-to-the-metal-gitter-done-mode)!

9) this might be a dumb question, but do you have a manual for your machine? Reason for asking - somehow mine was left out when my machine was delivered! All i had to do was call Nolting and Brenda emailed me a pdf copy within 5 minutes! Most of the time manuals really are helpful!

Sorry... i know this got long, but i was trying to thoughtfully consider anything that came to mind when i read and re-read your post. I know how frustrated and alone i would feel in your circumstance.

Its hard to be so excited having invested your hard-earned money and not get discouraged by the speed bumps that pop up along the way.

Although that hasnt been my experience with my Nolting, i have certainly gone through it with other purchases elsewhere and its hard to know where to turn for help. And when you finally do call someone its hard to know whether being a decent human being actually still works, or whether you gotta psyche-up to go nuclear outta the box! 🙈 i get it!!! But Nolting is a good company, i promise you - talk to Dan Terrell he wont steer you wrong (he is the owner).

Again, sorry so long... the end! 😊