Not Sure What I should do...
 

I am self taught quilter...I have a Grace 2 frame and a Viking Mega Quilter machine...my question is when I quilt free motion some of my circles or what ever my design is looks nice and smooth, then they get jerky and look half done or not smooth at all...what do I need to do? I know I get to going fast, because I think I am doing so well, wonder if I had a panto to follow if it would work better ...Any Ideas? I really would like to know what to do....

Thanks, Mary

I believe your speed is the problem I was told to slow down and my stitches look better. It is hard to go slower when doing circles but I do try and it pays off

Maybe you get tired and then you lose some focus. If the circles are good when you go slow, then I'd say stick to that speed. You have to find the sweet spot between the speed of the machine and the speed of your hand movement. It takes a lot of practice to get it consistently right.

I'm not quite sure whether you mean that your stitches are uneven, or that the design itself isn't as smooth as you would like. Other causes of jerky design could be that your machine hangs up on something, even slightly (check the cords/cables to be sure they aren't catching on anything); the machine bumps into something, such as the rolled up quilt top or rail; or the wheels are running into something (such as thread, lint, uneven spot in tracks). I also have problems if I try to continue quilting to my right (or left) too far. I do better when I'm more in front of the machine, but sometimes I try to keep going without moving my feet.

wow, dunster, you just ran through all of my faux pas! LOL

I've been told (although I haven't do it yet) to have a glass of wine first and put on some nice music - nothing too fast. Then my quilting should be more even! HA! Also, do you have a stitch regulator? That helps. And can you adjust your machine speed down to low. I have to do that or I go too fast.

I ditto all that Dunster says. I actually don't like to go very fast. I have a nicer product if I try to keep my speed even and about what I would call medium. My friend comes to quilt on my frame...and she goes WAY to fast! I keep having to tell her to slow down! Do you have a speed regulator? When I 1st started, I had one and I liked it alot. All I had to do was watch MY speed. The machine took care of the stitch speed.

If there's a longarming mistake that can be made, I've probably made it. :eek: I'm very talented that way.:o