Please Help! Janome Artistic SD
 

I purchased an Artistic SD18 and I live 7 hours away from the closest dealer. The top stitches look amazing but the bottom doesn't. It's not eyelashing; it just looks like the holes (that the needle makes) are too big. It looks like it's pulling batting thru. I have changed my needle, so that's not the problem. Has anyone with an Artistic SD ever had this problem. Please don't gloss over this post; I am desperate!

Can you post a picture? Don't have this machine, but what size needle are you using and what weight thread?

What tension are you using? What is your stitch length? It sounds like you are quilting and not piecing. Are you absolutely sure that your bobbin is threaded properly? I had a similar problem and just as I was ready to pack it into the dealer i found I had missed a little place in the bobbin area that the thread had to hook over. Another time I had the bobbin in upside down. I have the Janome MC6600P so can't speak for the Artistic SD18.

Using Groz-Beckert 110/18 needle and Maxilock thread. It has done the same with Aurifil.

The SD quilter is a sit down longarm. It's mechanical. There is no stitch length setting. That is regulated by the quilter. I have threaded and rethreaded my bobbin; even doing several tests (found on Youtube) to make sure it was good. I also have a Janome 8900, but these are two different birds.

Here's another thing to check. Are you using Warm & Natural or Warm & WHite? There's a right and wrong side to this batting. If you put it in the wrong way, the needle pushes the batting thru and you get little pokies. The side with the flecks & specks goes toward your quilt top, smooth side down. Here's a thread with pics:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...e-t261727.html

I hope that you have resolved your problem. If you haven't I would try going over every tension guide very carefully looking for a tiny bit of lint, it is surprising the troubles they can cause. Carefully check your bobbin case as well. How tightly wound is your bobbin? poke your finger nail against it and be sure that it isn't rock hard (I had that happen once). Back off your top tension a bit more. Just because the stitches look pretty there, they could still be pulling too tightly.
try a smaller needle.
A picture would be very helpful if you are still having problems.

I am not familiar with the Maxilock thread you are using--what weight is it? I only use an 18 needled on the long arm when I'm using something that is a #30 or 40 weight thread. Do check the bat as Paper Princess says, some definitely have a right and wrong side.
Really wish you had a picture so we could see; but I'd suggest you change needle size and also experiment with differnt bat or switch sizes. Sometimes when I pop my bobbin into the machine I have the thread tail get wrapped around something in the bobbin case and it will stitch fine on top for a very short distance and then get "stuck".
I'm also wondering if there is a timing issue? I'm not familiar with the Janome tech system, but think a phone call to them is warranted if these things done help. and get some canned air and really clean out that bobbin area, too.

My tensions sues turn ed out to be missing the last thread guide on the left side of the needle. I love this machine. Does anyone know where I can get a bobbin winder for the most bobbins?