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Using the sharpie is a great idea!
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It might be how fast or slow you are feeding the fabric, that affects the looks of the stitches too. I have the espire which is pretty much the same as yours. I find if i go too fast my stitches don't look as good. Maybe take a machine quilting class because they can probably teach you how to get the best stitch on your machine
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Originally Posted by Lisa_wanna_b_quilter
I had the same problem on some black borders I did. No amount of playing with tension could ever get it right for me, but I just couldn't face using the same color thread front and back.
Promise not to laugh and I'll tell you what I did to "fix it." Promise?........ I got the tension issues to the best point I could, but the little with dots still showed on the front but the black quit showing on the back. I quilted it to the best of my limited abilities and then.....................got out my fine tipped sharpie marker and colored the thread dots on the front black. Several washings later you still can't tell, so in my book it worked. Just promise not to tell the quilt police on me. |
Sharpies are a wonderful invention.
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I find I have to use the same color almost on top and bottom, unless the top is variegated. I use a lot of that. If I'm doing a white area on the top, I switch to a white bobbin. I use Bottom Line for my bobbins on my longarm. Lots of colors. If you use the same kind of thread all the time for your bobbins, switching colors doesn't make your tension change.
Cynthia |
i had the same problem. i too had to get some fabric paint and color all the dots. quit a process, from now on i will use one color thread!
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you may want to try using a clear nylon thread on one side and color on the other and then adjusting the tensions. that way the clear thread will not show on the opposite side. or another idea is to try using a bobbin thread on the bottom that is a little different weight than the other thread so it won't pull through to the top as much if at all.
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that 's a great idea! i have been wanting to try that clear nylon thread. thank you, this board is so great. so many great and experenced quilters!!
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You might try easing up the pressure, the way you would ease up with a regular presser foot on thicker fabric. All SMs have a foot-pressure control, even using FMQ. Hope this helps.
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Originally Posted by Lisa_wanna_b_quilter
I had the same problem on some black borders I did. No amount of playing with tension could ever get it right for me, but I just couldn't face using the same color thread front and back.
Promise not to laugh and I'll tell you what I did to "fix it." Promise?........ I got the tension issues to the best point I could, but the little with dots still showed on the front but the black quit showing on the back. I quilted it to the best of my limited abilities and then.....................got out my fine tipped sharpie marker and colored the thread dots on the front black. Several washings later you still can't tell, so in my book it worked. Just promise not to tell the quilt police on me. |
If you go to the Superior thread website they used to have a thread..no pun intended...about tension. I always use a topstitch needle. Some don't like to fool around with the tension but I always have to because of the type of thread I use to quilt. Always have a practice"sandwich" before you start to make sure you tension is right. Good luck!
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It looks to me that the batting is too thin to allow each colour to hide between the layers. I think you may have more success with your tension if you doubled the thickness of your batting.
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Originally Posted by damaquilts
Just promise not to tell the quilt police on me.
I have to say I have had the tension on every single number there is. I have a Brother QC1000.[/quote] Is your pressure foot down when you adjust the tension? My tension will not change unless the pressure foot is down. just a thought.. |
Have you thought about using the invisible thread on it to see how you like it?
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Originally Posted by Cuilteanna
Originally Posted by Lisa_wanna_b_quilter
I quilted it to the best of my limited abilities and then.....................got out my fine tipped sharpie marker and colored the thread dots on the front black.
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If you are using a 90/14 that is a big needle. Coats and Clark is not a very thick thread - unless you are using Quilting Thread - it wouldn't need that large of a needle. I would try a Quilting Needle in a smaller size. The other posts that mentioned your batting may also be on the money. If your batting is thin the stitches will never hide in it and high contrast wil definitely show through. If all else fails I guess try the Sharpie marker trick!
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Originally Posted by Lisa_wanna_b_quilter
I got the tension issues to the best point I could, but the little with dots still showed on the front but the black quit showing on the back. I quilted it to the best of my limited abilities and then.....................got out my fine tipped sharpie marker and colored the thread dots on the front black. Several washings later you still can't tell, so in my book it worked.
Just promise not to tell the quilt police on me. |
Originally Posted by Lisa_wanna_b_quilter
I had the same problem on some black borders I did. No amount of playing with tension could ever get it right for me, but I just couldn't face using the same color thread front and back.
Promise not to laugh and I'll tell you what I did to "fix it." Promise?........ I got the tension issues to the best point I could, but the little with dots still showed on the front but the black quit showing on the back. I quilted it to the best of my limited abilities and then.....................got out my fine tipped sharpie marker and colored the thread dots on the front black. Several washings later you still can't tell, so in my book it worked. Just promise not to tell the quilt police on me. |
Originally Posted by kathy
that's almost an impossible feat to acheive, you may have to choose one color
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Originally Posted by damaquilts
Stitches looks fine.
Arent they suppose to meet in the middle and hide in the batting. LOL |
Lisa, while I was reading this post before I saw your post I was thinking the same thing with the sharpie. It's amazing what we have out there to fix mistakes.
Cookie |
Originally Posted by Lisa_wanna_b_quilter
I had the same problem on some black borders I did. No amount of playing with tension could ever get it right for me, but I just couldn't face using the same color thread front and back.
Promise not to laugh and I'll tell you what I did to "fix it." Promise?........ I got the tension issues to the best point I could, but the little with dots still showed on the front but the black quit showing on the back. I quilted it to the best of my limited abilities and then.....................got out my fine tipped sharpie marker and colored the thread dots on the front black. Several washings later you still can't tell, so in my book it worked. Just promise not to tell the quilt police on me. |
Pigma pens are wonderful for putting a tiny dot on a stitch. I have "fudged" hundreds of times. They work well for "fixing" embroidery outlines/stitches.
I have an assortment of tip sizes and colors. A girl has got to have the right tools!! |
I used the permnant pen. WOrks great.
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