Hi,

I am hoping someone else in the group has this Singer Model. I recently purchased this machine and I do love the way it sews, but I am having major issues with the free motion quilting aspect. I cannot get the tension correct -- the tension is fine when I sew regular, but not when I attempt to FM quilt.

I am new to FM quilting and bought the machine to learn, but so far I can get the stitches on top correct, but underneath is a hot mess!!! Any suggestions?? I have played with the tension, to no avail.

I read somewhere that I should have the pressure foot down, but when I put it down, the machine makes a horrific clunking noise. It works fine with the pressure foot up, and I do have the feed dogs down... so I give up.

Chalking it up to being new at it, and really needing help!!

Thanks

Jayne

HOT Mess.... LOL I thought I was the only one who said that... Anyway I am sorry I cant help you with your question but I had to reply. I hope you find your answers

Are you using a free motion darning foot???

your problem is not putting the presser foot down.

you must have the foot down and it must be a FM foot or a darning foot and you need to drop the feed dogs.

Yes, it is.

I have the feed dogs down

No machine that I know of can sew with the presser foot up. Lowering the presser foot activates the tension. I use a FMQ foot and have no problems, but my quilting machine is a vintage Singer 301, so I'm no help to you.

I have this machine. It's about a year old. Mine makes the clunking sound, too, when sewing a seam on something thicker than two layers of cotton. It also clunks on certain decorative stitch settings.

Have you tried setting the stitch length to 0? And try setting the tension to something other than auto.

I'm getting a little better at FMQ...nothing I'd want to do on a quilt yet. I think it's just going to take a lot of practicepracticepractice to get the machine speed and hand rhythm down. I have the best luck when I sew out words at about the speed I'd write it. I've read many times here and elsewhere to practice drawing out your design over and over w/pen & paper.

Are you familiar with Leah Day's site? She has some great video tuts and tips. Google "Day Style Designs".