Skipped stitches on Longarm
 

any advice on skipped stitches? the needle is puncturing the fabric, but it isn't forming a stitch. Then it will go back to making stitches. I've tried everything I can think of.

SVAL

There might be a little lint in the bobbin area, or the thread has jumped the tension discs. Could be your needle has a burr or is dull. I would clean everything and put in a new needle.

This is most often a timing issue. First, make sure your needle is in correctly, as if the hole is slightly offset, it in effect advances or retards the timing. Since many long-arms use a round shank needle, you can rotate it slightly to if needed, because sometimes you may need to do that depending on thread and fabric being used.

I don't recall which way to move it though, and don't have my documentation where I can get at it easily.

i've had that happen if the quilt is rolled too tightly

Turn needle slightly to the left...needle hole at 6:35

If you are quilting batiks skipped stitches do occur. Use a bigger needle - an 18 or 20. At times I have had to use thread heaven on the thread as I am quilting batiks. Check for lint in the bobbin area as well.

Also check your encoders for buildup clean the wheels, tracks ect. clean clean clean needle plate, bobbin area and check you tension and re-thread...there is soo many things.

This was my first thought as well. You should be able to stick your index finger up under the quilt and grab with your other hand on top. This is the proper tightness (or looseness) when you roll your quilt.

If the needle has not been inserted so it is pushed all the way up, this affects the timing and will cause the occasional skipped stitch. On my Voyager I also have to offset the needle hole very slightly, so it faces 6:25 instead of 6:30.

I had a lot of trouble with this on my Tin Lizzie. Discovered the encoders were too light and not enough pressure on the tracks so they didn't turn. Have made a few additions to keep pressure consistant, and no more problems.

On my machine, if the foot is just a little too high off the quilt top it sometimes skips a stitch or two.

There are a lot of different things that can make skipped stitches, as the various answers state. If we knew what longarm machine you quilt with, we might be able to pinpoint the problem.

Because you say there is a needle hole and the skip is due to the needle not picking up the bobbin thread, I would rule out the encoders immediately. I would suspect your needle bar height isn't quite right or the needle is not in correctly. You probably are not out of timing because it would be happening a lot more than "occasionally" if it was timing. Do you notice it a lot more going in any particular direction like when moving the machine away from you or right to left?