I had that problem with my first quilt and I took it to the LQS and they looked and it and told me I was using the wrong needle. I changed the needle to a 90/14 topstitch needle and it was much better, the rest they told me was just going to take practice with stitch length and speed. It is getting better with each quilt I do.

Good luck

I was that other person with the same issue. I received lots of great suggestions at this link:

http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-157052-1.htm

However, it didn't solve my problem with my BabyLock. I switched to my Janome and have had great success. But I had to set the machine to a slower speed and move slowly and smoothly (apparently jerky movements create some of the loopies.)

Good luck.

[quote=thepolyparrot]Are you sure you're putting the presser foot down? (I miss this occasionally and this is the symptom I get)[/quo

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! to whoever posted the original question and all of those kind enough to reply.
...and I thought I knew my machine upside down, inside out, and every which way!!!

Is there a dealer close by that you could consult for help?

Search FMQ on this board. There is some awesome advise here that helped me overcome the exact frustration you are having. I have a different machine than yours, but I can tell you this ... If the thread loops on the bottom, your top tension needs to be increased. If the thread loops on top, your top tension needs to be decreased. Very seldom do you need to adjust your bobbin tension. Use the same thread in top and bobbin. Do not use cheap thread. Use a brand new needle. Look for lint in and around your bobbin case. Make a sandwich of exactly the same quilt fabrics and practice! You'll get it and it's SO WORTH THE EFFORT! Don't forget to breathe!

Did you pull your bobbin thread to the top and stitch in place, nests get created if you don't do this. Might help to take a class so your instructor can help you specifically with your machine. It's hard to say what you are doing wrong without watching you. You could be moving too slow, moving too fast, etc.......

[quote=Nanasrcool]I am new to quilting. I finished my quilt top and it turned out great. I wanted to do some freemotion stippling on the outer perimeter and watched video after video and even read a few books. I started practicing. EVERY time the same thing. The top thread ends up with a huge nest on the underside of the quilt. Even at best I have a large loose loop of the top thread on the bottom. I have adjusted the tension in small amounts from +3 to -3 and NOTHING has helped. I have left the feed dogs up (have a supreme slider in place so it wont move the fabric) because one instructor said this might help and it made no difference. I have a singer 7426. Does anyone else this model or a singer that can help me shed some light on a solution here. There is no way to adjust anything on here but thread tension, stitch length


Always set your stitch length to "0". Your machine is putting out too much thread for each stitch. Once you set your stitch to 0 recheck your tension. But if you forget to lower you pressure foot that too will mess up your stitches big time.

When you rethread your machine make sure that the presser foot is up. If it down the thread will not seat correctly in the tension wheels so the machine will not sew right. A check for this is to put the presser foot down after you have rethreaded and gently pull the thread. The needle should bend slightly. If it does then the threrad in is the tension wheels correctly. If not it is not so rethread the machine.

Saw your nearly-finished photo. The project is wonderful. You are off to a good start.
I'm so glad you were helped by the quilters on this board. Everyone is so kind and if one thing doesn't work, another usually does.
As for FMQ....when I started out someone told me to sing or hum Camptown Races while I quilted. It helped with the movement of quilt and needle. The needle has to move faster than the quilt itself.
Good luck and keep practicing.

I have 3 Singers and one is on the quilt frame the other I use for piecing etc.

Make sure you machine switch is on fast and slow your motion down. You have a tendenticy to want to move your hands fast because the machine is running fast. If you'll do this I think you'll find the answer to your birdnesting.

Usually when the next is on the bottom it is something on the top. I would go to the dealer and have them figure it out.

Are you using a darning foot? I always use mine. Also do you lower your feed dog? Hope you can get the help you need soon, this would drive me crazy :cry:

My top tension needs to change for FM if I don't change it to a very loose upper tension I have a whole host of issues.

Where are your feeder dogs? Are u using a walking foot?

SHE SOLVED HER PROBLEM EVERYONE!

1) check with you dealer to see if there is a special quilting bobbin case you should be using;
2) always bring your thread up before you start
3) get an extra sharp needle, at least size 90/14
4) if you have been quilting with your feet lowered, put them up, or if it hasn't worked with you feet up, put them down (my machine works best if I leave them up)
5) rethread, clean out bobbin case of lint, make sure enough thread is on your bobbin (low thread causes problems
6) sew slowly, practice basting with free motion before do real quilting (use white or contrast thread so you can get it out easily)
7) use an open toed darning foot, or if you are try
8) using the walking foot, with a little less pressure (dial back upper pressure)
9) have a small glass of wine, chat with a friend, check out all of the above and try again.

Good luck. I do my own fmq and I love doing it! Doesn't always look professional, but it's MINE.... the whole quilt..... and that matters to me and to my family.

bringing the bobbin thread to the top each time---and holding on to both threads when you start may be just the "little" thing that is missing here.

my was doing that and my dad was a sewing machine repairman and he said you first start out by pulling your bobbin thread to top through the material, then make sure you have a large stich length, hold thread while it starts and you will see a big difference go slow if you have a mend tenison loosen it up go slow so the stiches will be uniform as much as posible and practice, practice, practice.

i agree - this has messed me up with the same problem. also make sure you are using the right foot attachment

I'm glad you got the problem resolved!! Have fun!

rethread your machine and make sure the top thread is in the thread takeup leaver, that is right in front of you where the machine looks like it has a long split,with your right hand roll your machine wheel toward you and watchthe lever go up and down,that should have thread in it
my leaver comes unthreaded quile often.
good luck,you will get there.
d.swindle

Nana - so happy you got it all figured out and hope your Lupus is well under control. I have a very close cousin who suffers with it, too and I know kind of what you're going through.
Wishing you many happy quilting hours and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful work.
Blessings,
Debbie

You are awesome!

So happy to hear youre back up and running. Nothing worse than that type of frustration. Carry on and share your success with us. Have fun and good luck!

Just a little hint "I put a note on my machine to remind me to put the presser foot down"

I learned today at a quilt show that if you start with your bobbin thread on top with your top thread that won't happen. I haven't tried it but it sure worked for the demonstrator!

Nanas...my sister has lupus...si i can identify! There is always hope of remission....and i am sure you know that stress is not good...so relax...enjoy your projects...and good luk to you! many prayers...Donna

This link was just posted and it has a lot of info on doing FMQ on a regular sewing machine, mayb it will help u.....I loved it when reading it for sure. I have a Singer machine, have to ck the model, might b what u have. It has 120 stitches and is great.....had a for a few years....will ck it out......here is the link

http://www.squidoo.com/machine_quilting

Can u tell us what the problem was and how she fixed it....been reading her but do not see any answers yet.....

I am so glad you got it going!! I was diagnosed with lupus years ago but it is mild.I just have to watch out for "flares" So I totally understand how you feel. Congrats on your victory!

For free motion you never have the feed dogs up you are the mover whenyou are doing free motion and hte faster the machine goes the smooter the stitches will be
You do have to take a st and pull up the bobbin thread to the top and then a couple of sts in place then start stippling. A pot holder or a small wall hanging could be stippled on that machine but a quilt ? Dosen't look like ther is any room to stipple.

you need to pull your bobbin thread to the top before you start fmq Try this and let me know that it worked for you
I was having that same problem and tried it and it worked for me
good luck to you I hope that this is a simple trick that can clear up for you and not something hard

Her problem was: She had her presser foot UP.

Sorry I am late in answering your post. I know nothing about a Singer machine but I did have a Brother that had a drop in bobbin and when I talked to a person well aquainted with my machine, I was told that a machine with a drop in bobbin just can't do FMQ. I hope this isn't the case with your machine.

Tension, machine threading, right needle.

I have a Viking but was having the same trouble. Like you I tried threading annd rethreading. I don't remember why, but I raised the spool holder that holds my spool of thread from horizontal to vertical - and now it's perfect. I just have to remember to always have it vertical when I do FMQ. Does yours swivel or can you put it vertical? Just another simple thought.. Good luck..

I think they told you wrong. :) There are some machines that are definitely better at FMQ than others and generally, a vertical bobbin will handle it better than a horizontal bobbin.

But, I quilted my first pieced quilts on a 401 - a slant needle with a drop-in bobbin. I quilted my first whole cloth quilts on a Singer Golden Touch & Sew 750 (drop-in, wind-in-place bobbin) twenty years ago - I didn't even know that what I was doing was free-motion quilting or that I was making a whole-cloth quilt! I thought I was just making crib comforters. :D

Lots of people use modern computerized machines with drop-in bobbins for FMQ, so be encouraged.

Get the proper foot for it and give it a try - maybe your machine isn't the best there is at FMQ, but I don't remember ever hearing about any model that *cannot* FMQ.

Might be interesting to find out which machines those are. :)

Thanks for the info. Since the machine that I was trying to FMQ on was fried by the lighting strike, I have purchased a new Brother 1500, and intrestingly it came with 2, bobbin cases, haven't had time to give it a go but when I do I hope it works.

I just found a good deal on a "white" sewing mahine and bought it to use as both a backup and for fmg. Great machine and in great shape, I need to take time and find a foot for it. The bobbin does sit vertically so that sounds good. I just need to get the foot, practice and pray. I have no experience w fmg whatsoever. Yikes! This is an interesting post, Thank you!