Oh, and I forgot to mention that one thread is on a spool, the other on a cone. Could that be a problem?

I think it could make a difference. Do you have your cone on a thread holder?
There was a very good video on Youtube (I believe from Superior Threads) about
threads and needles. A real eye opener. Hope I can find it or someone else will
post it for you.

Edit: Ok, if you go to Youtube, look for Thread Therapy with Dr. Bob. There
are several chapters but they are worth watching.

Thanks EasyPeezy. Yes, I've got it on a holder. I'll check that Youtube as well.

This is one of the many reasons I no longer try FMQ. I decided I would rather enjoy my projects than frustrate the hell out of myself. I just can't get the hang of it. Good luck.

Mind competely blown!!! Of course. And to think I almost replaced my machine with a larger throat plate. I owe you a cappuccino for this!

This is exactly what I was going to mention. If you don't have time to search, the basic rule is:
if it's stack wound (King Tut on the small spool is, I'm not sure about the Bottom Line) then you want the spool to turn as the thread unwinds from it. This is good for vertical spool pins.
If it's cross wound - most cones for instance, Gutermann Sew-All, Mettler spools, etc. It's designed to come off the top. This means that a horizontal pin is great for these threads, or a coffee cup behind the machine, or a thread stand.

This actually showed me why sometimes thread spools would jump off some of my vintage machines. They (and I) have been easier to get along with ever since. :)

Superior also makes a thread stand that can help with both types of spools that I would love! But shipping to Canada, plus the price of it,.. well, I'll just make one I guess. :)


I LOVED the the thread therapy when I sat down to watch it though. Well worth an afternoon of watching them all.
I posted about it here back in February:
http://www.quiltingboard.com/links-r...d-t215131.html

I may just take you up on that if you ever make it to Central Alberta, or we make it to Michigan ;)

I would go to the shop that I bought the machine from, and ask them to help you get the tension right, or fix the problem

The first time I tried a cone on my 7700 it failed miserably. I wrapped the thread around the top of the cone thread guide an extra time and all was good.

I followed the link ArchaicArcane posted and between that thread and this one I have solved my FMQ problem on my Pfaff QE 4.0.

Using Gutterman (sp) thread, I had bobbin thread showing on top and top thread showing on bottom and top thread was shredding. Still using same thread,
1. I put the thread spool on a metal stand behind my machine then threaded making sure I used the method shown to me by the dealer. (QE 4.0 sm are easy to not stay in the tension disks),
2. changed needle from a quilting 90/14 to a top stitch needle 90/14, which I learned from Mr. Bob in Thread Therapy and
3. changed the upper tension from default 4.6 to 3.0. I learned from doing the FMQ tension test someone recommended.

Thanks to the original poster and all of you who contributed the tips and you tube links.

I read somewhere that the computerized machines don,t do so well with the free motion.....they are great for applique and decorative stitching......thats probablly why you old machine makes a better job with the free motion.....
I use the brother PQ1500 for free motion, but it only sew straight stitch.....