I am trying to evaluate my thread tension .The front stitches look great. On the back I can see a tiny bit of the top thread and if I loosen up a thread an get ahold of it I can pull it out. This seems bad. Wouldn't my quilt fall apart? I feel like the tension has to be perfect or is that exactly not true ?

I doubt if your quilt would fall apart, but yes, it sounds like your tension is off a bit. You should not see top thread on the bottom or bobbin thread on the top. Usually, you just tighten (or loosen) the top tension. Rarely should you have to change the tension in the bobbin, but a good test is to put your bobbin in the bobbin case, and hang it by holding the thread. It should hang without unwinding, but if you shake the thread it should pull out some. If it unthreads freely when hanging, it's too loose (tighten the little screw) and if it doesn't pull out at all when you shake it, then it's too tight. Hope that helps!

Yes your tension is definitely off, but no it won't exactly fall apart, but it WILL snag and kids &/or pets will catch those snags and puullllllllllll...ask me how many ways I know this!!

Thanks :) I adjusted the tension and things seem fine now!

Kim