Hi all, hope someone here can give me some advice! I've just finished a baby quilt on which I tried machine quilting for the first time, but I had real difficulties with the tension. I am using a second-hand Husqvarna 500 machine, which is one of these clever computer ones, telling you what tension and stitch length etc to set the machine to. But, as I was stitching in the ditch I found the tension got tighter and tighter as I went along. I tried changing the tension up and down, but I think what was happening was that the thread was actually catching on the cotton reel on the spool. How do you prevent this happening - I can't sew a straight line unless I look at what I'm doing so can't keep an eye on the thread and sew at the same time! I think there may have already been a question like this on the forum(I apologise if I am repeating things) but I can't find the thread (I really apologise for that one! lol). Thanks in advance.

Try flipping your spool over, so that the catch is away from where your thread is traveling.

That is what I have to do. Also make sure the thread isn't wrapping around the spool.

With my machine, I've discovered that if I change speeds suddenly when the thread is near the bottom of the spool it will wrap around the spindle the spool sits on and create all sorts of a mess.

I have one of these machines. Take the spool off and turn it around.

Thanks folks. I tried turning the reel around at the time, but didn't seem to make any difference. Interesting about the speed differences though cos I am rather an erratic stitcher using the foot pedal! Also the machine has a verical spool holder you can attach for "second needle sewing"?? I suppose I could've tried that.

I didn't know whether to leave all the bad stitches in or rip them out and risk ripping the quilt also (it was that tight!) In the end I did a bit of both!

I Like using the big thread holder off the machine...like on a juki..seams the thread comes off better...