Thread breaking when using Ruler Foot
 

I am new to this forum and I hope that someone can assist me. I recently purchased a ruler foot and two (2) of Angela Walter's new rulers. Since I am hopeless at FMQ, I thought that the rulers would be more user friendly. Not so much. No matter what I do, my upper thread keeps on shredding and breaking. I have re-threaded, changed thread, changed needles, changed the bobbin, fiddled with the tension and even changed machines (I have a brand new Singer Quantum 9960 and a 20 year old Brother Pacesetter, both of which work perfectly for all other applications. I have googled and YouTubed myself into a frenzy and tried every tip and trick. The one suggestion that seemed to help a bit was Leah Day's video where she indicated that some machines don't like to go in all directions and I've noticed that my machine behaves a bit better moving from left to right and front to back, but it's still not optimum. I have a pile of projects that need quilting and I really don't want to have to pay someone else to quilt them.

I had good luck using a large needle when my thread kept breaking. I mean large like a size 100. What weight, ply, and type of thread are you using? I have a Singer Quantum and it was my first machine I used for machine quilting.

I concur with Onebyone. A needle with a larger eye hole may help with the breakage. I would also check your top tension, you may need to loosen it just a tad.

Also, don't have a death grip on the ruler. You need to hold the ruler in place, but it still needs to be loose enough that you can still move your fabric. Same thing with the ruler pressure against the foot. Needs to be able to glide.
I'm assuming that you can FMQ in all directions without the ruler?

Welcome from Ontario, Canada.:wave:
If the thread is shredding at the needle, I think you are pulling the needle slightly to the side when you are moving the quilt. If the needle is pulled to the side\front/back etc, it will shread the thread against the throat plate. A stronger needle may not bend as much and you might have better luck.
Are you using Machinger or similar gloves to help move the quilt? The gloves help to grip your ruler and help move the quilt without having to press too hard. It is also helpful if you can adjust the machine speed so you can quilt slower along the ruler edge. Get out some practice squares and keep at it. You will get the hang of it.

Agree with using a needle with a larger eye, I was having this problem and use a 90 when using my rulers. The other possibility is you are pulling the material to hard as you move it. What PaperPrincess said is good advice and using a Supreme slider to help move is a must, if I forget before I start FMQ or using my ruler I really notice the difference and I usually will have thread breaks.

Wow - I am so pleased to hear all of your tips, so far. I have already switched to a topstitching needle with a large eye - a wee bit better, but not much. I am using a 100% polyester (Gutterman) all purpose thread, which I have used for normal free-motion quilting with no issues. On the advice of others, I tried different thread, Mettler, coates, and some other brands I had laying around, all with the same result. I will follow the advice and try not to pull on the needle and loosen the "death-grip" on the ruler.. I have been putting off the expense of the Supreme Slider, but I guess it's time to loosen the purse strings and spring for one. A question for OnebyOne... did you touch the tension at all on your Singer Quantum? I tried loosening it a touch and I had loops galore on the backside, so I moved it back to auto.

How is the thread wound on the spool? Make sure there is no drag on thread and it is coming off the spool easily.

Does your machine have a speed control? Try stitching slower.

Next try using a longer stitch length.

Is your machine stitching OK with other samples?

Did you use basting spray or glue on the quilt sandwich?

These can all factor in to machines mis-behaving. Hope that helps a bit.

I adjust the tension whenever I change to a different wt of thread and a different needle. I start with it where it is and adjust as needed. When doing decorative stitching I have to adjust it for the different stitches even when using the same thread and needle size. I don't mind adjusting tension control on any of my machines. It doesn't scare me at all. I had to get a new tension screw for my Bernina bobbin. I wore it out. LOL

Lower the foot closer to your fabric. It should just skim the fabric. If it is too high the thread will break everytime.

Good luck!

Watson

I did lower the foot and it helped a lot; however it then jammed on the bulkier seams. Thank you everyone for the tips - I’m off to make myself a “sandwich” and tackle that machine again.

Try making the needle go faster, then slowing down with your hands. Try to aim for 10-12 stitches per inch.

Contrary to general guidelines, some machines work better with the feeddogs up, and the stitch-length to Zero.. If all else fails, it might be worth a try?

If you tension is OK when sewing, then don't mess with your tension. Is your thread shredding and breaking with normal sewing or only FMQ? Usually thread breakage is thread hang up above your needle or your needle is not matched with your thread weight. FMQ requires a large eye needle. Also try 50 weight thread or above that. There are some quilters using 90 and 100 weight thread. I use that for machine applique. Check all along your thread path, from your spool to the guides, tug and see if you have a "hang up" as you go along your thread path. I was at a FMQ Boot Camp a few years ago. They told us to bring a 90/14 microtex needle. I put it in my machine, I got out my brand new thread spool, and my thread started shredding and then the needle broke....hit my glasses. The instructor looked at my machine and needle....she couldn't see the problem either. I looked at the thread spool (small cone from Superior) and inside the end of the cone it said what needle to use. I purchased it from the shop where the class was and I was off and FMQ.....learned a valuable lesson that day. Match your needle to your thread. Of course, you would match a needle size to denim and leather use. In this case the Microtex needle worked for everyone except my thread. The Mictrotex needle has a sharp point, so less drag on the fabric. Practice with new needles and 50 weight thread or higher and see if that helps. Best wishes in getting the FMQ and ruler use tackled.....just takes practice.

I had the same problem until I tried isocord poly thread. Made a world of difference. I use also in the bobbin with 12 microtex needle on my janome 8900. Hope this helps. I had tried all different kinds of thread.

Yep, the best thing to do when all goes wrong is to get up and get away from the project for a while. I used to find that when something went wrong, it was like I had blinders on and all I could see was the problem before me and nothing else. I would work at to total frustration, now I finally learned to step away - just step away - and when I come back it is like something changed in the universe and the problem seems to fix itself.

Of course, my favorite thing to do when I step away is to eat something - a behavior I am trying to delete from my programming. On the other hand, when I get in the zone of quilting, I find that I forget to eat.

When I quilt on my DSM, a Brother Nouvelle 1500, I have to use a size 16 needle. Anything smaller just will not work.

I use "Permacore" by A&E for my Gammill. Never have had a problem in 14 years. I am using it in my dsm if doing a small quilt.
Yes a bigger eye needle really makes a difference.
If you don't want to pay the price for supreme slider buy a 'snow carpet. I read about them on here and they are just a few dollars.

I have been very interested in reading all these comments. I bought some quilting rulers at the Houston Quilt Festival show last year and have yet to use them. This year I am taking a class on using them and am excited about that. I am saving a copy of everyone's comments to refer back to if (when) I have this problem.

Hi all, me again. After spending a small fortune on needles and thread and making more “sandwiches” than a lunch lady :) I have determined that my machine is not ambidextrous. It only behaves if I fmq left to right. If I go right to
left the thread immediately skips and breaks. I saw a video by Leah Day on this subject but I’ve never heard of anyone else having this issue. I just finished a table runner which I quilted without breaking thread...but I only moved the quilt left to right. The constant turning was a pain and I’m limited in my patterns, but I got it done. Has anyone else dealt with a situation like this?

Yes indeed. My machine breaks thread mainly going left to right. If I go very slowly it doesn’t happen as much. I’ve been using a giant jeans needle and that helps. Rob Appell of Man Sewing has a you tube video where he explains why it happens. Can’t remember why but it all made sense. From what I’ve read on my Facebook groups each machine has its own set of quirks. Even same machines behave slightly differently. Very frustrating. I’m more aware and things are going more smoothly for me. Mostly.