Thread breaking while FMQ on a fleece backed quilt
 

Help! I'm having a devil of a time FMQ on a fleece backed quilt. My thread is shedding then breaking and skipping stitches after seconds of quilting. I've successfully FMQ other quilts before, but this is my second one that is causing so much grief. I've changed thread, needles and yes, even machines, but the same keeps happening. I began by doing some outline quilting which went fine, no thread breakage, but the minute I switched to FMQ all went wrong. The quilt is a simple cotton pieced top with a fleece backing, no batting. The quilt was spray basted. Both the "offending" quilts were assembled in the same manner; fleece back and spray basted. So no I am thinking that the fleece/spray baste combo might be the lethal combination. Has anyone else experienced this before? Any advice would be MUCH appreciated!

Many others FMQ successfully ... fleece backing with pieced top.
Myself included .... including using spray baste.

You'll get many suggestions from others as to what may be causing your problems, but this is where I would start ............... My first suggestion would be for you to create a sample sandwich of regular cotton front and back as a check-test for FMQing. It may have worked fine before, but check that it is working OK right now. If it is not good, then make the changes to get it to work.

Once all is good, then switch to a trial sandwich with your fleece backing.
Same thing ... work with this until you are happy with your FMQ results.


If all is not good, then stick with your trial fleece sandwich and change something.
Just make one switch at a time, as if you make many changes,
you won't know what is working, or what is not.
Likewise, if you are making adjustments in the beginning on the cotton sandwich.


Good Luck!

You didn't mention what kind of thread you're using. I'd use a poly thread with a Topstitch needle.

Here's a good step-by-step troubleshooting guide:
http://www.generations-quilt-pattern...en-breaks.html

also can be the needle hole a bit small. try larger one.

tension???? I don't know if that will help, but that is what I would try

i find when mine does that i am moving my machine too fast

I just wanted to say Welcome to the board!

I agree with Nativetexan....maybe a larger needle.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I have tried many types of thread; cotton, poly & a blend, all with the same results. I went out & purchased different needles & sizes. So far the universals cause the same problem as well as jeans and topstitch 90/14. The strange thing is on all my quilt sandwiches come out fine. Today I am trying to wash the quilt then try to FMQ to see if my spray baste/fleece combo is the culprit. I'll update hopefully when I've been successful!