Trouble with thread shredding with Ruler foot
 

Good Morning. I've been asked to demonstrate the new Angela Walters Handiquilter rulers at my local LQS during shop hop in May. So I purchased the Westalee ruler foot, and have been practicing. The problem is, my machine (Janome 6600) keeps skipping stitches, shredding thread, and somehow I end up with a loop of thread through the needle eye when the thread breaks.

I've changed the needle, cleaned the bobbin case and surrounding area, added a spot of oil to the 2 places I've been instructed to oil, changed thread and bobbin thread, rethreaded the machine, tinkered with the tension, adjusted the height of the ruler foot. What am I missing?

I'm very frustrated, as I have used my machine to FMQ for several years, and even use it to teach beginning free motion quilting at the LQS, and have never had this kind of trouble with stitches.( My anxiety is also steadily rising, because I am teaching a fmq class in just a couple weeks..... I need my machine working properly. ) It really isn't time for a spa day for my machine, as I had it in last in November...

Thanks for all your help.
Kris

what type of needle are you using. this article may shed some light on the issue https://www.superiorthreads.com/educ...read-shredding

and here is a previous QB thread about shedding
https://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f...g-t287246.html
somewhere else [maybe FB?], I read that using the rulers requires a larger needle with a longer hole/eye

I've had that same problem. I think Sewer's Aid helps. I was advised to use a "quilting" needle. Hope you find the solution and share your experience in the class. Good luck!

Thanks QuiltNan for the links. I will be checking those out.

QuiltnNan, thanks for the information... I'm using a 90/14 Quilting needle... which is what I've always used. The thread is pretty fine, Connecting Threads 100 % poly. I've used it for years... in my 6600 and also with my Gammill charm.

Tartan, Yes to adjusting the ruler foot. I've tried it in all sorts of positions, then watched a video from Westalee showing that she can remove the foot entirely and still quilt with no tension problems.
I'm stumped.

Try a different thread. I would suggest Bottom Line or, if that doesn’t work, Glide. Connecting Threads poly was the only thread that consistently shredded in my mid arm machine.

Try a size 100 needle,loosen the tension,try a 40 weight thread,and don’t use a lot of pressure onto the ruler foot.

Many machines have stitch formation issues when a floating foot is used, particularly if it is too high off the surface. The machine that the westalee demonstrations are done on looks to me to be a Viking and may have a special setting for using a floating foot, the Sapphires do, don't know about hers.

Two of my machines are only happy with the floating foot if I lower it so that it is almost touching, which is quite a bit lower than where it gets set if you use the shim that came with the foot to set its height.

You might look into the Janome convertible free motion foot, I use that one on my Brother PQ1500s. For ruler work I also had to buy the frame quilting foot set to get the ruler foot that attaches to the convertible free motion foot. That set up has a thumb screw that allows you to adjust the height in tiny increments, which is handy when coming to thicker seams that would otherwise cause it to hang up.



Rob

A size 90 TOP STITCHING needle was recommended at the Quilt/Sew Expo show demo.
Also - get that foot adjusted to the sweet spot. I'm not sure where that spot is yet, but it's usually just bearly above the fabric. I'm taking a ruler work class later next month - looking forward to learning all kinds of fun things!

Good Luck!
Donna Mc

I suggest winding a new bobbin. I had intermittent BAD tension that I could not diagnose... When my bobbin winder died and I bought a used one from a friend? Have not had a serious tension issue since.

I have the Janome 8900 and was having the same issue. I changed to a topstitch 90/14 needle and found that is working. I'm using Sew Fine 50 wt thread.

I think the foot is the problem. You said that you have quilted before with no problem. Only with this foot. Maybe readjusting the foot is the thing todo. If not set right, the fabric will lift slightly and cause the thread to not slip through the fabric and cause shredding. I know on my long arm I have to have the foot set correctly to get a good stitch and no thread breakage.

Change thread. Use 90/14 topstitch needle. Make sure your foot lever is down...and ruler foot closer to your fabric. Thread is in the take up lever,can't tell you how often this happens). Sometimes a microtex needle 90/14 is the answer. I took a free motion boot camp class and was told to bring a microtex needle 90/14. My thread shredded, broke a needle, pulling loops to the top of the fabric.....brand new Janome 8900. I took this machine out of the box, with the factory needle in it, don't know the size, set it up for free motion, worked perfectly. Next day we were off to the boot camp. But I did one thing different. I bought some beautiful thread, never, opened. Finally the instructor came over, person who told me to use the Microtex needle, she tried, same shredding. I took the thread off the machine and happened to turn the small cone upside down and inside the tube it said what size needle to use with that thread. Bought the needle at the quilt shop where the boot camp was being held....thank goodness they had one...and away I went. No problems for the rest of the class. Lessoned learned, match your needle to your thread.
BTW I love my Janome 6600. It is a workhorse of a machine. The 8900 is wonderful too. Best wishes for solving this mystery.Oh, and be careful with the shredding, it can lead to the dreaded broken needle that flies into your face. Ask me how I know.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I took my machine in for servicing, and while it's behaving a little better, I am still getting the intermittent skipped stitches and broken threads, even after switching to a 90/14 top stitch needle, rewinding bobbins, trying different thread... The ruler work is going a little better, but I'm still searching for the sweet spot with the foot... I tried quilting a table runner, and found a couple of places where the seams weren't nested properly, and the foot wouldn't even go over them... need to adjust it up a bit...
I wish I had purchased the convertible foot and ruler foot, but the 3 dealers I called weren't knowledgeable enough to recommend it. That frustrates me a little. I'm off to do more practicing.. and troubleshooting...

Hi, I am new to this board but came here because I have had the same problems as Kris P except my machine is a Janome 9400 QCP. I just had it in for a "spa day" and took it back a couple of days ago because of the thread shredding, skipped stitches and all with the Westalee ruler foot. I was told in no uncertain terms it is not my machine though they replaced the bobbin case in the "spa day" and it seems loose to me. Anyway, I was reading online today all the things that have been suggested here about making adjustments but the ruler foot not being close enough to the material caught my eye. Also the advice about working with batiks. (They are more difficult because they have a tighter weave. I got out the free motion foot that came with the machine that I have used on a few quilts recently, not the hopper foot but the closed toe one and made a quilt sandwich with the batik I am using as a backing and the same cotton filler. I applied the 505 adhesive as I did with the quilt and tried it again. It is working fine. I have an Angela Walters ruler and used it. It working fine now. I think it is the Westalee ruler foot, that it does not keep the sandwich from pulling up from the stitch bed. Does this sound right to anyone? Has anyone had this same problem? I know Janome has come out with an up date which includes 4 new feet and a usb adjustment to the machine which causes the computer to recognize the feet. One of the feet is a ruler foot. It is $119.00 and Sewing Machines Plus in So Cal has the kit. I didn't buy it because I don't see a need for the other feet and I had already purchased what I have.

I am having the same problem with the Janome 9400QCP. I use Janome needles which the machine seems to perfer. It still misses stitches in free motion quilting but not regular sewing. I was assured it is not the machine so I did went back to the free motion foot closed toe and it seems to be working now.

I was having skipped stitches with size 50 cotton thread. But what an amazing difference Metler Poly-sheen, size 40, made! I really want to order a whole bunch of it and share it with my friends!

I posted on the 22nd about using the closed toe quilting foot that came with the machine. I worked with it more and it started skipping stitches here and there then a few here and there mostly when I back up (pull the quilt toward me. It got bad so I called around and found the upgrade with the four new feet in them including the ruler foot and installed that. The whole process works much better. For one with a real ruler foot I don't have to move the quilt so much with saves time and muscle. It is only skipping one or two stitches once in a while pulling the quilt toward me. I did change to the single hole bed plate from the zig zag one because I was told it would help the needle keep in place. I think this machine might be one that you have to stick with the Janome products. Sigh. I am much happier with how it is working though.

try a needle with a larger eye. Thread shreds because FMQing your moving in all directions and the thread is rubbing on the side of the needle because the hole is too small. I usually step up to a denim needle.