Viking Sapphire dilemma.
 

Hi. Hoping for some advice from you wonderful quilters. My Viking Saphire has had it's ups and downs. I am considering a new machine because I cannot get it to cooperate for free motion quilting. No matter what speed I use, it constantly skips. Have any of you had this experience with a Sapphire. At the beginning it had to be retrofit on the take up lever and the bobbin case has always been hyper-sensitive and pops up. Help please. Should I just try for a new machine.

I sold my Viking sapphire machine because I could work for hours, cleaning, New thread, re-thread bobbin, used top quality quilting thread, fresh needle, etc and it would still give me grief on the fmq process. That said, I loved the embroidery features so much, I got a full-time embroidery machine, and I fmq with my good Kenmore sewing machine. Smaller throat, but never a glitch with fmq or sewing anything from silk to denim! Tin Lizzie or table top George is my "someday" dream!

Also having a Sapphire, have heard and addressed some of these problems. There is great information on the Yahoo Sapphire Group board (access is by signing up). The discussion about free motion is ongoing. There are changes you can make by using different tension and/or foot pressure settings which can improve your outcomes. Unless you are doing a very heavy quilt, you might try using the free motion floating setting, using some additional adjustments, and it works very well -- I use this on the majority of my work. Please check the board, and/or contact me via QB mail. Other Sapphire owners might have additional info -- so I'll be watching here too!

I have only used a Huskvarna many years ago,before computerized machines and had a similar problem with it. Have you been using a 'hopping' foot? they can make all the difference. If you decide to change machines, I have a great relationship with my Brothers (embroidery and sewing ) for 15 yrs, with no problems. Very easy to use as well. At the moment I'm trialing a Pfaff CV, and while it has more bells and whistles than the other machines, I'm finding it hard to fathom, and remember, which buttons to push. However it does great work once I know what to do. Hope I helped

I have had very similar experiences reneaunoel and am glad I not alone. Love the alphabet on this 830, have a Daisy which I carry to class. This fmq project and pretty much all along have been all stitch and rip. Since I love all other aspects of the quiltzmaking adventure I am fed up. Ever since I got the machine I had trouble with and thought it was me. Thanks so much for your input.

Hulalulu, I will definitely check out this resource! The free motion floating is what I have tried. I keep thinking it's just me and no matter hw much I adjust things when I start to stitch, pulling thread up, stitch in place to knot it, as soon as I move the fabric it skips. Slow and steady, regular sandwich of 2 cottons and warm and natural batt. Mames me ready to cry when the quilt itself looks good. Boo hoo ;-)

Gay, thank you for replying. All the bells and whistles throw me too.LOL I have taken a class, maybe another one with a Viking dealer.

I FMQ all the time on my sapphire. No problems. I have my thread laying down not up like a regular sewing machine. I also use the little clear foot to fmq. I must be one of the only ones who enjoy my sapphire.

I had problems with mine until i took it in for a cleaning. They replaced the take up lever ( under warranty) with a different style. It's been behaving since then. I do have to increase the tension manually when I FMQ. The only thread it refuses is the clear poly that i like to use as the top thread on scrappy quilts.

I usually piece with Aurifil and FMQ with King Tut or Star thread.

I have the Sapphire 870 and although it was a learning curve when I first got it, I am very happy with it. It does NOT do embroidery though, so not sure about a previous comment by reneaunoel. I usually use my spring foot when doing FMQ... (and make sure to change the settings on the machine to match) I am not that great at it, but I'm pretty sure that is operator error.....I know what I should do...but I don't make the time to practice enough. The books that came with the machine are pretty good...and every once in awhile I refresh my memory and am amazed at how much I have forgotten.