What is a bobbin washer? I have never heard of that.

Maybe it's the minkee fabric.

No help here. I send my quilts out to a longarm quilter.
I just don't think our machines were made to quilt through all those layers. Especially fabrics like the Minkee for backing.

Are you pulling your bobbin thread to the top when you begin?

Look at your throat plate - I was told to get one that has one small hole, so I can only use it to straight stitch. Too much can go through the wider holes. Also, if your bobbin has a "finger" on it, thread the bobbin thread through that "finger". Check the tension.

Make sure your machine is very clean and oiled.

it sounds silly but if you are left handed make sure you bobben is turning the right way in the bobbin case we leftys have to really watch those things

Well, I am not pulling my bottom thread to the top so maybe that has something to do with it. It can't be the wrong sizr of bobbin because I have only used the ones that came with the machine. I have never purchased new ones yet although that is on my list of things to get.

The bobbin isn't wobbling while filling but the spool does. Would this matter? Does the speed at which you fill the bobbin matter? ie, I heard once not to fill the bobbin with the presser foot fully down, only press to half speed.

I do wonder if I am not trimming the tail close enough while filling the bobbin. It could also be that I have been going along and stopped to quickly, unwinding it a bit and then continuing on with loose thread. I will have to try to pay attention to what is going on for details like this the next time it happens. Only I am usually paying more attention to the sewing than the machine itself if that makes sense. I'll try anyway. I would love to stop this.

The presser foot has been up while threading though.

Tara

I had that problem with mine and turns out the thread had slipped out of the whateveryoucallit thingy thatv goes up and down! LOL! I know, not very technical, but I'm not terribly tech savvy!

Interesting problem. I wonder if it would be possible to just phone a local service person and get his/her advice over the phone without having to pay for a servicing/repair of your machine? And is there a toll-free number that you could use to ask the manufacturer of your machine about the problem?

Also, I know from experience that if you don't pull your bobbin thread to the top before you start quilting that you're likely to have problems--and hold both threads towards the back until you've gotten a few stitches in.

Good luck!

Have you tried setting your stitch length to 0 ?
This is what my machine tells me to do when I am doing F M quilting. And it fixed my problems.