what type of thread
 

please let me know what type of thread you use in your quilting. I have a hq 16 and am having problems with tension. Was told it is my thread. Am going to tear out quilting done and start new. anything you could help me with will help. Have been told glide or superior sew fine. Does sew fine have a sheen to it?
thanks,
Judy

I have an Innova with the upgraded upper tension. Didn't want to have to deal with tension issues. My machine will use most anything I throw at it including embroidery thread and metallic embroidery thread. In fact, it loves the metallic thread more so than my embroidery machine. I use Connecting Threads's cotton and polyester threads mostly but occasionally I'll use my embroidery thread if that's the color of thread I need.

I have a huskvarna viking platinum 16 and it will take any thread I give it. It is basically the same machine as the sw 16. I had trouble with tension when I got it. I am not used to adjusting the bobbin tension, but found that sometimes I need to do this depending on the thread I choose. Also need to adjust top tension sometimes. I make a quilt sandwich and test the stitches before I start on my quilts so that I am sure of the tension settings. I also bought the sure foot ruler foot/open toe foot that is available for the sw 16. Fit my machine perfectly.

I have a Janome SD 18 Longarm machine. I buy my thread from Nancy's Notions. I buy either Signature 100% cotton or the Madeira 100% Polyester. I like the price and since my machine likes both of those thread, I haven't tried anything else.

What thread are you using? Have you tried a different spool or cone of the same thread, in case the one you're using is faulty? Unless it is very old or poor quality I wouldn't blame the tension problems on the thread. I prefer to use poly threads (mostly tri-lobals but also finer threads like MicroQuilter and BottomLine) from MetroEmb, Connecting Threads, and Superior in my Innova. I have used cotton threads with no problem, but I don't like the lint the cotton threads produce. You do need to adjust tension when you're using a midarm or longarm.

I have a Babylock Tiara 3 and I have tension problems sometimes. I found that my machine likes the So Fine # 50 polyester thread. The stitches seem to look better with this than some of the other thread I use. This thread is a matte finish and no lint. Superior Threads online has "try me specials" for this thread. You can order this way without spending a lot of money to see if your machine will like it.

I use different types and weights and adjust the tension as needed

This is what I do also. I have an HQ Avante and with proper adjusting it likes any thread I've tried.

Cari

I use Superior Threads often, and Aurifil. I also have been successful with some of The connecting Threads thread. Long arms are high speed machines and polyester works much better with them. Cotton tends to break often with the high speed.

I use mostly C&C and connecting threads.

SoFine is thinner, and doesn't really have a sheen. It's draw is that it will blend in better. Superior's Omni is a little thicker and is what I use most on my HQ Avante. It does have a bit of a sheen.

One little thing that I learned from attending HQ training, is to realize that my quilting machine likes to go from left to right (right to left when you do pantographs from the back). So, if my thread is breaking, I can turn the needle a little to the right. If it skips stitches, I can turn it a little to the left. Turning the needle slightly to the right has helped me a lot!

I prefer SoFine #50 most of the time, but will also use Glide, which requires a larger needle but does have a sheen. Glide is not a Superior thread, but is readily available to me. I also like MicroQuilter from SoFine when I'm doing lots of microquilting or want to do heavy quilting. I also like Permacore if someone wants more of the look of cotton thread. I do not like to use cotton thread at all! I'd echo what others are saying about working on adjusting your tension also if that is the problem.

Do you have the Sweet Sixteen sit down (move the quilt) or the Simply Sixteen frame (move the machine)?

I have the HQ Sweet Sixteen sit down. I use a wide variety of threads, from 12 wt to 100 wt, cotton, silk poly, metallics. They all work fine. Every time I change my bobbin I check the bobbin tension and adjust as needed. Then I can fine tune the top tension. HQ has several good youtube videos that show how to do this.

Rob

What kind of issues are you having with your tension, specifically? Who told you it was the thread and did they explain why?

Love the glide & superior

My sitdown HQ16 does not like Superior Bottom Line. I could never make it stop breaking. I finally gave away all of my cones.

There has never been a problem with Superior So Fine. I use that the most.

I have the HQ16 sit down and it will take any thread I have. I normally use 30, 40 or 50 wt cotton. I always sew out a test and adjust the tension. If you are only adjusting the top tension and it still doesn't look good your bobbin tension needs adjusting. The service tech here told me I'd probably have to adjust both tensions every time I change thread types and weights. I thought that was just crazy, I could not get my tensions to look good so I took it in for service. $160.00 later, turns out it was the bobbin tension, it was too tight. Next time I'm frustrated and have tension issues I'll go with the advice from the service tech. So sit back relax, drink your favorite beverage and keep trying.

I know this wasn't what you asked, but thought I'd throw it out there.
Jamie Wallen has a great video on exactly how to adjust your tension on these machines. It was really helpful to me and cleared up a few misconceptions I had about thread and bobbins.

Watson

I use exclusively Connecting Threads Essential Pro. I do not quilt for $$. Mainly charity.

I did not get a bobbin winder with my used machine and buy Superior Prewounds called Bobs or something like that.

HQ has you make the tension a big tighter on the bobbin. I go by the Jamie Wallen video. You must always check under the little spring on the bobbin case as lint can get under there and affect the tension.

This combo has eliminated all tension problems for years. I keep it simple and it works well for me.

I have an HQ Sweet 16 and cannot recommend strongly enough that you consult their website for the HQ Live Archives. Monthly, 2nd Thursdays, they do a one-hour video tutorial on various aspects of their quilting machines. A few months ago they did one strictly on threading, adjusting, and a whole lot on tensions and their respective adjustments. I wouldn't miss them. Even when they're highlighting a machine that I don't have, I still pick up great tips. Just Google HandiQuilter and/or go to YouTube for a number of prior HQ Live presentations.

I have the HQ fusion, and had a lot of tension problem until I discovered I had 5 bobbins that did not spin as freely in the bobbin case as they should have. I use a Towa gauge to set my bobbin tension and keep it around 180 no matter what thread I use. And this does mean adjusting for every thread change.

I added the digital readout for my upper tension too, and now have very little tension issues. The only thread I've had problems with is Connecting Thread Essential Poly - as it likes to jump out from under the spring on the bobbin case. So far it's the only thread I've had that has done that, at least when it does, it's real easy to remove.

I sometimes have to change the thread path as some cottons like to loop more than others, and sometimes it will pull a loop into the tension disk and then I'll get a blip of thread underneath. And once in a great while it will pop the thread right out of the tension disks. I don't go as fast with cotton thread and that seems to help.


So far, the only thread my Fusion really does not like is the Connecting Threads cotton. Though I have not tried them after getting all the other tension issued figured out.

I have found some variegated thread is not constant in diameter, I've read it's due to the dies used, but don't know that for sure.

I always check what type of thread is being used on the LA machines set up for everyone to use at quilt shows. Most of them use 40 wt poly on the large cones. Usually no brand name on the cones. I asked one dealer to put 60 wt cotton thread on the LA and he laughed. Said he didn't need that headache.

I have the digital read out too just got it.. what are the numbers you use for top tension please

Ii want to add - I had to learn how to use the bobbin winder. When I started, I had the tension set too tight and it was actually stretching the thread a bit when winding. I had never used a separate bobbin winder with a tension setting before. I got a good feel for how it pulls using my other machines and set the tension on the winder so it's the same. It was a lot lighter than what I started with.

thread
 

I've used Aurafil and other "premium" brands but they all break on my Kenmore. I'm back to using Coats and Clark All Purpose thread -- with success.

I have an HQ16 and I use Superior So Fine on top as well as the bobbin. When I first got the machine I tried using the Bottom Line thread which is much finer in the bobbin but had tension issues. So Fine is 50wt and doesn't have a sheen and blends very well. Also check your needle size ...most of the time I use a 16 or 18. Batiks are a little more challenging to quilt so go for a finer needle (14) and lastly check for tiny bits of lint in the bobbin area as well as the tension discs. These are the things that worked for me after much trial and frustration. The folks at Handiquilter also have some short You tube videos on tension and cleaning your
machine. Check them out if you have the time and good luck!

Here is a link to the Jamie Wallen Youtube video that helped me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1mRhcquZTM

Ruler foot
 

Can you please tell me where you were able to find the ruler foot for your Platinum 16 machine? I asked my dealer about one and he told me the foot that came on the machine was the ruler foot I was to use. I've had quilting rulers slip over the foot and get jammed under the needle.

Every HQ machine has unique tension numbers. My HQ tension runs between 150 and 180. But I set up a machine at someone else's house and it was 320 to 370. So I called HQ and they told me they were all unique, and not to compare them. Wish I knew why they did that.

I had a HQ 16 , now I have a Fusion both for my machine took any thread I used . I do like Glide and Omni . Tension
can play a roll to . Good luck :eek:

Interesting about the difference in numbers, I have the "add on" digital tension readout - and with my bobbin set around 180 with the towa gauge, my top tension is set around 700 - so way, way different than mentioned above. And with different threads, I'll go between 500 and 800.

it's very possible that my "add on" unit has smaller increments, since I'm going between 300 units, and not 40-70 units. I don't normally see a change unless I go about 20 units. If I went down to 300, I'd have big loops on the bottom!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1mRhcquZTM

and I agree with Macybaby. I had trouble with my Innova with intermitten tension issues. Turns out it was a bad bobbin winder. Got a new one and now can use any thread my little heart desires. Check your needle size too. Free motion puts alot of torque on a needle. It might not break it, but it can mess up the tension in a hurry.

Hang in there! You are learning to troubleshoot! (I know that does not ease the frustration, but it sounds Lot more positive!)

I was told at a quilt shop that you need a certain size needle for a certain size thread. Superior has a chart that might help.

thank you all for your help
Judy

I found that I need to have the same thread in the top and the bobbin. Recently, I used a different thread in the top and I had nothing but trouble with my Sweet 16. I also found out that I needed to go to a larger needle (100/16 for 50wt thread) I use all types of thread and as long as top and bottom are the same there is no problem.