Hi all, my machine started skipping stitches while FMQ last night. I changed the needle, still skipped. Cleaned the lint out of the bobbin area and all other reachable areas and also did a little vacuuming. I changed the bobbin so it is the same type of thread as the spool. The machine is still skipping. What have I missed? Any more ideas?

THANK YOU for your advice!!!

oddest thing that could work.. new needle.. needle may not be share enough.. worked for me.. worth a try.. good luck !

Ell

Is the needle in the right way and all the way up in the needlebar?

Is the needle too small?

Are you moving the fabric too fast for the speed you are running the machine?

What type of foot do you have on? I once purchased a large diameter hopping foot for my machine, it apparently did not give enough pressure on the quilt sandwich so I was having skipped stitches. Went back to the small diameter one and it solved the problem.

Hope you get it figured out soon!

Back to my old book on sewing...under the title Skipping Stitches

Needle in backwards
Use correct needle
Machine needs timing
False timing, poor needle insertion
Needle bent or burred or dull
Lint in lower or upper thread handling mechanism
Damaged hook
Incorrect needle plate
Check spring
Poor thread
Material not prewashed?????
Tension too tight
Handling material
Burrs

If you think it may be one of these, PM me and I'll write out what the book says might help.

2 thoughts occurred to me while reading this - Singer needles are longer, so if you are sewing on a Singer and not using Singer needles, this could be a problem. Also, some machines have a presser foot adjustment - you can adjust how much downward pressure the foot will exert on the fabric.

When all else fails switch it off and leave for 5 minutes and then switch it back on. It will or should re programme that MIGHT work. Other than that have you had it in a car lately because it might have got bumped around

Use a brand new "Heavy" sewing machine needle.
And depends on your tension and sewing machine.
When I FMQ with my 301A, I use a "Heavy" mark sewing machine needle whether it's Shmetz or Singer brand, your stitches will not skip or needle break.

needle...most of the time its due to an old needle or...the wrong size needle.

What size should I be using? 14? That's what I had in when it was skipping, so I tried an 11 and it skipped too. Have not tried the heavy duty.

I'm going to try rebooting the sewing machine, too. Thanks for the great advice so far. I'll keep trying.

I'm noticing that my needle is gumming up a bit near the top of it. I used June Taylor basting spray this time. Does that interfere with the needle? I ran out of 505 and got the JT from Joanns for 1/2 price.

Thanks!

oh.,,,June Taylor may be the issue...I had problems basting with that spray. I now use 505 spray you can get it on line at the Joanns website and use the 50 percent off coupons.