Quilting on domestic
02-20-2026, 10:07 AM
#1
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Join Date: Feb 2026
Posts: 8
Quilting on domestic
Hi,
I just quilted my first baby size blanket on a Janome Memorycraft 6600P. I had soooooo much trouble with stitch length. In some spaces it was so close together it actually cut the fabric. I used the extension table and my kitchen table. I dont have an actual sewing table. I think maybe my biggest problem is front drag that is causing it to not feed correctly. Can anyone give me advice on how to correct this?
Thanks!
I just quilted my first baby size blanket on a Janome Memorycraft 6600P. I had soooooo much trouble with stitch length. In some spaces it was so close together it actually cut the fabric. I used the extension table and my kitchen table. I dont have an actual sewing table. I think maybe my biggest problem is front drag that is causing it to not feed correctly. Can anyone give me advice on how to correct this?
Thanks!
02-20-2026, 01:19 PM
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: British Columbia
Posts: 2,640
Are you straight line quilting with the accu-feed or free motion quilting? I have the same machine and have quilting plenty of quilts without issue but there are things to always be aware of when quilting.
Watch that the fabric ahead of the needle doesn't have any weight below it, not just the side. If the quilt is sitting in your lap it can easily drag against the front of table. Even the accu-feed doesn't have the strength to pull heavy items through so keep the fabric feeding loose.
When free-motion quilting, practice with sandwich squares to find your rhythm. Try out different speeds but avoid going slowly. I started off with the highest speed setting so I could just move the quilt around like crazy but have learned to work with a more moderate speed and maintain more control over my quilt movement. Going too fast can lead to stitches piling up.
There is a bobbin case for the 6600 that is meant for free motion quilting and it makes quite a difference.
Keep practicing!!!!
Watch that the fabric ahead of the needle doesn't have any weight below it, not just the side. If the quilt is sitting in your lap it can easily drag against the front of table. Even the accu-feed doesn't have the strength to pull heavy items through so keep the fabric feeding loose.
When free-motion quilting, practice with sandwich squares to find your rhythm. Try out different speeds but avoid going slowly. I started off with the highest speed setting so I could just move the quilt around like crazy but have learned to work with a more moderate speed and maintain more control over my quilt movement. Going too fast can lead to stitches piling up.
There is a bobbin case for the 6600 that is meant for free motion quilting and it makes quite a difference.
Keep practicing!!!!
02-20-2026, 03:23 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2026
Posts: 8
thank you!
I am just doing straight lines. What is the best way to get the quilt out of my lap. where do i put it?! I think that is my problem. I am using the accufeed, I definitely thought it would have more pull. I was surprised I would have this much trouble on a baby size quilt! What is the largest size quilt you have been able to quilt on this machine?
I am just doing straight lines. What is the best way to get the quilt out of my lap. where do i put it?! I think that is my problem. I am using the accufeed, I definitely thought it would have more pull. I was surprised I would have this much trouble on a baby size quilt! What is the largest size quilt you have been able to quilt on this machine?
02-20-2026, 03:35 PM
#4
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,152
The AccuFeed isn't intended to pull. Its purpose is similar to a walking foot - to keep top and bottom layers moving in unison. You still need to make sure there is no tension on the quilt sandwich or resistance due to its weight as it feeds into the machine.
Not only should the bulk of the quilt at least be in your lap, but you should also lift it up at the front so it's not dragging as it's being quilted.
I have quilted a 96 x 96" quilt on a Janome 7700, which has a similar AccuFeed.
Not only should the bulk of the quilt at least be in your lap, but you should also lift it up at the front so it's not dragging as it's being quilted.
I have quilted a 96 x 96" quilt on a Janome 7700, which has a similar AccuFeed.
Last edited by mkc; 02-20-2026 at 03:37 PM.
02-20-2026, 03:58 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: The Great State of Texas
Posts: 416
I’ve got almost that same machine (mine is the 6700), and I just quilted an 80x80 quilt on it (see the Lupine and Laughter thread, where I posted a picture of the finished quilt; should be on the last page at this time).
I do usually use the special bobbin for FMQ. My machine is in a recessed cabinet so that the sewing surface is basically the entire tabletop, which helps!
While quilting, I roll the quilt from both sides, leaving a strip in the middle which is the surface I’m quilting, and I start in the middle, then when I finish a strip, I roll the area to the left bigger, and the area to the right (which has to fit under the throat of the machine) getting progressively smaller. When I finish all the way to one edge, I reroll, turn the quilt around, and do the same thing working out from the center to the other side.
I drape the bulk of the quilt over my shoulder and the back of my chair as I progress forward, pausing to “feed” more of it over my shoulder and onto the tabletop beyond the machine. If the quilt is large enough to go off the other edge of the table, I roll it towards the machine so that the weight of the quilt isn’t dragging off the table.
Hope that makes sense! I LOVE free-motion quilting!
I do usually use the special bobbin for FMQ. My machine is in a recessed cabinet so that the sewing surface is basically the entire tabletop, which helps!
While quilting, I roll the quilt from both sides, leaving a strip in the middle which is the surface I’m quilting, and I start in the middle, then when I finish a strip, I roll the area to the left bigger, and the area to the right (which has to fit under the throat of the machine) getting progressively smaller. When I finish all the way to one edge, I reroll, turn the quilt around, and do the same thing working out from the center to the other side.
I drape the bulk of the quilt over my shoulder and the back of my chair as I progress forward, pausing to “feed” more of it over my shoulder and onto the tabletop beyond the machine. If the quilt is large enough to go off the other edge of the table, I roll it towards the machine so that the weight of the quilt isn’t dragging off the table.
Hope that makes sense! I LOVE free-motion quilting!
02-20-2026, 05:11 PM
#6
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2026
Posts: 8
Wow gorgeous work!!! I havent yet heard of throwing it over my shoulder, so I will try that! Would be handy to have some sort of roller system that feeds it from your ceiling so the weight isnt all on your back... but im getting ahead of myself lol.
thanks!
thanks!
I’ve got almost that same machine (mine is the 6700), and I just quilted an 80x80 quilt on it (see the Lupine and Laughter thread, where I posted a picture of the finished quilt; should be on the last page at this time).
I do usually use the special bobbin for FMQ. My machine is in a recessed cabinet so that the sewing surface is basically the entire tabletop, which helps!
While quilting, I roll the quilt from both sides, leaving a strip in the middle which is the surface I’m quilting, and I start in the middle, then when I finish a strip, I roll the area to the left bigger, and the area to the right (which has to fit under the throat of the machine) getting progressively smaller. When I finish all the way to one edge, I reroll, turn the quilt around, and do the same thing working out from the center to the other side.
I drape the bulk of the quilt over my shoulder and the back of my chair as I progress forward, pausing to “feed” more of it over my shoulder and onto the tabletop beyond the machine. If the quilt is large enough to go off the other edge of the table, I roll it towards the machine so that the weight of the quilt isn’t dragging off the table.
Hope that makes sense! I LOVE free-motion quilting!
I do usually use the special bobbin for FMQ. My machine is in a recessed cabinet so that the sewing surface is basically the entire tabletop, which helps!
While quilting, I roll the quilt from both sides, leaving a strip in the middle which is the surface I’m quilting, and I start in the middle, then when I finish a strip, I roll the area to the left bigger, and the area to the right (which has to fit under the throat of the machine) getting progressively smaller. When I finish all the way to one edge, I reroll, turn the quilt around, and do the same thing working out from the center to the other side.
I drape the bulk of the quilt over my shoulder and the back of my chair as I progress forward, pausing to “feed” more of it over my shoulder and onto the tabletop beyond the machine. If the quilt is large enough to go off the other edge of the table, I roll it towards the machine so that the weight of the quilt isn’t dragging off the table.
Hope that makes sense! I LOVE free-motion quilting!
02-20-2026, 05:12 PM
#7
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2026
Posts: 8
Ok thank you, it seems I need a lot of practice to get the hang of it! Thankfully my next blanket is also a baby size!
The AccuFeed isn't intended to pull. Its purpose is similar to a walking foot - to keep top and bottom layers moving in unison. You still need to make sure there is no tension on the quilt sandwich or resistance due to its weight as it feeds into the machine.
Not only should the bulk of the quilt at least be in your lap, but you should also lift it up at the front so it's not dragging as it's being quilted.
I have quilted a 96 x 96" quilt on a Janome 7700, which has a similar AccuFeed.
Not only should the bulk of the quilt at least be in your lap, but you should also lift it up at the front so it's not dragging as it's being quilted.
I have quilted a 96 x 96" quilt on a Janome 7700, which has a similar AccuFeed.
02-20-2026, 05:28 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: The Great State of Texas
Posts: 416
Oh my gosh, I do not believe this…
I found a very old picture of myself doing FMQ on my very first domestic machine, my precious little blue Viking. This is old, from about 2005, but you can see the way the quilt is rolled and the way it’s is over my shoulder. The back of my chair carries a lot of the weight when I’m starting the row.
I have a different machine and a bit more… “mature” face these days!
I found a very old picture of myself doing FMQ on my very first domestic machine, my precious little blue Viking. This is old, from about 2005, but you can see the way the quilt is rolled and the way it’s is over my shoulder. The back of my chair carries a lot of the weight when I’m starting the row.
I have a different machine and a bit more… “mature” face these days!
02-20-2026, 06:38 PM
#9
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2026
Posts: 8
Amazing!! Look at that concentration!! Thank you for sharing 
Oh my gosh, I do not believe this…
I found a very old picture of myself doing FMQ on my very first domestic machine, my precious little blue Viking. This is old, from about 2005, but you can see the way the quilt is rolled and the way it’s is over my shoulder. The back of my chair carries a lot of the weight when I’m starting the row.
I have a different machine and a bit more… “mature” face these days!
I found a very old picture of myself doing FMQ on my very first domestic machine, my precious little blue Viking. This is old, from about 2005, but you can see the way the quilt is rolled and the way it’s is over my shoulder. The back of my chair carries a lot of the weight when I’m starting the row.
I have a different machine and a bit more… “mature” face these days!
02-21-2026, 05:47 AM
#10
Junior Member
Join Date: Dec 2024
Posts: 116
I agree with the recommendations above about how to distribute the weight of the quilt while stitching. I also roll my quilt on each side, then throw the roll over my left shoulder.
I also put my adjustable ironing board to the left of my sewing machine table to give me a place to support the left fuller & heavier side of my quilt.
I take the cover off my ironing board so the quilt slips easily along the surface.
I also put my sewing machine and ironing board on the short side of my sewing machine table so the quilt can stretch out along the longest side of my table as I sew. Literally doing anything to keep it from getting trapped or dragging down either before or after pushing it through the machine.
I also started sewing QAYG so I can quilt each individual patch by itself before joining together. Much less stressful!
I also put my adjustable ironing board to the left of my sewing machine table to give me a place to support the left fuller & heavier side of my quilt.
I take the cover off my ironing board so the quilt slips easily along the surface.
I also put my sewing machine and ironing board on the short side of my sewing machine table so the quilt can stretch out along the longest side of my table as I sew. Literally doing anything to keep it from getting trapped or dragging down either before or after pushing it through the machine.
I also started sewing QAYG so I can quilt each individual patch by itself before joining together. Much less stressful!
