Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Newbie problem >
  • Newbie problem

  • Newbie problem

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 04-24-2012, 06:22 AM
      #11  
    Super Member
     
    thimblebug6000's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jun 2007
    Location: British Columbia
    Posts: 8,091
    Default

    Try holding both the threads in your left hand as you take the first few stitches.
    thimblebug6000 is offline  
    Old 04-24-2012, 06:41 AM
      #12  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Oct 2011
    Location: dallas tx.
    Posts: 5,172
    Default

    I want to welcome you too from Dallas Tx.
    barny is offline  
    Old 04-24-2012, 07:05 AM
      #13  
    Super Member
     
    Scissor Queen's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2009
    Location: Southwest Kansas
    Posts: 4,820
    Default

    How long has it been since you changed your needle? And what needle do you have in the machine? When needles get dull they don't go thru the fabric as well and will push it instead of going thru it.
    Scissor Queen is offline  
    Old 04-24-2012, 07:21 AM
      #14  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: May 2008
    Location: MN
    Posts: 24,476
    Default

    Try holding the threads (don't pull on them) back as the fabric starts to feed through.
    bearisgray is offline  
    Old 04-24-2012, 07:28 AM
      #15  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: Ridgefield WA
    Posts: 7,765
    Default

    If you can find a straight stitch plate for your machine they are wonderful!! Instead of a zig-zag type slot it has a single little hole and also my machine has a straight stitch 1/4" foot that has just a narrow slot with a hole. These accessories are the "bomb" for doing small pieces, etc. (And I still use my "heads & tails" - scraps)


    Originally Posted by auntiem
    Hi, I'm a newbie here and to quilting, but already need help. I have a Baby Lock Quest Plus which my DH gave me a few years ago for my BD---sweet man! I have sewn for 40+ years but never tried quilting before this year so am a total newbie at this. My problem is that when I start a 1/4" seam, my machine is feeding the fabric down into the needle hole on the plate, I am using the 1/4" quilting foot and the machine's PDQ system which should help with even feeding of the fabric. Any ideas on how to prevent this would be great and so appreciated. I don't want to get frustrated before I really get started, I'm sure there will be many better reasons to get frustrated down the road with this new undertaking! Thank you in advance for any help anyone can give me.
    Kitsie is offline  
    Old 04-24-2012, 07:35 AM
      #16  
    Junior Member
     
    Join Date: Apr 2012
    Posts: 177
    Default

    Originally Posted by Jingle
    Sorry, I have never had this problem.
    Neater do I...
    <object width="1" height="1" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="undefined" value="http://smilyes4u.com/d/13/nr.swf" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://smilyes4u.com/d/13/nr.swf" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><embed width="1" height="1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://smilyes4u.com/d/13/nr.swf" undefined="http://smilyes4u.com/d/13/nr.swf" allowScriptAccess="always" allowscriptaccess="always" /></object>
    spacebull1 is offline  
    Old 04-24-2012, 08:09 AM
      #17  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: May 2011
    Location: Pacific NW
    Posts: 9,444
    Default

    I agree with Kitsie, that's what I was going to suggest. Check your needle plate to see how big the hole is. The needle plate is the metal piece between your needle and the bobbin, the needle will dip down into the hole as your machine sews. It sounds as if the needle is dragging your fabric down with it. Holding thread tails, using leaders & enders will work, but I found using a needle plate with a small round hole instead of a wide oval hole was the simplest fix. Also, make sure you're using a sharp needle such as a topstitch needle and not a ball point (which is for knits).

    Hope these tips work for you! Good luck!
    Peckish is offline  
    Old 04-24-2012, 08:29 AM
      #18  
    Senior Member
     
    CarrieC's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Sep 2011
    Location: Virginia
    Posts: 811
    Default

    I can see that you got the same hint I would have given - so this is just to welcome you to the board and the addiction of quilting! Don't forget to share a picture when you're done so we can all ooh and ahh over the quilt!!!
    CarrieC is offline  
    Old 04-24-2012, 11:31 AM
      #19  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Feb 2010
    Location: Maryland
    Posts: 3,586
    Default

    And unless you're chain piecing sew onto another scrap piece of fabric (your ender) at the end of that block so you'll be ready for the next series of blocks.
    virtualbernie is offline  
    Old 04-24-2012, 11:34 AM
      #20  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Feb 2011
    Location: central indiana
    Posts: 686
    Default

    Even people who have been sewing for decades can learn new things. I recently started using leaders and enders to start and stop my stitching and love them. They keep the stitches from coming undone at the end of the seam and save a whole lot of thread.

    Amazing that I did not know this already.
    sweetana3 is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    vBuckyquilts
    Introduce Yourself
    47
    06-29-2011 04:31 AM
    gixxerangel
    Introduce Yourself
    56
    02-25-2011 03:57 PM
    NewsletterBot
    Main
    5
    08-25-2007 10:53 AM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter