First try at FMQ
04-19-2013, 07:57 PM
#11
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 2,033
Do you know what weight it is? I have never used that brand so I do know. I know that if I use a 30wt (which is my favorite) I go up to a 100. If my thread is a 40wt, I use a 90. I am no expert mind you. This is just what works for me.
04-19-2013, 08:08 PM
#13
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Emmitsburg, MD
Posts: 1,599
Two things...
First, are your practice pieces the same weight as your quilt? Are you practicing with the same batting and thread? If not, it could still be a tension issue.
Otherwise, try slowing down! If I move the quilt (my hands) too quickly through a curve I get nests on the back. So I chant it like a mantra: "Slow. Slow." Seems to help me a lot.
Good luck!
PS - C&C might indeed be the problem. However, my machine loves C&C and HATES Aurifil. Experiment!
First, are your practice pieces the same weight as your quilt? Are you practicing with the same batting and thread? If not, it could still be a tension issue.
Otherwise, try slowing down! If I move the quilt (my hands) too quickly through a curve I get nests on the back. So I chant it like a mantra: "Slow. Slow." Seems to help me a lot.
Good luck!
PS - C&C might indeed be the problem. However, my machine loves C&C and HATES Aurifil. Experiment!
04-19-2013, 11:00 PM
#14
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: The Granite City, Scotland
Posts: 1,635
Sounds like a tension problem IMO if you've done all the usual - changed your needle, thread, re-threaded top and bottom and are keeping an even speed (particularly on turns) and the weight not dragging anywhere.
I was taught that if the problem is on the bottom it's your top tension - similarly if it's on top, it's your bottom tension. Good luck!
I was taught that if the problem is on the bottom it's your top tension - similarly if it's on top, it's your bottom tension. Good luck!
04-20-2013, 12:29 AM
#15
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Queen of California Baby
Posts: 509
Make sure the presser foot is down. Seems silly, but it's not always obvious and is easy to forget about. Also make sure the bobbin tension isn't too lose. Often it just pops out of the bobbin hole but still gets fed through anyway with no tension, sewing a mess in the process. As you keep practicing, you'll be able to hear when your machine has one of these hiccups and be better able to deal with it.
Don't give up!
Don't give up!
04-20-2013, 03:06 AM
#17
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Greenbush, MI
Posts: 604
I had the same problem... Finally figured out that I wasn't supporting the quilt enough and I needed to slow down just a bit to let the machine do its thing. Be patient, keep going... Once you master this - you will be glad you did.
04-23-2013, 05:32 AM
#19
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Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Sandpoint, Idaho
Posts: 423
Ok i tried a different needle, 90/14 and my thread is a 30 weight i managed to do almost a whole row before i got a snaging mess. i can hear when it happens so it seems like the bobbin is doing a spin. my quilt top is supported and i slowed down my machine, i can see on some of the curves i have little eyelashes. i am still waiting on the bobbin washers i hope that helps.
04-23-2013, 08:14 AM
#20
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Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Chapel Hill
Posts: 1,086
Hi there I just did a Jelly roll race in some pastels and thought I would give a go on some free motion this is my first time, I have practiced on some fat quarters and all seemed to go fine , so when I tried it on this quilt top I am getting a lot of bird nests on the back, where I have to stop and cut it out and re thread,bobbin, top all of it. I have tried to change the needle, I have the same thread in the top and bottom, I have cleaned the machine (I have a singer h74) fairly new, I manage to go about a foot or so and it will mess up AGAIN! I am getting frustrated, I switched from a plastic bobbin to metal, no change. I just ordered some bobbin washers, I hope that will do the trick? Does ANYONE have any other advice I could try.? It sews like a dream while piecing. It only does this while FMQ,
I've also found that the difference in weight of a sample piece versus the entire quilt really changes the dynamic of moving the quilt around as well as highlights tension issues.
Cheers, K
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