kiffie2413

I have the Grace frame with a Brother PQ-1500S...I didn't get the stitch regulator...mainly because my beloved Brother PC-420 went kaput right before Christmas, so I decided to buy a Janome Horizon 7700...my 1500 is a great work horse of a machine, but is straight stitch only...I loved my 420, and really had to think long and hard whether it was worth putting it in the shop, or putting that money towards the 7700 I had been looking and dreaming about for a while...not to use with the frame, but to fmq with it alone, and also to have other stitch options. I haven't had a chance to even plug in my new 7700, but isn't it great to get so excited when we are able to get a new machine??!! Good luck with your new set up, and let us know how it is all working out for you!!
K

Chester the bunny

I have the Janome 1600P and one of the original Gracie Frames that the new updated carriage will not fit on. I just couldn't stop the machine from skipping stiches and breaking thread (no matter what I did) so I ended up taking the machine off the frame and am using it on the table as a regular sewing machine. I use the frame to pin my quilts... it keeps me from doing it on the floor and it makes for a very even "sandwich" which I can then quilt pucker free. It takes me longer but at least I am quilting, which is more than I was doing before. I just today got an extention table for the machine which will make things even better.
I will post a list of troubleshooting that Janome sent me that might be helpful to you if you run into any trouble.

Don't be discouraged as you get used to the machine. I have 4 friends who have the same set up and they are happy. I am just not as patient I guess.

Carole

Chester the bunny

This is the checklist sent by Janome in case of breaking thread and/or skipped stitches.
Hope it is helpful.


• Take Up Roller rolled in the wrong direction

• Thread, could be old, poor quality etc., try a different brand/spool

• Thread wrapped around the bobbin case latch or behind the bobbin case

• Thread delivery, thread catching as it comes off the spool, either on the spool end itself,

the spool cap etc.

• Thread has wrapped around the 3 hole thread guide

• Needle/thread, size/weight combination incompatible

• Needle inserted incorrectly, not fully up in the shaft or turned the wrong direction

• Machine threaded incorrectly

• Quilt sandwich too tight

• Burr on needle, needle plate, hook or other location on the machine

• Inconsistent or erratic movement of machine

• Be sure that the presser foot is up when threading and down when sewing

• Speed on the machine itself, set too high, it should be in the middle

• The quilt sandwich needs to be level, only the backing is secured with the side

clamps. After the quilt on the take up roller gets larger you will need to adjust the

level from time to time.

• Lower the thread stand to approximately 1” above the spool


Make sure that you use these needles:

Organ Needles HL System (1600P only)

Part Number: HLX5-11

10 needles per package.

Additional Part Numbers:
Size 9: HLX5-9
Size 11: HLX5-11
Size 14: HLX5-14
Size 16: HLX5-16

Prism99

Carole, here is a link to a recent thread about someone with the Janome 1600P problem on the frame. She did finally solve the difficulties (so don't give up reading too soon!). Might help you if you ever decide to try it on the frame again.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...n-t214081.html

Chester the bunny

Thank you very much for the link Prism99 - I will get some 110-18 needles and give it a try, it's the only thing I haven't tried yet. I was also having the sewing right to left problems too so maybe this new needle will fix things.
Thanks again!

Carole

Prism99

Be sure to check the Youtube video on tension also. It seems to help if you loosen the bobbin tension as much as possible first, before adjusting the top tension. (Youtube link is inside that thread.)

Nanatoone

I have the Little Gracie 2 and a Janomme 1600p machine. I could not control the speed and my stitches were terrible looking, I finally bought the sure stitch stitch regulator and would not be without it. I use the So Fine Superior thread and also have used the Isacord Embroidery thread. I too was having lots of thread breakage until I switched threads. I had lots of trouble with my machine skipping stitches sometimes it would skip an inch long. Found out it was my stitch regulator, was sent a new one and all is great now. I also upgraded to the metal handles. The only thing i don't like is not enough throat space. (Have to roll Quilt after each row.) I can't afford anything better at this time so it works for me.

QuiltingByCourtney

I have that set up. I do agree when you get to the end of a queen size quilt you do not have much room left to move in, it does alter the design some:/ I wish I had a long arm or something with a longer throat but like you I can't afford one right now. The set up takes up my whole spare room using about 10' across. I am not in love with my set up but for the $ it is all I can have for now. I also have a stitch regulator that came with my setup as I bought all mine used. I like the stitch regulator although sometimes it doesn't want to keep up with how fast I can go! haha best of luck to you! if you ever have trouble with top thread fraying and breaking, go to a larger eye hole needle right away and save yourself a headache...put the stitch length on a 3...i use a size 16 needle, it seems huge but if I want to Gutterman coned thread thats what it seems to take to use it without snapping thread.

Barb_MO

I have been having good luck with Signature thread but poly and cotton on my Janome 1600p. I went to Gammill sewing center that sell Janomes and talked to the person in the service department for the right kind of bobbins. I found out that the bobbins I had been using were the worng kind. I bought a dozen new bobbins and Organ HLX-5 size 16 needles and the machine has run perfect since. No thread breakage, and no tension problem. I amd going to post a picture of a 10-minute block quilt in a few days that I quilted on my setup. I had to do some ripping on it, but that was all my fault for forgetting to do a simple thing like lower the presser foot.
I have my machine presser foot tension set to 0 I do not cover the feed dogs, so the setting of O must take care of the feeddogs. I have the stitch length also set at 0 with the stitch reglular setting for the length of stitch I want. I use cone thread and have the threat guide pulled up as far as it will go. I had a cone on the back spindle for the bobbin thread, the the top thread goes on the fron spindle. I run my thread through the guide that you would use when winding a bobbin nover to the pretensioner before doing the rest of the threading.

Barb_MO

I posted a picture of the latest quilt I quilted on my Janome 1600P.
http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...d-t215267.html