Free motion problem--thread breaking

Okay all you FMQs, I've taken your advice and worked on my speed. Counter-intuitively to me, I've got to move my quilt slower, but keep the speed up on my machine. So far, so good (although my stitches are kind of small). The tension is right, and the "eyelashes" on the back are gone.

Next problem--breaking thread. I had this problem when my tension was off, and I assumed the two were related. Nope. The thread is actually shredding. And strangely enough, when I first gave this a go on my sample block a few weeks back, I don't recall breaking thread being an issue.

Ideas?

TIA! Michelle in Nevada, USA

P.S. I looked at some videos of FMQ online. My goodness, these people make it look easy.

Reply to
Michelle C.
Loading thread data ...

First thought is to change your needle. Is it large enough for the thread you are using?

Also, if you are pulling the bobbin thread to the top with your stitches, you might loosen the bobbin tension (even more) so the top tension doesn't have to be so tight (to get the bobbin thread up). This may also cause your top thread to shred.

You should be able to move the quilt at whatever pace it needs with a good speed on the machine to get nice stitches (and not too small of a stitch). Finding the right balance is the key!

Once you find that balance, your FMQ'ing will dance! :-)

~~~~~~~ Laurie G. in CA

formatting link

Reply to
Laurie G. in CA

The best tip I have had about this is to use a top stitch needle. (Thanks again Sally!). My needles were too small. The larger eye really helps reduce the friction. When your machine is going fast, and the stitches are small, you can imagine the number of times the same piece of thread is going up and down and through. Also, some threads are less prone to shedding than others - even good quality ones. The best 'luck' I've had are with King Tut, and also (oddly enough) Sulky rayons. . In message , Michelle C. writes

Reply to
Patti

You might need a larger needle. When I free motion, I usually use a 14 or 16. Occasionally, I will even use an 18. A cotton batting is denser than most polyester battings and may need the larger needle. A poly batting with a scrim may also need a larger needle.

L>Okay all you FMQs, I've taken your advice and worked on my speed.

Reply to
Witchystitcher

Reply to
Roberta

I put a stingy drop of Sewer's Aid on both my spool and bobbin. It think it's silicone but it is also magic. Your troubles could be as simple as a defective spool of thread. Change spools and see what happens. And one of my SMs did indeed have a burr on the throat plate. Never was a problem with anything except FM and then it would hang, stall and shred. We had to get out the serious magnifying light/lens to see it and file it smooth but it can be done. No adult supervision is required. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Michelle, the good thing about small stitches is that they make your curves look very smooth and curvy. The bad thing is that they're a

*bear* to take out if you make a mistake.

As for your breaking thread, where is it breaking? If it's shredding in the needle, you probably need a different kind of needle. What kind and size of thread are you using? The eyes in different kinds are specially suited to some types of thread, and a too-small eye in a too-small needle can cause shredding.

Reply to
Sandy

You beat me to it, Pat! Also the groove in a Topstitch needle is deeper/longer so the thread sits in it and is protected as it goes through the fabrics.

Sally at the Seaside~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~uk

formatting link

Patti wrote:

Reply to
Sally Swindells

Okay, I'll try changing the needle to a larger size (it's worked okay with regular stitching, but maybe FM is different?), and if that doesn't work, I'll look at my bobbin tension.

Thanks! Michelle > First thought is to change your needle. Is it large enough for the thread

Reply to
Michelle C.

A bigger needle is starting to sound like a theme. :-) Thanks for mentioning the sized you use Linda.

Best regards, Michelle > You might need a larger needle. When I free motion, I usually use a 14

Reply to
Michelle C.

Definite trend here. Patti you are the 3rd person to mention needle size. :-)

I'll keep in mind the thread issue too.

Thanks! Michelle in Nevada, USA

Patti wrote:

Reply to
Michelle C.

Thanks for the article, Roberta. I'm going off to read it in just a minute.

And I'll be having a look a the sole plate too! Sometimes I have heard a little crunchy sound right around the time the thread starts to thread, which made me wonder if I wasn't hitting the plate somehow. I thought maybe the needle was hitting the side, although in watching it, I never saw it get pulled off center to the point that it should do that.

Hmmm. You know, I just realized something. When I first started practicing, I simply set my stitch length to zero and didn't worry about the feed dogs. Later, I found a well-hidden switch that allowed me drop my feed dogs, and I'm thinking that's when my thread shredding problem may have started.... Something to investigate.

Thanks! Michelle in Nevada, USA

Roberta wrote:

Reply to
Michelle C.

I've never heard of Sewer's Aid. I'll have to investigate!

I'll be looking at the plate too. As I was just now typing to Roberta, I realized that my thread shredding problem seemed to begin when I learned how to drop the feed dogs. Before I'd been setting my stitch length to zero and ignoring the dogs. Something to consider.

Thanks Polly! Best regards, Michelle in Nevada, USA

Reply to
Michelle C.

'Looking at the sole plate' has reminded me of another 'thing' to consider!

(Isn't there masses of info. that is connected with FMQ?)

Until I read a recommendation on here, I had always just used the usual zig-zag sole plate. I then bought a single hole plate - there were many opinions that led to an easier ride with FMQ if one used the single hole plate. It certainly gave me more confidence (maybe that was all?), but my FMQ certainly improved. The thread has nowhere it can run to. Not all machines give you the option, and they are quite expensive. I bought one because my quilting was letting down my piecing very badly. I don't think I'll ever be good; but 'adequate' has now been achieved. . In message , Roberta writes

Reply to
Patti

I quite often leave the feed dogs up and set the stitch to zero. My machine isn't particularly slippery, so it makes little difference, from that point of view; but I think I get a 'steadier' passage! . In message , Michelle C. writes

Reply to
Patti

Hi Sandy,

The thread is shredding. Since needle size seemed to be the concensus, I changed to the largest one I had. Sorry, I don't know the size. In any case, it is considerably larger than the one I was using. Changing the needle allowed me to go about twice far as I was able to with the smaller one, but it is still shredding.

And if you happened to read any of my other posts, my hope that the feed dogs had something to do with it proved to be wishful thinking.

As for thread type, I'm using regular dual duty sewing thread.

Thanks Sandy! Michelle in Nevada, USA

Reply to
Michelle C.

I'm going to have to check out the "Topstitch" needle. I changed to the largest needle I had, considerably larger than the one I had in the machine, and was able to go about twice as far before the thread shredded.

Thanks! Michelle > You beat me to it, Pat! Also the groove in a Topstitch needle is

Reply to
Michelle C.

Thanks Patti. Hmmm. Something to consider.

Best regards, Michelle > 'Looking at the sole plate' has reminded me of another 'thing' to consider! >

Reply to
Michelle C.

Unfortunately, hoping the feed dog change was the problem proved to be wishful thinking. Changing the needle to a larger size did enable to go about twice as far before the thread shredded. So that helped, but going 4 inches instead of 2 before that happens isn't going to work for an entire quilt. ;-)

Thanks Patti! Michelle > I quite often leave the feed dogs up and set the stitch to zero. My

Reply to
Michelle C.

Hi Michelle,

I just finished a 2 day machine quilting workshop with Jill Schumacher. (Where in Nevada are you? I noticed on her calendar that she is teaching some classes at Quilters Corners in Wellington, NV

formatting link
By far, she is the best FM quilting teacher I have had.) Jill recommends using a Schmetz Microtex Sharp Needle. She also recommends going slow & steady, instead of pedal to the metal, as most quilt teachers teach. I would try going slower & see if it makes a difference. It could be that your thread is breaking if your machine is sewing fast, but your hands aren't in sync with the machine. Jill recommends a #60 for nylon thread, cotton & silk & a #70 for decorative threads, such as rayon & silk. I was able to find the Microtex needles at TSWLTH. Hope this helps.

Pauline Northern California

Reply to
Pauline

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.