Hi Pauline,
I did find that slowing down a bit helped with my aforementioned tension problems. Maybe I need to slow down further? I'll give it a try.
Ah Wellington. That's at the other end of the state. :-) I'm in Pahrump.
Thanks Paul> Hi Michelle,
Aha! Michelle wrote, in part "As for thread type, I'm using regular dual duty sewing thread." Probably you mean Coats & Clark poly/cotton. NOT the best choice for a beginner. After you've gotten comfortable with FM, you can use any thread, ribbon, computer cable or spider webs if you take the notion. Your life would be easier if you'd change to a 50 wt cotton just until you have all the other variables resolved. Polly
"Michelle C." > The thread is shredding. Since needle size seemed to be the concensus,
Thanks Polly. Will do!
Best regards, Michelle > Aha! Michelle wrote, in part "As for thread type, I'm using regular
I just love the way all you wonderful quilty people help. I have learned another lesson on FMQ - check the needle size and the thread type.
Practice, practice, practice tomorrow. Thank you all so much.
Sooo much of that needle business has to do with your own SM. Mine doesn't give a happy hoot whether I use a size 60 or a 110. OTOH, she gets positively nasty if I let one go blunt. If you have to give up violin lessons and the downstairs maid, for goodness sake, spend some money on good needles. Polly
Another thing in the long list of things to remember: The tension on the bobbin thread is designed to work best when the thread pulls off the bobbin in the normal direction. When you FMQ, the piece moves backwards and sideways quite a lot of the time. You may notice this is when the thread tends to snap. If so, you might need to slow down even more.
And someth>I just love the way all you wonderful quilty people help.
Hi Roberta,
Thanks for the info. Like you, Pauline suggested I slow down, and that has helped. Polly told me I need to be using cotton thread rather than my usual sewing thread, so I'm going to get some. And I tried loosening the top tension (a lot of the sites I'd read said to tighten the tension). Even with the regular sewing thread, I was able to go a lot farther without the thread breaking--and still avoided eyelashes on the back. I *think* I'm making progress (she says with fingers crossed!).
I can see where "perfect" ironing would make a difference. The thread does seem more likely to break over the seams.
Thanks so much! Michelle > Another thing in the long list of things to remember:
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