well my sm is back, but it's not fixed. sigh

I wonder. What happens if you attempt free motion with a different thread? (Not that it will solve your problem - but - the problem may be the thread.) Also. What happens if you run a fine bead of silicone on the spool of 'beautiful hand dyed' thread? Ricky Tims says that's what he does and that he silicones his thread frequently. Polly

Baby Lock? -

1760 Gilsinn Ln, Fenton, MO, United States - (636) 349-2333? Attention President: Mr. Steven J. Jeffery

Time to write to the President and get some answers as to why your machine will not work properly. You have fooled around too much with this machine. Quilting is supposed to be FUN!! Your machine is under warranty and should be working. When you write to the President be polite and tell him exactly what you want Babylock to do with your machine.Include all relavent documentation on what has been done to date. You have been more than patient with their product, put the ball back in their court and see if they will actually deliver a quality product. We let companies off the hook way to often. I feel for your frustration. i have been there with another company. But I persisted and got satisfaction. HTH Donna inNWONtario email me further if you wish any help on this problem just remove the extra t on net.

Maybe she can't be polite and tell him this too! Roberta in D, thinking what I'd like him to do with his wretched machine

(clipped)When you write to the President be

Not good enough, is it? Yup, stamp on the directors toes a bit. If they don't sort it right away, contact the Trading Standards folk in your area. I've found ours here in the UK really helpful.

Oh, Musicmaker, you must be *so* disappointed after waiting so long! :( I hope you can get this sorted out soon.

Given this is exactly what happened with my machine, I wasn't expecting the fix to hold, they were telling me it was timing and a slight burr on some part of the bobbin mechanism, first time it came home it did do a bit of good stitching, but not long, 2nd time it came home it was obviously bad right from the start, I still don't really know what was wrong, but you could hear bad stuff happening it obviously didn't sound right. Thankfully at that point they just handed me a new machine and I've done loads of quilting with plenty of different threads and if it's skips or breaks it's always been a needle issue. My theory is if there's something not right about things down below right from the start, then it's a fundamental fault and not something that's going to be solved easily, after all, which such a new machine their shouldn't be much wear and tear.

Cheers Anne

Roberta, I had the exact problems Musicmaker is having with my machine, it is a Brother QC1000. I was tearing my hair out, but I had an easy ride in terms of the shop I bought it from organising a replacement as soon as they had had it in to their workshop twice.

I know each machine is different and you have to get to know the new machine and the best foot won't be the same on different brands, but from what I'm reading, musicmaker has tried the machine in the store and is familiar with fm quilting on other machines and is confident that it's the machine not her. Skipped stiches happen if things are set up wrong, but even then it's not usually 3 out of 4, it's either all, say the bobbin is in wrong or something or occasional because you went too fast of took a stitch in a challenging location. Or it's something that increases in number as you sew because the needle is getting blunt.

Everything musicmaker says is sounding very familiar, there might be a better foot out there and I did find that once I got the replacement machine, that the problem was obviously gone, but it was still inclined to skip at seams - I had a C shaped metal hopping foot and I bought the clear plastic O instead, but there was a change that made it clear that it was a fine tuning issue rather than a this is just not working issue!

Cheers Anne

How frustrating! I'm anxious to see if you get some results. Sending gentle hugs and sympathy.

I was having the skipping problem on my machine. Took it in the shop and they checked the bobbin. The plastic bobbins on the market are in two shapes (like anybody can really tell), the totally flat and the very slightly rounded. The rounded ones are usually marked for singers. I have a janome. Well, when the rounded ones go into the bobbin case, they rattle around a bit causing the machine to skip. Duhhhh. And here I thought I got rid of all my singer bobbins.

My janome sews as smooth as can be now.

Just an aside to the Bernina stitchers here - always be very particular about the bobbin you use. Apparently, 'as good as' and generic bobbins are not okay for Bernina. You'd think I got caught smoking in the Boy's Bathroom the way my Bernina guy ranted and raved when he found a 'not' Bernina bobbin in my SM. This thought won't soothe our pain about Musicmaker's SM but it might keep some of you out of trouble. Polly

"Boca Jan" I was having the skipping problem on my machine. Took it in the shop and

Yeah, and tell him and the corporation of your worldwide group of friends who are anxiously waiting to see how good their customer service is, and then we'll tell two friends, who will then tell two friends, etc. You get the point.

"The Customer is King" to quote someone [just don't remember who]

G> Polly Esther wrote:

.

Polly...Since I want this particular thread because of the color and weight, and for consistency with the rest of the quilt that quilted fine with the feed dogs up, I can't really change the top thread. I will try the silicon, though.

Donna..I'm giving the local dealer, the Babylock educators, and the techie just a little more of a chance to solve this problem with me before I write to the President (THANKS for the address!). The dealer did call me yesterday and has emailed me with suggestions that we can follow up on. (I did inform her that I believe that the machine is a lemon) I plan on keeping samples of each attempt so that I have a physical record - AND WILL NOT GIVE UP. I now from past experience that things like these will usually resolve in my favor if I remain persistent. For a while at least, I think my name will be Buzz the Bulldog.

Roberta, I'm using the foot that the manual calls the free motion foot. Looks somewhat like a darning foot, but a clear plastic O.

Ann - the original dealer in Elmhurst failed to even take my word on the machine so I've been going to a local dealer who didn't actually sell me the machine - Fabricsetc2 in Elmhurst basically said that it's "user error" - it's my fault. I'll have to eventually take it to the top, as Donna has suggested.

Boca Jan - I've been using the bobbins that came with the machine, so I doubt that that's the issue unless the company gave me the wrong bobbins.

Thanks for everyone for your sympathy and hand holding. I don't know how long this will take, but I'm not going to be saddled with a lemon.

Musicmaker

Keep after them. BTW you know I wont be using the Juki for a few weeks :) Its yours if you want it. Lyn

I do hope you have logged our emails to you. If the Pres has any problem believing you...go all the way back to your Unbridled Anticipation before Christmas and what we thought of DH making you 'wait'. That alone should convince him how much you wanted this machine.

HTH Butterfly (document document document)

Musicmaker, can you change the pressure foot pressure on this machine??? If so, I would like to make a suggestion for free motion work. Light the foot pressure to almost zero, you may have to experiment to find the exact setting that works for you. Put the feeddogs down, and use an open toe applique foot. For some of us, the "hopping" foot just doesn't work well, but the open toe foot in this set up works wonderfully. You can move the quilt sandwich freely (loosen the foot pressure until you can) and the foot keeps it a bit more under control. Not sure it will solve the problem, but wouldn't hurt to try.

Pati, > Polly...Since I want this particular thread because of the color and

I use the open toe I must admit. Also it is worth checking those bobbins (even if they sold them to you.) A friend discovered that was the reason her Janome wasn't free motioning properly (and yes the dealer sold them to her too - just a small difference. I know my Janome 6600P and my old Janome have different bobbins and they look the same.)

Although I have to say it sounds like a lemon to me. Get the salepeople to practice freemotioning on the machine for you using thread, etc in the same situation you are. See how well they do. That will put the onus on them to prove it is great.

Kelly

Kelly

Patti, at this time there isn't an open toe foot that will fit the Quest. My dealer has told them they need to get one available, so hopefully there will be soon. I have both on my Viking and prefer the open one. I was going to suggest letting up on the pressure also. Gen