GagaSmith

Today I was using my walking foot to machine quilt diagonal lines on a warm wishes I just made. Since they were straight lines I was moving along at a good clip. All of a sudden the needle fell out!
I put it back together, made sure it was tight and after a few minutes it did it again.
So I changed the needle and started sewing again. It fell out again. I realized it was only happening when I was going fast. I started going slower and it didn't happen again. I have a two-year-old Janome 6300. Has anyone else had this problem? Are you supposed to go slow with a walking foot?

FranW

The same thing has happened to me with my Janome 6500 (more than once). I do tend to sew fast when I am doing straight lines but I never realized that might be the reason until I read your post. Each time I reinserted the needle, tightened the walking foot, and continued sewing, but probably at a slower pace. Everything was fine.

pocoellie

I don't have a Janome but I've never had the needle fall out at any speed and I usually have the pedal to the medal.

AngeliaNR

I haven't had this happen, but I don't go very fast. An instructor in a Craftsy class about quilting with a walking foot gave what I thought was good advice: "Don't rush; let your walking foot walk." She said it works more effectively at a slower pace. Still, I don't think your needle should be falling out--what a pain!

auntpiggylpn

That happens to me on my Janome everytime I sew fast with my walking foot. Weird huh?!?!

PurplePassion

Yep me too. When sewing fast with the walking foot and the hopper foot-free motion.

franc36

I took the same Craftsy class and I don't sew fast with my walking foot. I don't have a Janome so I don't know how your needle is inserted. Is it possible that the fast speed makes the walking foot vibrate which loosens the needle?

Tartan

It is probably that the speed is causing enough vibration to loosen the needle. Try a shelf liner or similar as a shock absorber under the machine to reduce the vibration and see if it helps.

GagaSmith

Good idea Tartan. I never thought about that. I did think that maybe because that little bar goes over the screw where the needle is tightened, it might be vibrating it too much.

Terri D.

How frustrating! I have not had that problem when machine quilting, but I don't quilt all that fast. I'd be curious to know what your dealer has to say about it...