FMQ and Janome 6500
#1
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Posts: 171
FMQ and Janome 6500
I just broke 4 needles in less than an hour. I have cleaned the bobbin area and checked the threading. Does anyone have tips/advice on the optimum settings for FMQ with this domestic machine ??? I would appreciate your thoughts.
#2
are you using a darning foot (has spring on the shaft)? you do fairly fast foot pedal speed while you move the quilt itself slower. that makes for smaller stitches. needles should not be breaking. i can only think you are moving the quilt much too fast and perhaps not using a darning foot.
#3
I have a 6500 and (sorry) have no problem FMQ with it.
I use my darning/FM foot, drop the feed dogs (but have tried it with the feed dogs up, with no problem) and I use a top stitch needle. Also I do a practice run (warm up, to get in the rhythm), before I work on the quilt.
It really is a balance of getting the needle at a 'certain' speed and your hands (moving the quilt) at another speed (slower). The needle going faster then the movement of the quilt. Have you ever tried to pat your head and rub your tummy? Hard to do for some and easy for others. Also taking the weight of the quilt so that it is not pulling/dragging the quilt. I have put my ironing board to my left to hold the weight.
My guess for the broken needles ~ quilt dragging, trying to move the quilt to fast, thread catching or being pulled.
Hope you find the 'sweet spot' of FMQ.
I use my darning/FM foot, drop the feed dogs (but have tried it with the feed dogs up, with no problem) and I use a top stitch needle. Also I do a practice run (warm up, to get in the rhythm), before I work on the quilt.
It really is a balance of getting the needle at a 'certain' speed and your hands (moving the quilt) at another speed (slower). The needle going faster then the movement of the quilt. Have you ever tried to pat your head and rub your tummy? Hard to do for some and easy for others. Also taking the weight of the quilt so that it is not pulling/dragging the quilt. I have put my ironing board to my left to hold the weight.
My guess for the broken needles ~ quilt dragging, trying to move the quilt to fast, thread catching or being pulled.
Hope you find the 'sweet spot' of FMQ.
#4
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Posts: 171
I have a 6500 and (sorry) have no problem FMQ with it.
I use my darning/FM foot, drop the feed dogs (but have tried it with the feed dogs up, with no problem) and I use a top stitch needle. Also I do a practice run (warm up, to get in the rhythm), before I work on the quilt.
It really is a balance of getting the needle at a 'certain' speed and your hands (moving the quilt) at another speed (slower). The needle going faster then the movement of the quilt. Have you ever tried to pat your head and rub your tummy? Hard to do for some and easy for others. Also taking the weight of the quilt so that it is not pulling/dragging the quilt. I have put my ironing board to my left to hold the weight.
My guess for the broken needles ~ quilt dragging, trying to move the quilt to fast, thread catching or being pulled.
Hope you find the 'sweet spot' of FMQ.
I use my darning/FM foot, drop the feed dogs (but have tried it with the feed dogs up, with no problem) and I use a top stitch needle. Also I do a practice run (warm up, to get in the rhythm), before I work on the quilt.
It really is a balance of getting the needle at a 'certain' speed and your hands (moving the quilt) at another speed (slower). The needle going faster then the movement of the quilt. Have you ever tried to pat your head and rub your tummy? Hard to do for some and easy for others. Also taking the weight of the quilt so that it is not pulling/dragging the quilt. I have put my ironing board to my left to hold the weight.
My guess for the broken needles ~ quilt dragging, trying to move the quilt to fast, thread catching or being pulled.
Hope you find the 'sweet spot' of FMQ.
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Posts: 171
are you using a darning foot (has spring on the shaft)? you do fairly fast foot pedal speed while you move the quilt itself slower. that makes for smaller stitches. needles should not be breaking. i can only think you are moving the quilt much too fast and perhaps not using a darning foot.
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
A larger needle will flex less, so switching to the heavier needle should help. Try loosening the upper thread tension a little too, especially if you think you might be moving the quilt too fast.
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Posts: 171
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Posts: 171
I will definitely be playing with upper tension starting with 3 as you recommended. Hopefully the needle size and tension changes will do the trick. Thank you for your reply !
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