bizzibee

I was going along just fine for about 45 minutes and then my needle started to skip picking up the bobbin thread, resulting in a very long stitch. I've change the needle twice but it doesn't help. I have my stitch length set at 0 and my feed dogs are down. Do you have any idea what is happening?

Thanks,
Bizzibee

Quilter 53

I'd try pulling out the bobbin and brushing out all the lint and dust. Could be it's interfering. Also make sure the upper thread is threaded properly and not hanging up somewhere.

Tartan

Clean out any lint in the bobbin area and check the thread path from the spool. Is the skip when you go over a seam? Sometimes a thick spot will cause a skip. Try to keep your speed consistant and not move the sandwich too fast. I will sometimes get a skipped stitch on batiks due to the tight weave.

Bree123

Other suggestions are better, but if they don't help the other thing I've found is sometimes it's the direction I'm moving the fabric. I tend to have that happen when I hit the corners because of how the shape/direction of my design changes to fill in that corner space.

Also, sometimes when my bobbin thread starts running too low I get that issue. So strange, but it happens. I just break thread, bury the knot, start a new bobbin, rethread & start fresh. We'd all like to be able to quilt & quilt without any thread breaks, but it's just not possible. Honestly, I'm surprised your bobbins last for 45 minutes. Mine run out of thread before then.

dunster

It could also be that the needle is flexing and not picking up the bobbin thread on its downward motion. This could happen if you're moving the fabric too fast, or if the fabric is otherwise not moving freely.

nabobw

Do not know why it is skipping but you do not need to change your stitch length with the feed dogs down.

ManiacQuilter2

I agree with Tartan. You have to have a steady speed when FMQ and I try to watch out for bulky seams.

Melanie Rudy

I had the exact same problem last week. I had to unscrew the plate under the presser foot and do a good clean under the bobbin case. It was jammed with lint (so much lint that I was very surprised). Lint was packed tight under the bobbin case. After cleaning, it is humming like brand new and the stitches are perfect.

Altairss

Besides the problems mentioned above you could be tugging the fabric. It doesn't take much for you to put to much pressure for just a sec which pulls the needle and makes it curve and it does not pick up the bobbin resulting in a long stitch. After FMQ for a time your brain can get set and you start doing that ask me how I now. Make sure you take frequent breaks to get up and move for a minute stretch. So give everything a really good cleaning and then rethread and then watch your speed and hands. Remember to stop when you need to reposition your hands so you do not tug or push the fabric and cause long or skip stitches.

dray965

I don't know about your machine, but mine does that if I don't use the same thread in the bobbin that i'm using in the top. Really frustrating, so I gave up and gave in. LOL