donnai

Help i am trying to free motion quilt and the thread keeps breaking and I have loops on the back i am using a computerized machine any help you can give me would be appreciated i have changed thread and bobbin didn't help

suern3

A couple of questions, donnai. Are you using a long arm for quilting or a home sewing machine? Did you check your machine manual for the settings for FMQ? Most will say that the tension isn't right, but I always like to go all the way back to the first steps in my manual when having issues like this. Did you pull up the bobbin thread to the front of the fabric? Is the needle in the down position or which ever position your machine requires? Is this your first attempt or have you done it before without this happening? What type of computerized machine do you have? Now if you have a long arm machine, please ignore my post. I only use my home sewing machine or DSM, domestic sewing machine.

Tartan

​Take a picture of your thread and bobbin tension and then adjust until you no longer get loops on the bottom. Once you get your tensions set properly, work on your sewing speed and quilt movement.

stitch678

Donnai, l teach fmq on a domestic machine at our sewing group in Fla. Thread breakage can be from tension too tight , but loops on bottom often means tension's too loose...so likely it's your computorized machine that's confused on what you're doing. It thinks you are sewing with the presser foot up. Depends on the model...so look up in your manual how to set the machine for fmq. Lowering feed dogs and putting on the quilting foot alone doesn't often work on the newest computorized ones. You may need to override the auto tension. Also, some require a spe ial bobbin case for fmq...Janome has one with a blue dot. Next, you may find your model actually does better with feed dogs up but stitch length set to 0.

Lady Diana

Don't touch your tension, until you check your needle and thread. Your needle has to match your thread weight.
What size needle are you using. Most use a 90/14 topstitch needle with the large eye. Do you have loops, or what we call eyelashes from turning corners and making circular design too fast. If your hand are moving faster than the speed of your machine, then you will get those. Check your thread path....all clear....no hang ups? Superior Threads has information on their site for thread weight and needle match up.....but do check to see that you are using the 90/14 topstitch needle before messing with your tension.

Watson

If your foot is too high above your fabric, your thread will break. Your foot should just skim over your fabric as you sew...there should be an adjustment that allows you to lower the foot to where it just touches the fabric.

Watson

redbreast

I have to tell you that when I first started FMQ I had that problem a lot! And it always seemed to be either the thread or the needle. So take all of the good advice and switch those before you start messing with tension, I say that because I hate to do anything with tension.