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10-03-2011, 09:11 AM

#11

pooks088

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Thread Starter

Join Date: Oct 2011

Location: Seattle

Posts: 4

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKrenning

Are you pulling up the bobbin thread before you start? That will leave a mess on the back. Also, check your bobbin tension. You should be able to smoothly pull out the bobbin thread with gentle pressure or if it's the front loading type of bobbin, you should be able to hold the thread in one hand and the bobbin will slowly drop into the other hand. Also, did you loosen the top tension and increase the stitch length? Quilting stitches are longer & looser than normal sewing stitches.

NO! I didn't know about pulling the bobbin thread to the top. I will try that and also will try adjusting the tension. So helpful! Thanks! (If only I could take the rest of the day off and go home to play around with it.. I'm antsy to get off work now! 6 more hours. Ha.)

10-03-2011, 09:13 AM

#12

Lady Crafter

Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2009

Location: Triad, North Carolina

Posts: 639

As these ladies have said, check your tensions, pull your bobbin thread to the top... and ... make sure your needle is sharp. Sometimes that can be caused by something as simple as a dull needle.

10-03-2011, 09:22 AM

#13

NanaCsews2

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Posts: 1,812

Thread tension and are you using the feed dogs up or down? Using a walking foot on your machine? New needle, and correct needle for the size of thread? All of this makes a difference for your particular machine, how thick your quilt is, and what your batting is. There are generally adjustments to be made when going from piecing to sewing the quilt top, batting, and backing together.

10-03-2011, 09:30 AM

#14

Jim's Gem

Moderator

Join Date: Jun 2008

Location: Camarillo, California

Posts: 35,242

Welcome to the board from Southern California!

10-03-2011, 09:35 AM

#15

blueangel

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Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Kansas

Posts: 20,402

Welcome from Kansas

10-03-2011, 09:50 AM

#16

PaperPrincess

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Join Date: Dec 2010

Location: Michigan

Posts: 11,276

Also, do some practice with a small sample sandwich to get everything set before attempting it on your quilt. Also, is your presser foot down? Because of the thickness of the sandwich it's easy to forget because it LOOKS like it's down.

10-03-2011, 09:51 AM

#17

Michellesews

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: El Paso Texas

Posts: 987

Sounds like your top thread it jumping out of your take up lever, this will leave a "bird's nest" every time!
Michelle

10-03-2011, 09:54 AM

#18

QKO

Super Member

Join Date: Jun 2010

Location: Western Nevada

Posts: 2,520

Hello, and welcome to QB, from western Nevada!

10-03-2011, 10:02 AM

#19

QuiltnNan

Power Poster

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC

Posts: 51,430

make sure that your top thread is properly threaded through the tension discs. you can only do this when the presser foot is in the up position.

10-03-2011, 10:18 AM

#20

JanetM

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2009

Location: At my LQS

Posts: 2,326

Quote:

Originally Posted by pooks088

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathy

you'll need to explain a little better.... are you quilting?
what do you mean it goes thru all the layers? and how is it tangled?

Hello! Yes, I'm quilting. My top thread is poking through my quilt sandwich and I end up with a tangled mess of thread on the bottom of my quilt. Is that more useful?

I'm sorry I'm not clear. I'm really new at this. Thanks for your help!

It sounds like your upper thread has come off the uptake lever. Try rethreading your machine.