suern3

Are you pulling your bobbin thread up to the top of your fabric? When you start out you need to lower your needle into the fabric by hand, turning the "wheel" and then pull up the bobbin thread as it comes up. It is kind of like how you pull up the bobbin thread when you first thread your machine. Then hole both threads out of the way and make a few tiny stiches in place to anchor the threads. You may then cut them off short or just avoid them. Please go to daystyledesigns.com where you will find a ton of helpful info. Leah Day's website, she is also a young mom with a wealth of info. Plus her instructions are much better than mine Good Luck!

sahm4605

I love the quilt. my hubby and bro and little guy all love star wars. I would take the evening off and relax. no sense in sending yourself into early labor. I would suggest when you go back to the project take a moment eat a peice of chocolate and then re-thread again taking your time and then load your practice peice and see how it goes. big thing is to relax. if you don't you will end up sending yourself into early labor. while a good thing to get to see the baby the longer they get to "cook" the bigger and healthier they will be.

Prism99

Are you (1) pulling the bobbin thread to the stop before starting to stitch, and (2) holding on to both threads ends for awhile when you start to stitch? If not, that could be the problem. You have to manually take one stitch in order to draw the bobbin thread up to the top, then hold tightly onto both top and bobbin threads before starting.

You can also try it with the feed dogs up. Some people find it easier to control the stitching on a particular machine that way (even though it's free motion with a darning foot).

DogHouseMom

Yes to pulling up the bobbin thread and holding on to both threads when you take your first stitch.

Not sure you need to set your stitch to zero though as with the feed dogs down, you control the stitch length. I don't think that's your problem (I'm not familiar with your machine), but its worth a try to reset it to your normal setting and trying that.

nice top!! and welcome to the board!!

audsgirl

Did you remember to lower your presser foot? Sometimes little things like that are overlooked. Your quilt looks fantastic! Happy baby!

Painiacs

Cross hatching is fine. I've used it so would out lining or u can tie it. U did great on your first!! Keep it up! Can't wait to see more!! Congratulations on the baby too!!

SueDor

Your quilt looks great! Good luck with the baby!

QuiltingCrazie

Love your quilt one of my sons love Star Wars! No one else has asked but what thread are you using? Sometimes if you try to use non cotton on a cotton sandwich it can result in knots. I ask because my new machine is really picky where my old machine didn't care if I used a cotton poly blend. I have major tension problems now if I don't match the thread and fabric. Good luck and would love to see the finished quilt!

susie-susie-susie

Another thing you should do is lower the pressor foot, even though there is no pressure on the quilt, it needs to be lowered. Your quilt is very nice. Good work on your first project and welcome to the board. By the way, cross hatching would look very nice. Since it is so close to "D" day, that might be a good choice.
Sue

sculpyfan

I think you just got you training wheels off you bike and now you want to try driving a mototcycle ! FMQ has a steep learning curve. I think your best bet since you have so little time is to do straight line quilting. Might take a look here and check other U-tube sites.
http://www.freemotionquilting.blogsp...-quilting.html