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thimblebug6000 04-24-2012 06:22 AM

Try holding both the threads in your left hand as you take the first few stitches.

barny 04-24-2012 06:41 AM

I want to welcome you too from Dallas Tx.

Scissor Queen 04-24-2012 07:05 AM

How long has it been since you changed your needle? And what needle do you have in the machine? When needles get dull they don't go thru the fabric as well and will push it instead of going thru it.

bearisgray 04-24-2012 07:21 AM

Try holding the threads (don't pull on them) back as the fabric starts to feed through.

Kitsie 04-24-2012 07:28 AM

If you can find a straight stitch plate for your machine they are wonderful!! Instead of a zig-zag type slot it has a single little hole and also my machine has a straight stitch 1/4" foot that has just a narrow slot with a hole. These accessories are the "bomb" for doing small pieces, etc. (And I still use my "heads & tails" - scraps)



Originally Posted by auntiem (Post 5165762)
Hi, I'm a newbie here and to quilting, but already need help. I have a Baby Lock Quest Plus which my DH gave me a few years ago for my BD---sweet man! I have sewn for 40+ years but never tried quilting before this year so am a total newbie at this. My problem is that when I start a 1/4" seam, my machine is feeding the fabric down into the needle hole on the plate, I am using the 1/4" quilting foot and the machine's PDQ system which should help with even feeding of the fabric. Any ideas on how to prevent this would be great and so appreciated. I don't want to get frustrated before I really get started, I'm sure there will be many better reasons to get frustrated down the road with this new undertaking! Thank you in advance for any help anyone can give me.


spacebull1 04-24-2012 07:35 AM


Originally Posted by Jingle (Post 5165927)
Sorry, I have never had this problem.

Neater do I...
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Peckish 04-24-2012 08:09 AM

I agree with Kitsie, that's what I was going to suggest. Check your needle plate to see how big the hole is. The needle plate is the metal piece between your needle and the bobbin, the needle will dip down into the hole as your machine sews. It sounds as if the needle is dragging your fabric down with it. Holding thread tails, using leaders & enders will work, but I found using a needle plate with a small round hole instead of a wide oval hole was the simplest fix. Also, make sure you're using a sharp needle such as a topstitch needle and not a ball point (which is for knits).

Hope these tips work for you! Good luck!

CarrieC 04-24-2012 08:29 AM

I can see that you got the same hint I would have given - so this is just to welcome you to the board and the addiction of quilting! Don't forget to share a picture when you're done so we can all ooh and ahh over the quilt!!!

virtualbernie 04-24-2012 11:31 AM

And unless you're chain piecing sew onto another scrap piece of fabric (your ender) at the end of that block so you'll be ready for the next series of blocks.:)

sweetana3 04-24-2012 11:34 AM

Even people who have been sewing for decades can learn new things. I recently started using leaders and enders to start and stop my stitching and love them. They keep the stitches from coming undone at the end of the seam and save a whole lot of thread.

Amazing that I did not know this already.


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