Sandee S.

Hi Y'all,
First time posting on here, and I'm a new quilter. So, here's the deal, when I am trying to quilt, my machine will either just "flap" on top and not stitch anything or it will lay thread across the top of my fabric and stitch once or twice. When I go back over the spot it didn't stitch it will sew 70% of the time. Eye roll. It's driving me crazy. I have a Brother XR3774 (not a high end, didn't realize I would delve into quilting) Side note: my needle has been losing the thread a lot it seems.
I have tried the following;
Checked my bobbin installed correctly.
Checked bobbin tension (or what someone online said to try) Shook it gently fell about an inch.
Made sure top thread is correct (and rethreaded many times)
Using good thread 50 wt Aurifil & connecting thread (mainly Aurifil)
Have taken my tension dial from one end to the other (no difference either way, or in the middle of the dial)
Moved my stitch length from one end to the other end of the dial as well in the middle too.
Moved my stitch width (I think that is what it's called) same as above
I've checked my needle and just recently replaced it, and it's installed correctly.
I'm at a loss, and it's becoming extremely frustrating.
I tried to upload a picture of my first completed quilt but upload of file failed. Eye roll, Uggghh doesn't surprise me. LOL
Any help that y'all can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Pssst..... Electronic items can just LQQK at me and decide not to work (totally serious)

mermaid

If all you said, and presser foot is down and feed dogs are up, I think maybe the timing is off. Needs to go for repair. Timing can go pretty easily for some machines. I have a little 180 embroidery machine that this has happened 2-3 times. I'have set the timing myself because it's a simple machine.

Barb in Louisiana

Does it sew normal when you are doing piecing? If so, you may need a larger needle when quilting. For instance, I piece with a 12 or 14, but if I am going to do quilting, I may try a 16 or 18, the latter of which is used for leather. I have a high end Brother, or at least it was 10 years ago, and it won't sew heavier material with a finer needle.

QuiltnNan

Welcome to the QB. Sorry to hear you are having frustrations. Hope you can find a solution

bearisgray

Welcome to the board.

I can so relate to your frustration.

Do you have a raise or lower the feed dogs mechanism on your machine?

All my machines are older, but here are some places that "switch" might be located on your machine.

On a Singer 404 - there is a lever that moves back and forth - located on the right hand size of the machine bed.
On a Singer 237 - there is a knob that turns located on the right hand corner of the machine bed.
On a Pfaff 1471 - I need to open the door to the area that holds the bobbin case - then there is a thing that pushes to the left for "Feed dogs up" and then I push it to the right for "feed dogs down" It moves less than 1/4 inch. There is also a "half down" thing for lowering the presser foot for darning/mending and FMQ.

On the Bernina 530, there is a fairly large knob near the bottom on the "control tower" - below the stitch length selector.

If you still have the manual, that might give you some clues.

Also, many machines have a "presser foot pressure adjustment" - that adjusts how "hard" the presser foot is "down"
You might consider looking at that, too.

Good luck with the problem.

cindyb

Have you unscrewed the plate under the pressure foot and removed the lint in there? Between those feed dogs lint clogs up. I used to omit that step.

Macybaby

I've done actual quilting on 5-6 different machines, and some don't seem to like doing it, and a few are wonderful no matter what.

Dolphyngyrl

For quilting on brothers I have never touched my tension dials. Speed control is the most important thing for fmq., going too fast or too slow will affect stitch quality. The speed of you hand has to match the speed of the machine. I use size 90 sharps or topstitching needles for quilting. I would also make sure no lint in bobbin or feed dog area for stitch as well. Don't give up fmq has a big learning curve and it took me a few years to have my aha moment. It's not something you try for the first time and expect to have the best results. It takes time

cjsews

Is your foot up when you thread the machine? If not, your tension gears are not open. Also stop the needle just past highest point and starting down to keep thread from pulling out when you start again.

MadQuilter

Some machines need to have the stitch length set to 0 (zero) while others require it to be at the regular length.
Some machines refuse to quilt in one direction (mine for example will not quilt straight backwards).
Does it work on small sample pieces? Sometimes the weight of the quilt distorts things.
Are you moving the quilt sandwich too fast?

I feel your frustration and hope you find a solution.