So frustrated! Why wont my machine do freemotion correctly
10-07-2011, 06:25 AM
#11
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Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: West Richland, Wa
Posts: 5
My experience has been that it helps to bring the bobbin thread up through the quilt by tuning the wheel by hand one rotation, hang on to both threads with your left hand, drop your pressure foot and then start sewing. But my first thought was maybe it is the brand of thread, or dull needle. My Janome embroidery machine is particularly fussy about that.
10-07-2011, 06:26 AM
#12
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Southwest Kansas
Posts: 4,820
Originally Posted by Nanasrcool
Yes, I could see me missing it once, maybe twice but I have so many practice sandwiches that have the same mess on them and I cant see me doing it every time.
I wish so much that someone had my model and could give me some direction on tension. It is working fine doing all other sewing and works fine with the walking foot. But the minute I go to freemotion it is the same story over and over.
I wish so much that someone had my model and could give me some direction on tension. It is working fine doing all other sewing and works fine with the walking foot. But the minute I go to freemotion it is the same story over and over.
The problem is something else. Make sure you are bringing the bobbin thread to the top when you start and hold your thread ends when you start. Make sure you put the presser foot down.
Then the key is fast machine, slow hands. The needle needs to go pretty fast compared to how fast you move the quilt.
Keep practicing. You wouldn't expect to pick up a paint brush and be Rembrandt in a week!!!
10-07-2011, 06:31 AM
#13
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,189
Originally Posted by thepolyparrot
Are you sure you're putting the presser foot down? (I miss this occasionally and this is the symptom I get)
One way to check just before you put pedal to the metal pull on the top thread.... if it zings through your needle without any tension your pressure foot is still up. If it takes a little more effort to pull the thread through it is down. To test try it when you have your 'piecing' foot on...
10-07-2011, 06:39 AM
#14
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,502
Are you using a FMQ foot or darning foot? Does your bobbin have a tiny screw on it that can be adjusted? I wish I had some experience with your machine so I could be more helpful. Sorry this is taking the joy out of your nice quilt project.
10-07-2011, 06:44 AM
#16
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Southwest Kansas
Posts: 4,820
Originally Posted by Tartan
Are you using a FMQ foot or darning foot? Does your bobbin have a tiny screw on it that can be adjusted? I wish I had some experience with your machine so I could be more helpful. Sorry this is taking the joy out of your nice quilt project.
10-07-2011, 07:07 AM
#17
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Mesquite, TX
Posts: 14
OMG you guys are absolutely the BEST!!!! I have been struggling with this for days thinking me doomed to either SID quilting or finding another machine!!! It was me not lowering the presser foot. I also switched to using the upright thread spool holder from the horizontal to see if that helped in feeding the top thread more smoothly.
NO MORE NESTS!!
NO MORE NESTS!!
10-07-2011, 07:12 AM
#18
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Calif (San Joaquin Valley)
Posts: 3,482
Originally Posted by Nanasrcool
OMG you guys are absolutely the BEST!!!! I have been struggling with this for days thinking me doomed to either SID quilting or finding another machine!!! It was me not lowering the presser foot. I also switched to using the upright thread spool holder from the horizontal to see if that helped in feeding the top thread more smoothly.
NO MORE NESTS!!
NO MORE NESTS!!
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: Happy FMQing!!!!!
10-07-2011, 08:23 AM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 524
Lots of wonderful suggestions.....mine is pretty basic to Singer....and it's from experience.....make sure your needle is in right.....some Singers make you put the needle with the flat side to the side and some with the flat side to the back. If it's in wrong, it won't engage the bobbin correctly and the nest will be all you get.
10-07-2011, 08:26 AM
#20
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Sturbridge, Ma
Posts: 3,992
make sure you are not moving your hands too fast. work to find a good balance between machine speed and hand motion that is smooth and not jerky.
Go slow if you need to to achieve this balance. Many try to go too fast with either machine or hand - mostly hand I have found and then get longer stitches. Slow down to medium. I teach a lot of FMQ and I know of what I speak.
Go slow if you need to to achieve this balance. Many try to go too fast with either machine or hand - mostly hand I have found and then get longer stitches. Slow down to medium. I teach a lot of FMQ and I know of what I speak.
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