1191 Quilting Machine "lemon"
#1
1191 Quilting Machine "lemon"
I'm starting this thread in hopes that someone might be able to give me suggestions on what to turn, change or tweek next to get this thing running.
When I first brought it home, it sewed for a little while (about 2 feet) then the thread would break. I changed the thread and bobbin and needle. No luck.
Then I got brave and started tweeking the tension. Now I have a hugh birds nest under the fabric but in the color of the top thread (I have two different thread colors in the machine).
ArizonaKAT who feels like she will never figure out how to use a quilting machine.
When I first brought it home, it sewed for a little while (about 2 feet) then the thread would break. I changed the thread and bobbin and needle. No luck.
Then I got brave and started tweeking the tension. Now I have a hugh birds nest under the fabric but in the color of the top thread (I have two different thread colors in the machine).
ArizonaKAT who feels like she will never figure out how to use a quilting machine.
#2
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 8,091
ArizonaKAT,
I don't know anything specific about quilting machines, but when you end up with birds nests under the fabric it means you loosened the top tension too much. Try gradually tightening it watching the results each time.
Joe
I don't know anything specific about quilting machines, but when you end up with birds nests under the fabric it means you loosened the top tension too much. Try gradually tightening it watching the results each time.
Joe
#4
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: chicago, IL
Posts: 9,589
A Singer 1191 is an industrial machine. I've never seen it set up for FMQ...but there is a first for everything.
Is is possible that you have it threaded not quite right? The thread in the guide closer to the top can get twisted and then will continue to break thread. Hope you can work it out....
Is is possible that you have it threaded not quite right? The thread in the guide closer to the top can get twisted and then will continue to break thread. Hope you can work it out....
#5
This may seem silly - but you are remembering to put the foot down, right? With the hopping foot, it can look down even when it's not (so top tension not engaged) and then it's a huge - huge bird's nest underneath.
And if the foot is down, then double check that you actually have the thread correctly in the tension disks. I've got at least one machine that you can actually get it on the outside of the two pressure disks, so it's not getting any tension on the upper thread at all. Also make sure your bobbin case is inserted correctly, and not sticking out in a way that is catching the upper thread and not letting it get pulled back up by the uptake lever properly.
Another thing to look - is the thread popping out of any of the guides and wrapping where it shouldn't while you sew? These are some of the more common problems I see people posting on the Bailey quilting Yahoo group - the machine is easy to have tension problems if a person is use to sewing on a machine that "does it all for you" and not a mechanical one - I personally have very few problems, but then I'm use to sewing on mechanical machines.
And if the foot is down, then double check that you actually have the thread correctly in the tension disks. I've got at least one machine that you can actually get it on the outside of the two pressure disks, so it's not getting any tension on the upper thread at all. Also make sure your bobbin case is inserted correctly, and not sticking out in a way that is catching the upper thread and not letting it get pulled back up by the uptake lever properly.
Another thing to look - is the thread popping out of any of the guides and wrapping where it shouldn't while you sew? These are some of the more common problems I see people posting on the Bailey quilting Yahoo group - the machine is easy to have tension problems if a person is use to sewing on a machine that "does it all for you" and not a mechanical one - I personally have very few problems, but then I'm use to sewing on mechanical machines.
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 15,506
This may seem silly - but you are remembering to put the foot down, right? With the hopping foot, it can look down even when it's not (so top tension not engaged) and then it's a huge - huge bird's nest underneath.
And if the foot is down, then double check that you actually have the thread correctly in the tension disks. I've got at least one machine that you can actually get it on the outside of the two pressure disks, so it's not getting any tension on the upper thread at all. Also make sure your bobbin case is inserted correctly, and not sticking out in a way that is catching the upper thread and not letting it get pulled back up by the uptake lever properly.
Another thing to look - is the thread popping out of any of the guides and wrapping where it shouldn't while you sew? These are some of the more common problems I see people posting on the Bailey quilting Yahoo group - the machine is easy to have tension problems if a person is use to sewing on a machine that "does it all for you" and not a mechanical one - I personally have very few problems, but then I'm use to sewing on mechanical machines.
And if the foot is down, then double check that you actually have the thread correctly in the tension disks. I've got at least one machine that you can actually get it on the outside of the two pressure disks, so it's not getting any tension on the upper thread at all. Also make sure your bobbin case is inserted correctly, and not sticking out in a way that is catching the upper thread and not letting it get pulled back up by the uptake lever properly.
Another thing to look - is the thread popping out of any of the guides and wrapping where it shouldn't while you sew? These are some of the more common problems I see people posting on the Bailey quilting Yahoo group - the machine is easy to have tension problems if a person is use to sewing on a machine that "does it all for you" and not a mechanical one - I personally have very few problems, but then I'm use to sewing on mechanical machines.
#9
#10
A Singer 1191 is an industrial machine. I've never seen it set up for FMQ...but there is a first for everything.
Is is possible that you have it threaded not quite right? The thread in the guide closer to the top can get twisted and then will continue to break thread. Hope you can work it out....
Is is possible that you have it threaded not quite right? The thread in the guide closer to the top can get twisted and then will continue to break thread. Hope you can work it out....
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