Tell me what kind of machine you have.. I am fed up with mine.....

The website I saw listed the walking foot as an additional purchase. I was frustrated when looking that more companies don't list the throat space. Even machines that are sold as quilting machines often have a small space as well as having to purchase extra the quilting extension.

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Originally Posted by coffeebreak

Thanks Nethernut for the suggestion...I know in this ;oopy situation...it is always the top thread is not threaded right. I can't figure it out.. I am slow and careful when I thread it to make sure (as possible) that the thread goes where it is supposed to go. I can't tell as the whole threading/needle area is enclosed... I can't see if it is right or not...I just have to sew and then see if it is right. If it loops like this, it was wrong, so I unthread (and can only pull out backwards. Broken thread pulls up into the enclosed area and there is no thread end to grab) re thread and the next time it'll be fine. This goes for FMQ as well as straight. I always start FMQ'ing with a practice piece for this exact reason. So I can catch it before it happens on the quilt. But..that only means that it will work then. Once I put the quilt on the machine...it could (and has!) very well happen then...after just being right on the practice piece! In this case that set me on fire last night...it was right for a whole section...and I was stopping and starting throughout as there were sqaures I was intentionally missing stitching as I wanted them to be kind of poofy...so I FMQ'ed around them. Same as on the first section I did. Just happened that at one time I stopped, moved location then started again..that is when it did this. No notice, no reason...was fine just before...stop and moved and started before with no problem. It literally just happens when it wants to I guess...something in the threading area that messes up and no way for me to know about it. And there have been times it has done this on straight stitching too. I have put up with it for 3 years. So much wasted time because of it and wasted thread and ...for no apparent reason!

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Does you machine have a thread cutter and are you using it when you go from one area to another? Sometimes my thread cutter catches and makes my upper thread jump out of the tension disc. This is the best wording I can come up with for what happens, not sure it is exactly what causes the tension jump but that is the best I can figure out.

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Originally Posted by Claire Hallman

Does you machine have a thread cutter and are you using it when you go from one area to another? Sometimes my thread cutter catches and makes my upper thread jump out of the tension disc. This is the best wording I can come up with for what happens, not sure it is exactly what causes the tension jump but that is the best I can figure out.

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Claire...well, yes, Usually I do use the thread cutter and then move the quilt under the needle to the next place. I guess I could change that and just pull it out and clip it off. I guess it does sound like that could be the problem. I'll check it out. I hope you havent' solved my problem cause if you have.. I won't get a new machine!!! Just kidding! LOL! I am still going to look and get a new one. I do to much with a machine to have to keep track of all these little things to make it work right! And since husband is offering... I'm taking!

The Juki TL 2010Q doesn't have any alarms or warnings of any kind. It has two spool pins and it's possible to use two spools of thread and wind the bobbin without un-threading the machine. The 2010 has a sliding speed control and a sub-tension dial that the older models don't have.

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Originally Posted by Jean Sewing Machine

Juki 2010 straight stitch does great piecing and FMQing. I think it has a 9" throat. I have a Janome 8900, but I haven'r done FMQing yet because I have a longarm. It has an 11" throat. The 2010 is around $900-$1000, the Janomes are above $2000. You can get an older version of the Juki for around $800, must have less features, but I don't know what the difference is.

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I have a Juki Exceed 300. I think it's throat is about 8 inches. I've fmq 2 quilts and think it did well. Vie asked it to do a bunch of other things and it never balked at anything.

another owner and lover of the Janome 6600! Large harp, needle down, knee lift, adjustable speed. Automatic thread cutter though I don't use this while FMQ'ing. It has lots of decorative stitches and stitches beautifully. I've owned Pfaff and Bernina and this is my favorite by far. It doesn't have a bobbin indicator but the bobbins hold lots of thread. With my Pfaff I was forever chain piecing and would sew a whole stack before noticing I didn't have thread. I've yet to do this with the Janome. I think there is a lot of bang for the buck with this machine.

Mine is more expensive than you are wanting to go, but I'll share anyway...just in case your budget changes. I have a Janome 6600 (9" throat). I love it because it is quiet, sews well, has needle down, has auto scissors, has accu-feed system, has a separate motor for bobbin winding, and I could list more. However, it does not have a warning light for a low bobbin. I bought it for $1600 about 3 years ago. Good luck on finding what you want. :)

This is for Coffeebreak who pulls the thread out backwards on her machine. When I purchased my new machine & went to the class to learn how to use it, the owner of the shop said to never pull thread out backwards. The thread needs to be snipped & pulled out from the needle. I've observed with my machine, the thread will pull out only if the presser foot is in the up position. Do you have a needle threader on your machine? The needle has to be up in the highest position for that work right. I hope you can get your threading issues ironed out. JCY

Regarding using the thread cutter when FMQ: I never use it when doing FMQ. One needs that extra thread to pull up when moving to a new area to quilt. I lift the presser foot & move the quilt out ~5" from the needle & carefully snip the thread with scissors on the top & bottom. JCY

I have a viking which is above your budget but I know they had machines for less with the options you are looking for. I looked at Bernina, babylock, and janome as well; Bernina was knocked out of the running because of cost for the throat space I wanted, ended up a decision between the viking and the babylock, I chose the viking because of stitch quality, auto tension, bobbin alert, thread cutter and options for threading bobbin. I love my machine but you should go and test drive all machines you are considering and compare samples of like stitches and options available.