Does your machine have a good straight stitch feature for top stitching quilt tops?

I've been "shopping" for a new machine and have read all the things offered here....but one thing I haven't heard about and is a current problem with mine...It is a Singer Quantum 9960...3 years old now. It does fine with FMQ using the darning foot...but when I want to do straight stitching or SITD...the machine doesn't want to sew right. I know I have to guide it through and little tug from the back and all, but I literally have to pull strongly to get it to go through the pressure foot and have a nice stitch. I set the stitch to 5 for a long straight stitch, and if I don't pull the quilt through, the stitches are the tiniest things you ever seen, I know all the trick to bunch the quilt into the throat of the machine and make sure it is not hanging up and in my lap freely, etc. It just seems the feed dogs are not pulling the quilt through as it should. This machine has a stitching issue anyway as there has to be at least 5-6 stitch length of fabric BEHIND the needle for it to pull through. I even use (what I call) thread head as leaders and still...the fabric is not pulled through. I use the walking foot and that doesn't help any for this issue.

So what machines do you have that have good feed dog and pull through feature (if I said that right) when sewing the top stitching on the quilt...whether SITD or just 1/4" away from the seams... I want a straight stitch and the proper stitch length.
Thanks!

Not being familiar with your particular machine, I can't give you any suggestions. If it's had issues with sewing/stitches (and for any amount of time) , I'd most certainly take it to a technician and find out what the problem is before it gets much worse. That would drive me nuts! I've got a Brother, so can only offer advice there (mine sews like a dream! No issues whatsoever.). Hoping you have a service technician close by! :D

I have two Pfaff machines and they both do a beautiful straight stitch whether piecing or going through four layers of Soft and Stable. Both have IDT. They also have five rows of feed dogs. I never have to pull fabric through. My previous machine was a Huskystar by Viking and I had trouble going through thick fabric with it. My 1965 Singer would also go through anything. It died about 10 years ago. I do wish I had kept it.

I am beginning to think you got a lemon with your 9960 with all your thread issues, tension and now not sewing straight when quilting. I have the same machine and haven't experienced any of these problems (knock on wood). If you are not buying a new machine shortly, I suggest taking your machine to be serviced.

Are you using a walking foot when you have more than just two layers of fabric? There is no way I could use my regular foot if I was doing a bulky quilt. Sometimes even the walking foot on my Singer is sluggish to get fabric through and I have to pull a bit.

I have a Singer Quartet, also three years old, and she does a fabulous stitch in the ditch!

This might be a dumb question. Dont most machines have a way to raise the pressor foot a little? I need to see if my machine does. Gotta get out my book. I can quilt ok, but I do notice when I use my walking foot when quilting iy can get sluggish sometimes. It might be a bit thick at times I think. Hopefully those in the know might comment please.

I had a similar problem once with my Brother. But mine was my own fault being new to sewing and not having anyone around to teach me about cleaning my machine. I fought with a JRR for my niece using words that would embarrass a sailor. After I finished I figured I could not do any more damage to my machine then it already had so I got brave and removed the screws that held the plate down and discovered a whole lot of lint around my feed dogs keeping it from moving properly. I know this is more then likely not your problem but just wanted to let you know I know how you feel about having to pull your quilt through.

My brother 1500 does great straight stitch. Sometimes I use the darning foot but mostly just use the 1/4" foot. It goes right through lots of layers, I do adjust the pressure of the presser foot and upper thread tension. It also has 4 positions for the feed dogs instead of just up and down.

My last machine, a babylock, drove me absolutely crazy with its useless plastic walking foot. It jumped and hopped, the sandwich didn’t feed well… I loathed that stupid walking foot. So I feel your pain.
I can’t say enough good things about the dual feed system on the Bernina 750 Quilters Edition. It is a million times better! Just beautiful, even straight stitches without a walking foot. It’s also great going over bulky seams, i.e. pinwheel corners. It keeps straight and doesn’t veer over to the seam allowance and I don’t have to tug and pull on the piecing.

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Originally Posted by Ahamblin

I have two Pfaff machines and they both do a beautiful straight stitch whether piecing or going through four layers of Soft and Stable. Both have IDT. They also have five rows of feed dogs. I never have to pull fabric through. My previous machine was a Huskystar by Viking and I had trouble going through thick fabric with it. My 1965 Singer would also go through anything. It died about 10 years ago. I do wish I had kept it.

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Now that you mention it...it does only have 2 rows of feed dogs! And they are not the long in the front ,but longer in the back. I bet that is my problem right there...this machine doesn't like going over more than 2 thickness...so I can't press to the side and then match as 3 layers....it struggles and usually doesn't make it unless I pull at it from the back to get it to go over the seams. Hadn't thought about how many "rows"...I will make sure I keep that in mind when i look at new machine.....MANY rows of feed dogs! Thanks sso much for mentioning that

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Originally Posted by RiverMomm

I am beginning to think you got a lemon with your 9960 with all your thread issues, tension and now not sewing straight when quilting. I have the same machine and haven't experienced any of these problems (knock on wood). If you are not buying a new machine shortly, I suggest taking your machine to be serviced.

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Lemon? Wouldn't surprise me at all!

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Originally Posted by LRM

Are you using a walking foot when you have more than just two layers of fabric? There is no way I could use my regular foot if I was doing a bulky quilt. Sometimes even the walking foot on my Singer is sluggish to get fabric through and I have to pull a bit.

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Yes, it does this on the walking foot. I just was working on a quilt...cotton top and back and a slightly thick batting. It just wouldn't feed it through.

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Originally Posted by Kgrammiecaz

This might be a dumb question. Dont most machines have a way to raise the pressor foot a little? I need to see if my machine does. Gotta get out my book. I can quilt ok, but I do notice when I use my walking foot when quilting iy can get sluggish sometimes. It might be a bit thick at times I think. Hopefully those in the know might comment please.

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I didn't know that was a possible option! I'll check my manual

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Originally Posted by Heather

My last machine, a babylock, drove me absolutely crazy with its useless plastic walking foot. It jumped and hopped, the sandwich didn’t feed well… I loathed that stupid walking foot. So I feel your pain.
I can’t say enough good things about the dual feed system on the Bernina 750 Quilters Edition. It is a million times better! Just beautiful, even straight stitches without a walking foot. It’s also great going over bulky seams, i.e. pinwheel corners. It keeps straight and doesn’t veer over to the seam allowance and I don’t have to tug and pull on the piecing.

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This walking foot is metal, but it is so loud, I hate using it! Drives me nuts as I have to stop after about 10 minutes and take a break cause the noise is nerve racking! I'll check into dual feed system when I shop

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Originally Posted by Lonna

I had a similar problem once with my Brother. But mine was my own fault being new to sewing and not having anyone around to teach me about cleaning my machine. I fought with a JRR for my niece using words that would embarrass a sailor. After I finished I figured I could not do any more damage to my machine then it already had so I got brave and removed the screws that held the plate down and discovered a whole lot of lint around my feed dogs keeping it from moving properly. I know this is more then likely not your problem but just wanted to let you know I know how you feel about having to pull your quilt through.

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a
It isn't, but only because a long time ago, I learned the same way you did!!! Now, I clean it often. And always, clean it when I start a new quilt/project and always when I finish anything with batting. And then in between times. I cleaned it before starting this today. It really does make a difference!

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Originally Posted by vchale

My brother 1500 does great straight stitch. Sometimes I use the darning foot but mostly just use the 1/4" foot. It goes right through lots of layers, I do adjust the pressure of the presser foot and upper thread tension. It also has 4 positions for the feed dogs instead of just up and down.

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Now that iis interesting....multiple positons for the feed dogs. I think feed dogs ares my problem after reading so many things here. there are just two feed dogs, one beside the other, two in the front, 2 in the back. Front are short, back are longer I think it isn't enough to pull the bulk of the quilt and I didn't know presser foot could be adjusted. I'll look at my manual for that.

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Originally Posted by RiverMomm

I am beginning to think you got a lemon with your 9960 with all your thread issues, tension and now not sewing straight when quilting. I have the same machine and haven't experienced any of these problems (knock on wood). If you are not buying a new machine shortly, I suggest taking your machine to be serviced.

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I have to agree with this. I've had a 9960 for a about 18 months now and have done a couple of queen size quilts with heavy flannel backing on them on it and haven't had any problems with the feed dogs or straight line stitching.

I actually like it better than the $2900 machine I bought earlier this year. (I won't name this one as it's really a great machine. I'm just a lot more comfortable using my 9960.)

I have had machines in the past that don't like lots of layers. That was one of the reasons I went to Pfaff the IDT is glorious and goes over anything.
When I worked for Viking, I sewed on vikings and singers as thats what they sold and I had to use. Still prefer my Pfaff over either of those.

Cheri, I also have the Singer Quantum 9960 and don't have a problem sewing through layers.
In fact, when I made this tote, I straight stitched through 2 layers of fabric, a layer of batting
and a layer of very stiff fusible interfacing.
After I was about half way done I realized I had even forgotten to put my walking foot on.
No problems whatsoever and very nice stitching. Crooked lines due to user error :)
I do believe it's your machine.

Attachment 94863

i have a Brother 1500 and love it. It is great for piecing and I can do straight stitch quilting without a walking foot. I am just starting to practice Free Motion and have found it easy to get the top and bobbin thread tension adjusted. The machine just goes forward and back, no zigzag of fancy stitching.