Does this happen to everyone?

[Oleg]

I was FMQ the baby quilt I am making for a co-worker, and was actually doing a pretty good job of it. I had no problems, other than an occasional jagged curve or long stitch. Very happy overall compared to my last try on a larger quilt. I finished one half, flipped it around to do the other side. Got almost to the bottom when my bobbin thread ran out. No problem, I wound two in advance just for this. Drop the bobbin in, rethread the needle, and continue where I left off. A couple of inches into my curves, somehow the thread gets caught on the darning foot and everything comes to a complete halt! Not really sure what happened, but the bobbin case is now sitting crooked and there is a bit of a mess. Machine is beeping like crazy. I had to unscrew the needle plate, remove the bobbin case, vacuum and brush out all the lint. Put everything back; needle won't crank up and down. Remove everything again and try again. This time it all seems to work fine. I was able to finish my FMQ without a hitch after that. I really thought I broke my machine! Not sure if it was because the of how my bobbin was, maybe didn't wind correctly, or I didn't drop it in just right? Sure gave me a scare!

[Vonnie]

Re: Does this happen to everyone?

I have a Babylock Espire. If I don't clean under the bobbin case every time, about half way through it will mess up.

Also, completely rethread the machine with each new bobbin and then test it first. If not perfect, rethread top and bottom again.

Love pipe cleaners for getting in all the little hard to reach places in the drop in bobbin area.

[Oleg]

Re: Does this happen to everyone?

And of course, I had problems with connecting the two ends of the binding after I sewed it all down to the front. I trimmed the ends using the unfolded scrap binding as a guide, then sewed them right sides together. I had about three twists in it when I went to lay it down. Rip out the stitches, try to lay them down flat and sew again. This time only one twist. Rip it out again, align it, test it, sew it. Binding sewn perfectly, but too much slack in it. Then I realize that I double measured it (instead of just one end.) Rip and remeasure. Sew the shortened binding; have a twist in it. Rip and very carefully align it back together. Sew my diagonal line, it lays down perfectly. Sew it to the quilt edge. Now I am hand sewing it to the back. Only me!! Ha!

[Vonnie]

Re: Does this happen to everyone?

I think my record is 3 times ripping out the binding when trying to join the ends!

My last several quilts where I have done binding, I cut the binding at 3 inches. Fold wrong sides together - did not press. Sewed the binding to the back of the quilt with a generous 1/4" to 3/8" seam allowance. Folded it over to the top and stitch it down using my stitch in the ditch foot with the needle moved over to the right (about 1/16" of an inch from edge of binding fold and stitch guide) and stitch it down. Cutting it at 3" gives me enough room that when I stitch it down on the top, I'm not catching the binding in the back (all that thickness) and it looks just like another line of quilting stitches. I don't think my hands could handle hand sewing the binding down around a large quilt.

[Iris Girl]

Re: Does this happen to everyone?

here is a Tut I found that works for me.
QM How-To: Join the Ends of Binding | Quilty Pleasures Blog

[Racing Nana]

Re: Does this happen to everyone?

Am very familiar with the "Royal taking Apart of the Machine" except I sucked the fabric and rats nest of threads in under the feed dogs and back into the bobbin case......heart stopped....I quit breathing.....then used every tool I had in the sewing room.
My baby seemed to not mind until I did the same da_ _ed thing the second time. Took a very long coffee break, broke out the tools and I haven't done it since.
You have to admit, it's one way of getting to know your machine better, but I would recommend the owner's manual. It's less expensive.

[cathym]

Re: Does this happen to everyone?

This makes me feel so much better. I did a placemat a week ago (second in set) and everything went wrong with it! Forgot to add lid (it was a jar quilt) before doing border, FMQ was a mess on the bottom (noted after I finished) and I had to pick it all out, and on it went... I finally got it done but it took a ridiculous amt of time.