I am machine quilting a quilt that has a cotton top and cotton batting, with a flannel backing. The first thing I did was SITD (stitch in the ditch) to stabilize the quilt. I used 50 wt cotton thread from Connecting threads. I have a BabyLock "Quilter's Choice", and had my tension set at 5.0. No problems, quilting went well.
I then switched to YLI 40 wt thread on the top, still the 50wt Connecting Threads on the bottom. (Changed the needle from #80 to #90). I also switched from a walking foot to a FMQ (darning) foot. I was surprised to find that I needed another tension adjustment! I had to take my tension from 5.0 to 6.0! Even though I am using the FMQ foot, I am still straight stitching. I use the FMQ foot so that I can straight stitch to the left, right, and backwards instead of having to completely move around the quilt to straight stitch with a walking foot.
I am in my 6th year of quilting, my 4th year of FMQ. I was really surprised to see how different the tension was in this situation. I don't know if it was the difference in the thread, or the difference in the method of quilting - or a combination of both. I am still learning!
I then switched to YLI 40 wt thread on the top, still the 50wt Connecting Threads on the bottom. (Changed the needle from #80 to #90). I also switched from a walking foot to a FMQ (darning) foot. I was surprised to find that I needed another tension adjustment! I had to take my tension from 5.0 to 6.0! Even though I am using the FMQ foot, I am still straight stitching. I use the FMQ foot so that I can straight stitch to the left, right, and backwards instead of having to completely move around the quilt to straight stitch with a walking foot.
I am in my 6th year of quilting, my 4th year of FMQ. I was really surprised to see how different the tension was in this situation. I don't know if it was the difference in the thread, or the difference in the method of quilting - or a combination of both. I am still learning!
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