machine quilting

[kathye]

This is my first try at machine quilting. I have lots of practice pieces made, but I am having a lot of trouble with the thread looping on the bottom. I seem to have trouble moving the fabric smoothly. Will gloves help?

[bubba]

Re: machine quilting

Yes!!! Gloves will make an enormous difference! I prefer the Machingers brand the best.

[cathym]

Re: machine quilting

In a quilting class I recently took, the teacher brought latex gloves for us from the dollar store. They worked great. She said the vinyl don't work as well. She also brought the nonslip shelf paper cut in small squares but I preferred the latex. I've had a pair of machinger gloves but mine didn't fit real well, so I'm not sure I'm a good judge of those.

I took the class because of the same problem you're having though I'd done a bit on FMQ in the past without much problem. It was making me nuts so I sympathize. Mine turned out to be an intermittent problem with the machine tension discs but I spent a lot of time trying to get it to work. A good lesson that it's not always us. : )
However, because of I was having a problem, I asked the instructor and shop owner for trouble shooting tips. The said to use the same weight thread in the top and bobbin and to use 40, 50 or 60 weight thread. Also to make sure the quilt is supported so that the weight of the quilt isn't causing tension problems.

Good luck!

[ljcreates]

Re: machine quilting

I'm having trouble as well...but my problem is that when I get the tension right so the bobbin thread doesn't show on top of my quilt, the top thread is showing on the back. I can not seem to get it just right. I really want to use different color thread for the bobbin and top. It's the same brand, same weight...I just can't work out this tension issue!

[rebeccas-sewing]

Re: machine quilting

Machingers are definitely the gloves I like the best. I like that they breathe and my hands don't get sweaty.

[Annav]

Re: machine quilting

I'm having trouble as well...but my problem is that when I get the tension right so the bobbin thread doesn't show on top of my quilt, the top thread is showing on the back. I can not seem to get it just right. I really want to use different color thread for the bobbin and top. It's the same brand, same weight...I just can't work out this tension issue!

You will never get the tension adjusted so that you won't see a peek of the thread fromt he other side when using different color thread because of the way machines sew. I don't recommend using different colors on top and bottom except for practice so you can adjust your tension and see which one is causing the problem.

I do agree on use of gloves. I've never tried using latex, but my hands always get really sweaty in latex gloves, so I am not sure I would like that. My machingers are great, they breathe, and I never FMQ without them. I can tell a definite difference! I have seen some folks using gardening gloves -- the kind that have the rubber tips on the palms. Same principle as the machingers, and possibly cheaper. But the machingers are only $8 or $9 so they really aren't expensive.

[DeniseSm]

Re: machine quilting

Yes gloves will help. I love my Machinger gloves. Machinger gloves are now available at Joanns so you can use a coupon and get them even cheaper. The other two things you really need to get your fabric to move smoothly is for the machine to be recessed so the weight of the quilt is supported over a large area (at least a 18" x 24" extension area) and a low friction surface such as the the Sew Slip SewSlip - The ultimate slippery surface for free motion sewing and free motion machine quilting! It's not a drag! It's drag free! or the more expensive Supreme Slider.

On the thread looping on the bottom, does it always happen with exactly the same movement? For example does it only happen when you are moving in a circular movement going counterclockwise in one particular area or maybe moving straight sidewise from right to left? If it only happens with one movement that is an indication that you need to adjust your hand speed. For example I always slow down a little bit when doing curves.

Just keep practicing and you will get better. Honest

[pcbatiks]

Re: machine quilting

Definitely yes.........the machingers are great!

[BellasQuilts]

Re: machine quilting

Must haves are gloves, I have the purple ones with little sticky pads on them, and SewSlip!

[Claire Hallman]

Re: machine quilting

Definitely yes.........the machingers are great!

I agree and the very best thing about them is that they fit either hand, if you put them down and then pick them up again you don't have to fiddle around to put the right one on the right hand, they go either way.

[ljcreates]

Re: machine quilting

[QUOTE=Annav;503947]You will never get the tension adjusted so that you won't see a peek of the thread fromt he other side when using different color thread because of the way machines sew. I don't recommend using different colors on top and bottom except for practice so you can adjust your tension and see which one is causing the problem.

Well, at least I know it isn't just me! I was hoping to use different colors so that I could match the thread to the fabric, and it would show my mistakes les... I guess I will have to rethink what I am doing.

[DeniseSm]

Re: machine quilting

I agree and the very best thing about them is that they fit either hand, if you put them down and then pick them up again you don't have to fiddle around to put the right one on the right hand, they go either way.

When one side of the fingers get too dirty, I wear them on the other hand, so the clean side is now touching the fabric. That way I don't have to clean the gloves as often.

[Claire Hallman]

Re: machine quilting

When one side of the fingers get too dirty, I wear them on the other hand, so the clean side is now touching the fabric. That way I don't have to clean the gloves as often.

I was figuring that was dye from the fabric rather than dirt. How do you clean them?

[DeniseSm]

Re: machine quilting

How do you clean them?

I learned this method from Leah Day. I put the gloves on my hands and wash my hands with the gloves on with foaming hand soap. Rinse under running water with the gloves still on my hands. Take the gloves off my hands and hang to dry.

[Bababoo]

Re: machine quilting

I've found that by increasing the tension to 7 or 8 it stops the bottom thread from looping and my stitching looks the same on the back as the front/top. Hope this helps.