How to Keep Your Lines Consistent While Free Motion Quilting

[LEGGETT456]

Thanks, I am trying quilting after giving it up years ago. I got up the nerve to do free motion machine quilting instead of by hand.....and I get bird-nesting. So now I am watching videos AGAIN! lol I have rethreaded, adjusted tensions....now I will try using the same thread as you have suggested....you may have just saved my quilting adventure.......

[JC369963]

Hello Leah, I love all your clips about fmq. Thank you for sharing your techniques. I'm using a Janome J820 sewing machine. I don't know what seems to be the problem. When I fmq, the top looks ok, but the bottom thread do not form stitches they should. They are "loose". Can you suggest how this happens and ways to avoid this again? I hope I'm making myself clear. Thank you. ^^

[lcvday]

Hmmm...This definitely sounds like a tension issue.

Have you tried adjusting the tension on the top thread and then quilting? After trying that, try adjusting your tension on the bobbin.

If THAT doesn't work, try changing thread. Not all threads are made equally and trying Isacord or Mettler or YLI might change things.

I always use the same thread in the top as in the bobbin and I always match color too. Thread can vary in weight and this can throw off tension.

I hope this helps!

Leah

[southerncrafts]

that is really beautiful! Can you please tell me, what kind of sandwich you use for your machine quilting? Your batting looks really thick, do you ever use flannel? What kind of machine do you use for Machine Quilting?? thanks!

:)

[lcvday]

Thanks!

In this demo, I believe I was using some scrap 100% cotton batting. It does look thick and I probably wouldn't use this on a big quilt

Typically I use Quilter's Dream Poly or Cotton in the request thickness (the thinnest they make). It makes the quilt much easier to quilt when the batting is very thin.

I quilt on a Juki TL-98 QE. It's a higher powered sewing machine with a longer throat plate (8.5 inches). I have modified the darning foot, but otherwise I really love this machine.