Can't Machine Quilt...Why Does Machine Skip?

[speckledhen]

Set your stitch length pretty close to zero and up your tension, see what that does. With my machine, being computerized, I set it to a certain straight stitch where it puts the needle position in the center and it automatically sets stitch length and width, but lets me tweak it a tiny bit. Most of the time, my length is set to 2 mm or so. This machine won't allow a zero stitch length like most people suggest.

I quit having thread breaks when I changed thread to a better one than Coats & Clark for the FM stuff. Getting the right combination of tension and decent thread seemed to fix the skipped stitches, in addition to learning to push the fabric in time with the timing of the machine. Long stitches mean you are pushing it too fast for the machine speed, super tight, short stitches mean you are not moving fast enough for whatever speed the machine is going at the time. And I tend to speed up in the curves, trying to stop doing that as much. I swear, it's like juggling and keeping all the balls in the air at once, LOL.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Set your stitch length pretty close to zero and up your tension, see what that does. With my machine, being computerized, I set it to a certain straight stitch where it puts the needle position in the center and it automatically sets stitch length and width, but lets me tweak it a tiny bit. Most of the time, my length is set to 2 mm or so. This machine won't allow a zero stitch length like most people suggest.

I quit having thread breaks when I changed thread to a better one than Coats & Clark for the FM stuff. Getting the right combination of tension and decent thread seemed to fix the skipped stitches, in addition to learning to push the fabric in time with the timing of the machine. Long stitches mean you are pushing it too fast for the machine speed, super tight, short stitches mean you are not moving fast enough for whatever speed the machine is going at the time. And I tend to speed up in the curves, trying to stop doing that as much. I swear, it's like juggling and keeping all the balls in the air at once, LOL.

Well, I didn't get this until just now and it would have helped me so much!! But, I already did it!!!

Next time I will get better thread. I had my stitch length on 2. It worked ok at this setting. And you described it to a tee!! Just like juggling!!! I get to much speed on my machine, and then I have to stop concentrating on sewing to think, ok let up on pedal, and the more I did it, the more I would remember the pedal. But I still go to fast, or to slow. Like you, on curves especially. My straight lines look pretty good, but I did a rustic looking straight up, curve around and down, curve, and back up. Then I did the same across. I'm doing a mug rug swap on another thread, this is for it. It's a secret who has my name. My recipient doesn't know I have her name and so forth, so I won't post a pic until she receives it. I should have it ready to send out on Monday. Thanks for the tips! I wish I had time to make some more mug rugs, but I'm already behind on so many things around here, and my summer is going to get really busy starting next week. Whew!!! It will fly by, just like every summer!! But now that I know what I'm doing some what, maybe I can sneak one or two mug rugs in. I really enjoyed making and designing this one.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Though I have 30 years of hand quilting experience and am very proficient at it, machine quilting is an entirely different animal, especially when you're not great at using a machine in the first place like me. This will take loads of practice. One tip that helped me was to watch where your path is going, not where the needle is going into the fabric. It did make it much easier and the result much better. But you're good at using a machine already so you might already have that down.

When your swap is over, post a picture of your mug rug! I make mug mats myself, but they dont really require much actual quilting, like these we sell at Blue Roo Creations:








I did these hand quilted place mats as a gift for my friend's elderly neighbor in Kentucky.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Though I have 30 years of hand quilting experience and am very proficient at it, machine quilting is an entirely different animal, especially when you're not great at using a machine in the first place like me. This will take loads of practice. One tip that helped me was to watch where your path is going, not where the needle is going into the fabric. It did make it much easier and the result much better. But you're good at using a machine already so you might already have that down.

When your swap is over, post a picture of your mug rug! I make mug mats myself, but they dont really require much actual quilting, like these we sell at Blue Roo Creations:








I did these hand quilted place mats as a gift for my friend's elderly neighbor in Kentucky.

Very Cute!!! They are so pretty! I love the fabrics!

 

[speckledhen]

Quote: Thanks.

I checked Juki and Brother dealers and the closest Juki dealer (also deals Brother) is in Knoxville, TN, two hours north of me. The closest Brother dealer is in Chattanooga, an hour and a half northwest of me. So, if I want either of those, I'd have to drive a "fur piece" to get one and expect warranty service, again driving quite a ways. If I buy online, I am stuck with having to pay for any service performed on them. I do not want a Janome because they don't have what I want in that brand. I don't want to spend the $$ for a Babylock straight stitch machine, though I can get one locally. What if the one shop that deals in them closes down? I'm back to the driving hours for service issue, if I can find anyone who does it at all.

I found two slightly used Brother 1500 quilting straight stitch machines on Ebay for $400, plus about $50 shipping, but of course, they are individuals and you never know how they'll pack them. Still, that is, even with shipping about $150 less than the best price I've seen online, but again, no warranty on those.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Thanks.

I checked Juki and Brother dealers and the closest Juki dealer (also deals Brother) is in Knoxville, TN, two hours north of me. The closest Brother dealer is in Chattanooga, an hour and a half northwest of me. So, if I want either of those, I'd have to drive a "fur piece" to get one and expect warranty service, again driving quite a ways. If I buy online, I am stuck with having to pay for any service performed on them. I do not want a Janome because they don't have what I want in that brand. I don't want to spend the $$ for a Babylock straight stitch machine, though I can get one locally. What if the one shop that deals in them closes down? I'm back to the driving hours for service issue, if I can find anyone who does it at all.

I found two slightly used Brother 1500 quilting straight stitch machines on Ebay for $400, plus about $50 shipping, but of course, they are individuals and you never know how they'll pack them. Still, that is, even with shipping about $150 less than the best price I've seen online, but again, no warranty on those.

We live anywhere from 1 to 2 hrs from any major city. Cincinnati to the west, Dayton to the nw, and Columbus to the ne. I took my old machine to a place about 1 1/2 hrs one way, to be serviced, so going a fur piece to getting anything, is normal for us.

I'm not to much for buying used off of the internet. I'm always afraid I will get taken. It's hard to know what condition the merchandise is in. Most people are honest but I know of those who also have gotten taken. I think the warranty is a valuable thing to have when buying a high ticket item. Those are great prices though. A hard decision!

 

[speckledhen]

We live anywhere from 1 to 2 hrs from any major city. Cincinnati to the west, Dayton to the nw, and Columbus to the ne. I took my old machine to a place about 1 1/2 hrs one way, to be serviced, so going a fur piece to getting anything, is normal for us.

I'm not to much for buying used off of the internet. I'm always afraid I will get taken. It's hard to know what condition the merchandise is in. Most people are honest but I know of those who also have gotten taken. I think the warranty is a valuable thing to have when buying a high ticket item. Those are great prices though. A hard decision!

We lived in Dayton for almost 12 years, even owned a house there. It was the worst weather of any place we lived, but we might have stayed when DH retired had he not been sent back to Utah a second time for the last two years of his service.

I may just have to bite the bullet and make a day trip to either Chattanooga or Knoxville to try out the machines. I want to actually get my hands on both of them before making a decision. I'll take some ready made up quilt sandwiches to do the testing. I'd like to have closer to the whole amount ready-saved before I go, though, so I can buy on the spot if I am impressed enough. I have about half the amount for the Juki, almost the entire amount for the Brother, but I think I want to buy a basic table for it as well, another at least $100-200, depending on how fancy it gets and what kind of deal someone is willing to make for me.

 

[speckledhen]

Picked up some super deals on fabric at WalMart today. Except for the two on the far right, which were full price of $4.97/yd and I got only 1/2 yd of each of those, the others went from $2/yd to $3/yd, a real bargain. Bought mostly for the fall quilt I'm currently designing as I go. The brighter oranges will be used on a different project.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Hey! Let me know how the machine trip goes. And nice fabric! Good deals. Always like those!

 

[roseyred]

I made the mistake of deciding to make a puff quilt with alpaca fur...... King size....like over 1200 quares..and the top puff part needs to be pinned and sewn then stuffed then attached......it's 25 squares per row and I've only done 3 rows...since December last year. Lol. NEVER making a puff quilt again... It's is cute thio.