Simple fix -

 

 

Short version - 

 

"Check the hopping foot height" -

 

I changed the hopping foot to the ruler foot - 

When I loaded my RED Squirrel - 

And that's when I started having "tension" issues - 

 

I adjusted the hopping foot height - 

 

And all is well - ;))

 

 

 

===

 

Feel free to skip this part if you don't want/need to know the details -

Of how I actually figured it out - ;))

 

Long version - 

 

These past few weeks have been SO frustrating - 

 

I have tried everything I can think of to fix my tension issues - 

And my friends have offered several VERY good suggestions - 

 

But nothing seems to have solved the problem -  

 

And BOB and I have had some long conversations -

 

Trying to figure it out -

 

NOTE - for those who don't already know - 

BOB is my alter-ego - Bitchy Old Broad - 

So I'm basically talking to myself - 

Trying to "think it out" - LOL -  

Anyway - 

 

Yesterday the conversation went kinda like this -

 

Me - This isn't FUN anymore - 

BOB - Well it used to be - 

Me - Yeah - but not anymore - 

BOB - What changed? -

Me - I don't know - 

BOB - OK - so what was the last thing you quilted that WAS fun?

Me - Opal KaBloom - THAT was a FUN one - and the stitches looked pretty good -

BOB - Then what did you quilt after that one? -

Me - RED Squirrel - 

BOB - Did you change anything before you started quilting it? - 

Me - Yeah - I changed the foot - 

BOB - Maybe that's your problem - 

Me - Nah - it can't be that - I change the foot all the time on my domestic machine - from the 1/4" foot for piecing - to the zigzag foot when I baste on the zippers - and back to the 1/4" foot - and I have never had tension problems like this - 

BOB - Did you have tension problems on your RED Squirrel? -

Me - I don't think so - I used red thread on the top and the bobbin - so the stitches looked OK - but I think I remember the thread breaking a lot - 

BOB - Did you check the instruction manual for that? -

Me - Yes - I checked everything and thought the tension on the top was too tight -

BOB - OK - then what did you quilt? -

Me - Imperial Bargello - 

BOB - Did you have tension problems on Imperial Bargello?

Me - Yes - I used yellow thread on the top and black on the back - and the black is really loose and looks like it's just laying there - and I see yellow "pokies" - I don't like it at all -

BOB - OK - then what did you quilt? - 

Me - Happy Trails - 

BOB - And? - 

Me - And I had tension problems with that one, too - 

BOB - Then what did you quilt?- 

Me - Then I got the TOWA and began playing with that - 

BOB - And? - 

Me - I finally found the "sweet spot" for the bobbin setting - 185 -

BOB - But - 

Me - But - the bottom thread looks too loose - and when I tighten the top tension - the thread breaks - like I said - this isn't fun anymore - 

BOB - So start over - check the instructions again - maybe you missed something - begin with threading the top - where did you put the laminated sheet for how to thread it? -

Me - In the drawer - here - 

BOB - What does it say? - 

Me - On the top is the diagram for threading it - and I DO have it threaded correctly.  It also has a bottom section -

 

Troubleshooting - If your thread is breaking...

 

1 - Replace your needle if it is bent or burred.

Check - Wanda suggested using a smaller needle -

I replaced the needle - a brand new Size 16 -

Recommended by Grace Co. and Superior Thread for 50 wt thread -

2 - Check the tension - set the bottom tension first -

Check - LindaS recommended getting a TOWA bobbin tension gauge - 

So I got one - the recommended setting is 170-200 - for 50 wt thread -

And it's set at 185 - so that's good -

I tightened the top tension to pull the bobbin thread up a bit - 

 

3 - Check that your machine is threaded correctly - 

Check - 

No problem that I can see - 

 

4 - Check the bobbin case - 

Check - 

No problem that I can see - 

 

5 - Check the hopping foot height - 

 

WAIT!!! - WHAT?!?!?

 

That one is NOT listed in the instruction manual - 

It has -

• Damaged needle
• Incorrect thread tension
• Machine properly threaded
• Stitching in place too long
  
• Bobbin inserted incorrectly
• Debris on tension discs
• Burred bobbin
  
• Needle plate is rubbing needle
  

 

BOB - You DID change the foot didn't you?  Are you SURE you put the new one on correctly?  You have had tension issues ever since - so it makes sense to me.  You may change the foot on your domestic machine all of the time - but you forget that the longarm has a HOPPING foot - and it's NOT the same - what you do or don't do on your domestic machine may or may not work on the longarm. They're like apples and oranges - you're used to apples - and now you have an orange -

Me - If that's what it is - it's an easy fix - but I'm too tired to mess with it now - I'll check it out tomorrow - 

BOB - You KNOW that's it, don't you? - And you know what I'm going to say if it is - 

Me - Yeah - I know - 

BOB - I told you so!!! - LOL!!!

 

And BOB was right - 

 

I adjusted the hopping foot height - 

 

And all is well - ;))

 

 

 

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -