Monday, April 18, 2011

uuuugh!!!!

I don't know if I like quilting or not... the quilt that I am trying to finish (for a baby that is already 4 months old !) is not cooperating!!  You know it's bad when your fur baby gives you this look.......


 I don't know what the problem is....could it possibly be the machine...the thread...the quilter-wanna-be... or the interruptions?  I only redid the stitching 3 or 4 times on the SAME block!!! UUGH!!!

~Diana

14 comments:

  1. Sometimes it's a simple problem, like needing a new needle, but often it's just that you are tired and need to put it away and start again when you're not tired!
    When I start having thread problems, I rethread my machine, take the bobbin out and dust out the bobbin case (fuzz can cause problems, too) and only then do I start trying to think of other possible problems - need new needle? need to adjust tension? if my bobbin thread too thick for the upper thread or vice versa?

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  2. Diana....I'm so sorry you're having so many problems! When I FMQ, I always go through my checklist, cuz when I don't, I've always forgotten something! Here it is:

    New needle
    Stitch length put to 0
    Stitch width put to 0
    Foot pressure put to 0
    FEED DOGS DOWN (that's the one I usually forget)

    I usually take out the bobbin, DE-LINT everywhere with a brush (including the bobbin casing), then do a lot of practice lines and curves on a practice sandwich....that's when I adjust the tension, if needed. When I go through all these steps, it usually fixes the problem.

    I hope this helps! Good luck!

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  3. I tried to leave a comment earlier this morning, but it never showed up. I hope you have your problem worked out by now. It's so frustrating when your tools don't cooperate!

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  4. Sometimes it is a simple as changing the needle. Hope you work out your problems. Hugs.

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  5. Good luck. As a never actually quilted a top person I have no advise.

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  6. Sometimes I have days like that too!! Time to go for a long walk in the sunshine :)
    I think you have already received all the good advice you need. Good luck...it is a new day!

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  7. Sometimes my machines work and sometimes they don't. The 0 length and 0 tension do not work for me. Loops up big time on the back. Tried a new needle, re-threading everything, cotton thread, polyester thread, cleaning out the lent, too. The widest stitch length setting and a little tension seem to work best. (Singer and little Babylock machines.) If you find something that works consistently, let me know, I'm game try new things.

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  8. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. It may be tomorrow before I can tackle it again...but as LaDonna and I were talking earlier.....I WILL win! We are both that way so bad that it is ridiculous. Daughter has gone to work and now it's just me and the babies!!! I have to convince them that it is nap time!

    ~Diana

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  9. I have days like that too. That's when it's best for me to just walk away for a bit. But the look on that cats face is priceless!!

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  10. One suggestion I would add to the list (and Diana and I talked about it earlier) is to slow down the movement of the quilt. She's not getting loops everywhere on the back, so that tells me it's not strictly a tension problem. You don't have to move really fast when free motion quilting. You have to find the speed of the needle that you are comfortable with and match that to the movement of the quilt. And that can also depend on the design as to how fast or slow you can go. Once you've been doing it for a bit, you'll recognize the sound your machine makes when you are in that zone.

    LaDonna

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  11. Sorry you are having so much trouble. Do you have a walking foot? Take a deep breath hope everything turns out well.
    Hugs,
    donna

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  12. I blame the cat. You can tell she's putting the hex on you. Of course, we all know cats are evil that way. I know you'll get it in spite of the cat.

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  13. The look on the cat's face is priceless : )

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  14. tiens bizarre nous avons le même chat !!!!!!!!

    allez courage tu vas bientôt finir
    bisous de Régina
    merci pour tes gentils petits mots .......... j'aime beaucoup

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