Any idea why this is happening?

[Renata L.]

I quilted this with red bobbin thread, and a gold top thread, almost every time I came to a tip and reversed or stopped midway down a stretch the bobbin thread would pull up. I was using a 90/14 topstitch, switched to an 80/12 and it still happened, changed tension both upper and lower, went faster, went slower, nothing seemed to work. It really seemed wierd when I would stop then start again and it happened. Any ideas why this is happening??

[Renata L.]

When bobbin thread shows on the top, that means either the bobbin thread is too loose (allowing it to rise up too much too easily), or the top thread is too tight (letting the top thread pull the bobbin thread up) too much. It happens in points because of the change of direction changes the tension of that stitch. Same when you stop in the middle of a pass, it's a tiny change of tension. We can't really feel us doing it, but it happens. Esp when you are using threads that are such different values... same color thread top and bobbin hides this so well, we don't notice it happening.

Try loosening the top thread a bit until it doesn't pull the bobbin thread up so much. Unless you are comfortable changing the bobbin tension, keep playing with the top thread, loosening it a bit at a time, and test.

HTH!

[Renata L.]

I did keep adjusting the top tension until it was down to about 1, and tightened the bottom tension as well, it still was happening. I'm wondering if it was just the combo of the threads being 2 different brands. I did another quilt earlier on the weekend, with white on top and navy underneath and didn't have any of that happening at all.

[Rita C.]

Hi Laura,

I feel your pain - my machine does this a lot. I am constantly testing my tension and now I make sure that I have a sandwich of the actual fabrics and batting I am using in the quilt to test on.

Was the gold thread a metallic one? I have found that my machine does not like metallic threads and keeps trying to spit them back out at me. I have tried different needles and different tensions but nothing has worked so far. I was just on the Superior Threads website and noticed that they recommend a topstitch 90/14 needle for their metallic threads and also a tension of 1-2. The other thing that I think that I remember somebody saying somewhere (probably Cindy Needham) was that you should take your tension right down to 0 and start going up in small increments until you reach the desired tension. I think that getting the metallic tension is critical for the machine and if you do succeed in getting it right the make sure to write yourself a note of the tension/thread you used for future reference. Rita.

[Rita C.]

Laura, I have found that rather than different brands, different weights do have a role in this also. I like to keep similar weights in both.

And, since you had no problems before this quilt, then yes, it could just be this particular combo... of thread, fabric, batting, the phase of the moon! LOL

Rita, make sure with metallic thread you are using a smooth bobbin thread... slubs from cotton thread can catch the delicate metal coating and wreak havoc! I like to use either Bottom Line or So Fine, both from Superior with their Metallic on top.

[Rita C.]

Thanks Michelle, I never thought of that! I will stick to my trusty Aurifil from now on.

[Rita C.]

I know the quilt police will get me some day, but was having the same problem for a long time, then did the unspeakable thing. Yes, I touched the bobbin tension. Just slight increments at a time. Place the bobbin in the case in your hand and pull the thread tail. If the bobbin spins without moving the cas, it's too loose. If the hole thing lifts out of your hand without the bobbin moving, it's too tight. The case and bobbin should lift out of your hand and gently fall back into your hand while holding the thread tail. Another thing I did before the bobbin tension was to check my machine settings. I have settings for light, medium and heavy fabrics. That automatically changes tension settings. Good luck, I know how irritating the tensions can be. You think you have it right, then BAM! It all goes out of wack again.

[LINDA T.]

This is what I call directional tension issues....what is causing it is needle deflection due to the change in direction. It makes the timing process of the thread forming the stitch in the batting go off just enough to cause the bobbin thread to come to the top. I always go to a larger needle and it seems to help. The bigger the needle the less needle deflection you get and it does help with this problem. I usually try to have the same color top and bottom to minimize the appearance. Another part of the puzzle is the batting, the thinner the batting the more likely you will see this. It still happens with a thicker batting but you don't see it. One more thing, we often get the whole tension out of whack because we adjust the top and oh well that didn't work so we think it must be the bobbin - so we mess with that and then we mess with the top and then the bobbin and then the top....and all we are doing is recreating the problem over and over again. I have extra bobbin cases for both my DSM and my Longarm - one for skinny slippery threads and one for regular - then once I have those set I just have to tweak the top. LT

[Susan B.]

I love that you long-arm pros are giving us such great information.

A very short bobbin adjustment video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofpWn...C89F1F5C79793A

A longer video on threads needles and tensions, great because it shows different lines of problems and a really good line, and emphasizes getting the bobbin right first.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZBNU...ure=plpp_video

Linda, I like the idea about having two bobbin cases for different threads.

[Hannelore N.]

I learned the hard way that playing with the bobbin tension (I'm a brave girl who sticks her tongue out at the quilt police) can be frustrating. These days I invest in a second bobbin case. It's marked with a little dot of red nail varnish so I don't confuse the two. It means I can return to the 'default' set bobbin any time, but experiment with the other one.

[Hannelore N.]

I quilt on a longarm exclusively and have found that adjusting tension is an everyday thing for me. My machine is simple, its the threads that change. So I try to use combinations of bobbin thread to top thread that experience has shown me will work together well. Adjusting the bobbin tension is always first. I like my bobbin thread on the loose side, but doesn't fall free when I hold the thread. Just eases out when the casing is dropped. Then I adjust the top thread to match. I test on the batting and backing, until I'm comfortable with the stitch, and it doesn't take too much time. I rarely use metallic threads, but when I do I use Superior thread and lower the top tension. I also find I break less thread when I go slower on the metallic threads. Sometimes its hard to slow down, but its more frustrating to rethread my needle, so I try. LOL
PS
Have you tried Filtec glide bobbins. They only work on bobbins that thread clockwise, but I love them.
SUsan

[Donna F.]

i had the reverse problem - thread from top looping on bottom -- tried the top tension adjustments and what worked -- don't know if it was coincidence was the metal bobbin rather than plastic one. it must spin more freely???