My thread is breaking

by Jacque
(Grants Pass, OR)

Why is my top thread breaking all the time...my machine is on free motion quilting, all threaded correctly...and also the back side gets in a tangled mess...can you help?

Thanks.

Reply

The tangled threads on the backside is a big, big clue. When that happens it's a sign that there's not enough tension on the thread.

If you're not sure which thread is making the mess on the backside, use a bobbin of one color and the needle of another color...but both of the same kind of thread. That will quickly tell you which one is making the mess.

If it's a needle thread issue...

Check first to see if you've put the presser foot in the down position.

It's easy to miss when you're free motion quilting because when the presser foot lever is in the down position, the presser foot doesn't sit all the way down on the quilt sandwich.

Only when you put the presser foot lever down, do you engage/close the tension disks. Closing the disks is what applies the tension to the thread.

If this doesn't work, double check that the thread is properly seated in the uptake lever. Mine pops out on my sewing machine every once in awhile and the stitching looks like a bird's nest on the back when it happens...just like you describe.

If it's a bobbin thread issue...

Make sure that the bobbin is snugly wound.

Then try flossing the tension spring of the bobbin case with a piece of thread. If a piece of thread or lint is caught in the bobbin case's tension spring, it will hold the spring open and not allow enough tension to be added to the bobbin thread.

I hope one of these suggestions works for you. Let me know how it goes.

Piecefully,

Julie Baird
Editor

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