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Machine Quilting Thread Shreds, Then Breaks

by Kathy
(Kansas City, MO)

The top thread breaks. An inspection of the broken end of the thread shows that one of the thread strands have broken and bunched up while remaining strands stayed threaded through the needle for a short time before breaking. Why is this happening?

Reply

It sounds like your thread is shredding.

It's a really frustrating problem, but there are a number of possible reasons for what's causing the problem.

Remember, after each adjustment, test on a quilt sandwich made from the fabrics in your quilt.

  1. Re-thread your sewing machine. If that's the problem, it was a simple fix.

  2. Insert a new needle. Needles are the root cause of a number of sewing machine problems. It's easy to check, just change to a new, fresh out of the pack needle. An imperfection in the needle eye could be causing the thread to shred.

  3. Use a quality thread. Make sure it's not the thread, itself. The major thread manufacturers do a good job and in the scheme of things, the cost of thread just doesn't add that much to the cost of a quilt.

  4. Use the proper spool pin. If you're using a cone of thread, make sure you're using a separate metal thread stand. Thread on cones is meant to be pulled up and off the spool from the top. A metal thread stand does just that.

    Conversely, spools of thread that are wound straight onto the spool (the strands of thread will look like they are stacked one on top of each other--not crossed)should be used on the vertical spool pin on your sewing machine. That is how they are intended unwind off the spool.

  5. Check the needle thread tension. Look at the stitches you've already put into your quilt sandwich.

    Does any bobbin thread show on the top? That is the sign that the needle thread is too tight. To reduce tension, reduce the tension setting number or turn the knob to the left (remember 'lefty-loosey', 'righty-tighty'). Most tension adjustments can be made with the needle tension alone.

  6. Check the thread path to make sure that your thread isn't catching on something. Thread will sometimes wrap itself around the spool pin or uptake lever of your sewing machine, increasing the needle tension until the thread snaps.

    Are you using a spool with a notch in one end? If you are using a horizontal spool pin, make sure the notched end of the spool is to the right so that the thread doesn't catch on it.

  7. Increase the needle size for higher thread count fabrics. Are you using a batik or other high thread count fabric? Increased thread count creates more friction as the thread passes through the quilt sandwich. This rubbing may fray the thread.

    Switch to a larger needle of the same type (i.e. if you're using a Microtex Sharp 80/12, switch to a Microtext Sharp 90/14).

    You want a needle just large enough to get the thread through the fabric without breaking, but not so large as to leave unsightly holes.

  8. Finally, check your throat plate for burrs. These are little nicks that happen when the needle hits the throat plate instead of going through the hole...like when we accidentally sew over and hit a pin. Or during free motion quilting when the quilt sandwich is pulled too fast and hard and pulls the needle out of position so it hits the plate.

    If it's a burr, you might be able to rub the burr out with Crocus cloth, but I don't have any of that sitting around. (It's a cloth used for sanding on fine parts.) I bet you don't either.

    If you can't saw out the burr, then you'll need to replace your throat plate. I use both a straight stitch and a zig zag stitch version for different quilting applications, so I've always got an extra one handy and I can identify if it's a burr.

    If you're free motion quilting and your thread breaks always when quilting in one particular direction, there's a good probability that it's a burr.

If after all this, your thread is still breaking, it's time for a visit to your sewing machine dealer for a check up.

One year at Christmas, I was making quilts for everyone in the family and, of course, started after Thanksgiving.

As I would pull the stitched pieces out from under the needle to cut the threads, I wasn't raising the needle uptake arm to its highest position (and thereby opening the tension disks). Because there was tension on the thread as I pulled it out, it wore a groove into the bobbin mechanism that interrupted the flow of thread. It caused my thread to keep breaking. It was a simple repair job and took just a few of days. But REALLY bad timing.

The moral of my problem...just remember to have your uptake arm in the highest position when you are pulling on the thread in any way!

I hope one of these suggestions fixes your problem.

Let us know how it goes.

Piecefully,

Julie Baird
Editor

Comments for Machine Quilting Thread Shreds, Then Breaks

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Shredded thread
by: Anonymous

Hi
I have a Janome 7700 and the solution to the shredded thread was the size of the thread holder disk was too big. It stopped the problem when I put a smaller one on.

From the Editor: Good to know. Thanks for sharing this!

Piecefully,

Julie

Thread Shredding
by: Terri

I have a story to tell.

I had a quilt to quilt for someone else, and I had just purchased some Omni thread as it came highly recommended by someone I respect and follow online.

I started stitching the quilt, and the thread shredded within a few stitches. It appeared to be shredding at the needle. I have encountered this in the past a few times, but I thought I was past it. I tried several times, with no luck. In fact, I spent most of the day (many hours) trying to resolve the issue and get the quilt quilted.

In 8 hours I managed to quilt an 8-inch strip about 36 inches long!

I researched it online. I did everything people suggested.

I changed to a different-sized needle. In fact, I tried 7 different sizes of needles from a popular manufacturer. I tried quilting needles, universal needles, sharp, ballpoint, you name it.

I thought it might be the thread since I had never used Omni before, but other threads did the same thing.

I finally determined that the quilter had used a backing that was similar to sheeting. I tried stitching a sandwich that was made from regular quilt cotton, and it stitched with no problem. I contacted her and said I didn't think I could do her quilt but I would try one more thing. Since the fabric was so densely woven, I tried a size 10 needle. It didn't work either. I tried a Superior topstitch needle.

Nope.

One last thing... My machine is a Juki, and I received a pack of Organ needles with my machine. I put in a 12/80 HA needle. Voila! No shredding.

I mean NO SHREDDING.

The thread never broke one time through the quilting of the whole quilt. What a learning experience!

I guess Organ needles are included for a reason!


From the Editor: So many valuable lessons shared here, Terri. Thank you so much for writing!

Piecefully,

Julie B

Thank you! Burrs no more
by: Anonymous

I have been struggling to free motion quilt a small quilt, top thread fraying/breaking very often.

Followed your advice- didn't realize about the burrs, used thin strips of very fine abrasive paper to remove burrs, gave the machine a good clean while I had the plate off, and of course changed the needle.

All good now.

Thanks

From the Editor: You are most welcome.

~ Julie

Top thread breaks in upward direction
by: Margaret

Hi when free motioning in straight up direction (away from me) the needle will hit the top thread and then thread starts to shred. Took me a long time to figure this out. NOW, how do I fix this issue?

Soooo frustrated
by: Anonymous

I just bought a Janome 8900. It pieces like a dream but lots of problems with thread breakage and the new foot not liking the seams. Literally makes a noise going through a seam and the thread breaks.

I've been FMQ for years and I am disappointed in this machine. I have tried all the FMQ that come with it and have ended up using the closed plastic foot. Still not the greatest and the thread still breaks. I want to bond with my machine and be able to have the confidence I used to have while FMQ.

Can you help. The plastic foot option does not leave a lot of wiggle room for space between the foot and the fabric....that is an issue to. I seem like I'm fighting to move the quilt...very hard on your shoulders.

Thanks to anyone who can shed light on this. My dealer says maybe I should press my seams open to avoid bulky seams. What do you think of this?

From the Editor: Is there a 'pressure' adjustment for the presser foot. That could address the little to no room between the foot and bed of the machine. Your manual should give some direction as to the proper setting if you have that feature.

I'm not liking the 'press your seams open' to reduce bulk from the dealer.

While I do press a lot of my seams open to reduce bulk, that shouldn't be the cause for working with quilting cottons. That seems like a red herring to me.

I wish I could be of more help, but I'm a Viking/Juki user. I'm hoping someone with Janome experience may be able to solve your problem. I'm sure you're not the only one with it.

Piecefully,

Julie


Thread breaking
by: cyndy

I am working on a batik so I am going to change the needle to a larger one and see how that works. Thank you.

A great book on Long Arm Machine Quilting
by: Ann

This book is sooo great. Its a complete guide to choosing, using and maintaining a long arm machine, but has so much more in it about threads, designs, and I use it for my midarm on my table and my long arm on my frame. It is so useful to me with both machines. Its written by Carol A. Thelen

breaking thread
by: Pennie

I had this problem and was getting very frustrated. I tried all the suggestions from here and other sources and the situation didn't improve. Finally, with a What The Heck attitude, I put in a JEANS needle and the problem is solved! The needle holes aren't too bad. I hope washing will tighten them up a bit.

Possible Discovery for This Issue!
by: Anonymous

I have a Janome 6600P and have been using it to FMQ for about two and a half years. I've just had a very frustrating few hours of FMQ and have finally figured out what is causing this issue! The thread shreds and breaks now and then (sometimes often enough to make me want to get rid of the machine!), and I find that it is all about what direction I'm moving the quilt sandwich, rather than a needle, tension or thread issue. It's ME!

If I'm pushing the quilt sandwich away from myself and the machine is being asked to "sew backwards", and in my case, specifically to the left and backward at the same time, the needle appears to come down on the thread which causes it to shred. The next up/down motion of the needle creates more shredding, thereby tangling the thread and needle.

The biggest problem is that once you're "in motion" it's difficult to remember to turn the quilt.

From the Editor: I had that same problem several years ago right as I was trying to get Christmas quilts finished.

The thread would break if I quilted to the left. Always.

I took it in and it turned out that I'd worn a grove into the bobbin case from pulling my thread away from the machine while it was still attached to the patches I'd just sewn. The tension disks were still engaged and the stress wore a groove. Could of blown me over with a feather on that one. The thread, in that one direction, would hit the groove and then break.

If you have a spare bobbin case, give it a try and see if the problem doesn't stop for all directions.

The other thing to check for is a burr in the throat plate. Again, if you've got an extra one, swap them and see if that makes a difference. The thread can catch on that burr and it does the same thing.

Since the machine has been fine for free motion quilting for so long, I suspect that something has changed. It doesn't take much for things to go ker-flooey!

I hope this helps.

~ Julie Baird

Top thread breaks after stitching
by: Anonymous

My machine top thread breaks almost every time after I have finished stitching one patch. i.e. at end of the cloth. I have taken it to the mechanic as well. He tried changing several parts but to no effect.

Hope I'm able to make sense...

From the Editor: If it is always at the end of a patch where the machine begins stitching on nothing, I wonder if using a 'spider'—a little piece of fabric that you start and end your stitching on will help.

This is what mine looks like after I've used it awhile (and shows why I call it a spider).


A spider is a piece of scrap cloth used to start and stop your stitching on


I'd give it a try and see if it helps. I am quite surprised that your mechanic let it leave the shop still with the problem.

Piecefully,

Julie Baird

Pioneer Mountain ma'am
by: Anonymous

I had struggled for several days with my old domestic Singer Merritt.

I read that if you can't lower the feed dogs, TAKE THEM OUT!

I DID, and also changed to poly embroidery thread. It worked perfect!

I FMQ quilted a baby quilt, flannel, front and back, in less than half an hour. Loopty loos, circles round and rounds, and my old Merritt Singer never skipped a stitch, nor had any trouble with the top thread frazzling!

Now I will keep this machine specifically for FMQ or use it with my John Flynn Multi-Frame.

From the Editor: I would have never thought of that! Thank you so much for sharing.

To my readers, check your instruction manuals (especially on older machines) to see if this will work for you!

Thanks again! I'm so glad you were able to get to the quilting and have some fun!

~ Julie

Breaking Thread
by: Sandra

Fantastic!

I have been trying for days to resolve this issue, I shall't cover all the various permutations and combinations I had tried but it felt like hundreds. Putting the thread onto the vertical spool holder worked a treat. I knew it was tension somewhere along the way and of course it is obvious now that the direction the thread is coming off the spool would affect the tension but I just hadn't thought of this.

Thank you so much.

I have done some FMQ before but this was the first time on a frame.

thread breaking
by: virginia

Hi Julie

Thanks for the help on thread breaking, that fixed the problem for today, just know I'll be back. Do you have a book on quick-fix /longarm machine, some days I would like to put it on the side of the road.

Thanks

Virginia

From the Editor: You're welcome, Virginia! I wish I could recommend a good quick fix book, but since I don't long arm I'm not qualified to do so. I'm hoping maybe some of the long armers will leave their suggestions!

~Julie

Thank you!
by: Barbie

I was working on a Batik Quilt and couldn't figure out why my thread was breaking so much. I found this post through Google and tried a larger needle. It worked! My thread didn't break a single time after switching needles. I really appreciate this post!

From the Editor: I'm glad it was helpful! Thanks for letting me know.

~ Julie Baird

Multi user thread breaking
by: Sue

We have a long arm quilting machine that is being used by a group of people. Some of us have little or no problem with thread breakage while others experience severe problems (every 3-4 inches). In general it is the trainees who experience the problems. We have had the "no problem people" work through the setup process with the trainees and still they have problems. We have gone through all the standard fixes, rethread, new needle, check tension, new thread, all to no avail. Frequently the "no problem" individual will use the machine right after the trainees, only changing the quilt and the thread with no problems. What is going on? We want the machine to be available tp the entire group.


Note from the Editor: Sue, your question really deserves its own page, and I have given it one here:

https://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/thread-breakage-problem-on-a-long-arm-quilting-machine-with-multiple-users.html. There are several responses from long arm quilters that may help you!~Julie

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