Jonick Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 have had a millenium machine for about 5 years. I was so afraid to use it. Even when I took classes in Iowa and at the Houston Quilt Festival. Now I am a beginner, I loaded a quilt and did a meander pattern on it without incident. Feeling confident to attempt a second quilt, I loaded it and started quilting it with a loopy pattern. About one foot down my needle broke. Replaced the needle and went on for a short time and another needle broke. I was in stitch regulator mode and didn't have the quilt very taut. 6 Needles later, I had run out of bobbins. Went to the back of the machine to wind bobbins and noticed that where several of the needles had broken had ripped the backing fabric. I don't know if it is the timing or what. The machine has been maintained and oiled. Before these two quilts I had used a muslin sandwich to practice. The only thing that I did was I dropped the bobbin case on the floor. I feel very intimidated by this machine and was trying to overcome it when all of this happened. I was ready to sell the machine. I now have to rip out all of the quilting done on my macfhine. Any suggestions. All I have ever heard is practice, practice, practice....It is very frustrating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Don't let it win. Give Amy a call and she'll help you figure out what the problem is! I don't know how she does it but even through phone you will feel like she is right there with you! YOU CAN DO THIS! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebsQuiltArt Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Check very carefully that you put the needle in the right way, and that you push it up far enough. I had this problem when I changed my first needle, I put it in backwards and it made a clicking sound with every stitch. The machine still stitches with the needle in wrong, but can hit something in your bobbin area and break. It is tricky to tell...look at the pictures in your manual to help you. Sometimes, you get a bad batch of needles. I once had to use 3 before it stitched okay. Test is by running button thread, back and forth, through the eye opening. This will act like a gentle file. Hope this helps, but don't give up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jhend Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Don't give up, it becomes second nature after awhile. The check list for this: make sure needle is in correctly, grove in front, pushed all the way up in the shaft. Needles don't usually break that much. Keep the faith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 When people first start out they sometimes don't even realize but they are jerking the head...and if you jerk just right and correctly you can snap a needle with the flex action...needle hitting just perfectly on the hook as it goes around. I know you hate the PPP word, we all do, but that and time we all get better. We didn't become perfectionists overnight, and some like me took a couple of years....before we get comfortable in our own skins so to speak, still not a perfectionist, but I do okay for me...and that's all okay as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonick Posted February 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Thanks for all the encouragement and support. Can someone tell me who Amy is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Amy is the tech/repair person at APQS...you call the home office ask for Amy and they will get her for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy Stuart - APQS Service Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Hi jonick This is Christy in the Service Dept here at APQS i have e-mailed you a file and our Phone # please feel free to call us and we can walk you through it Thank you Christy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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