CWBowser Posted March 26, 2009 Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Thank you Dawn. I really could use the help with the specialty threads. I also look forward to being in your breakfast class at MQX to hear more about tension solutions. Charlotte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnCavanaugh Posted March 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Pam, Yes, the same issues apply to George as they do to the longarm machines, with one major difference. Since George sits in a cabinet, the direction you move the fabric will have a greater impact on the stitch quality. For George, the stitch will look the best when you PUSH the fabric through the machine toward the back of the cabinet (that's the same as us stand-up quilters moving the machine to the right.) That part will be familiar to you, since that's the way we are all accustomed to piecing--the fabric moves through George the same way. Now the next part is the tricky part for you. If you used a domestic machine to machine quilt before you bought George, chances are that you shoved the bulk of the quilt inside the machine's throat, and quilted by moving the fabric to the LEFT and out of the throat. With George, your stitch will look best moving the fabric to the RIGHT and into the throat. That motion is the same as a stand up quilter moving the machine toward her. So you'll see the biggest change in tension when you're moving the fabric toward you and out of the throat. Needle size is especially important with George, because you regulate the stitch length by your motion. With thread like King Tut or other sturdy cottons, try a 4.5 size needle. FYI...for a while the George machines were sent out with 3.5 needles; check your stash. If you are having tension problems, order some 4.0 and 4.5 needles to reduce the flex. For the quilt you're doing right now, I'd wager that you're having a tougher time getting the YLI to pull up into the quilt layers. A bigger needle may be needed to make the hole large enough for the thicker YLI to pull up. Let me know how it's going! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnCavanaugh Posted March 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Charlotte, Are there particular specialty threads you're having trouble with? (If you let me know I can be prepared to meet you at MQX ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnCavanaugh Posted March 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2009 Susan, You asked what would happen if the bobbin tension was too loose...great question! The first thing you'd notice would be little bumps of bobbin thread up on top of the quilt. You'd have the "railroad tracks" on the top instead of the back of the quilt. However, it's much harder to get railroad tracks on the top, simply because of the way the stitch is formed in the hook area (but it's not impossible!) A "too loose" bobbin can also cause sloppy stitches at starts and stops, because the bobbin thread doesn't have any resistance on it as you try to lock the stitches in place. It's always a good idea to check under the flat "tension finger" that wraps around the bobbin case on the outside (it's that piece of metal that you slide the thread under before it exits the case). Tiny thread shavings and lint can build up under that finger when you least expect it, especially if you use cotton thread in the bobbin. Suddenly the tension goes whacky on the quilt and you wonder why! To clean under that finger, some quilters "floss" under it with another piece of thread. Others slide the corner of a business card underneath and work out any lint balls. I take one of my fine flower head pins and lay it parallel to the outer edge of the case, and slide it in near the rear of the tension finger (where it's screwed on to the case) and gently slide it toward the hole where the thread exits. Sometimes I have huge dust bunnies stuck under that tension finger. Whatever method you use, just be gentle and take care to not "pry up" on the flat tension finger, or you could bend it out of shape. It's also a good idea to have a back up bobbin case . Hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnCavanaugh Posted March 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Bringing this back up to the top for Pam, Charlotte, and Susan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBQLTN2 Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Dawn Did I read correctly that you have a special breakfast lecture. did i miss that? Is it a special event or a class? maybe I need to go back and check again, what day was that anyway. I could really use more help with tension problems. Hope to see you there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBQLTN2 Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 oh darn, never mind. I see it is sold out that is why! boo hoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnCavanaugh Posted March 27, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Jeanne, Sorry you'll miss it! I just knew it was from 8-9...do they feed us, too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 I'm in the class with Charlotte. I sure hope they at least have coffee! Dawn won't be thrilled to see me yawn through the whole class. I doubt that I'll continue on my exercise routine which would be that I would be in the gym at 6 am and wide awake by 8! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWBowser Posted March 27, 2009 Report Share Posted March 27, 2009 Dawn, I need help with Rainbows and metallics. If there are any tricks I would sure like to know about them. I guess I need permission to mess with the tension, which your article gave me. But I would like to see you demo with some of these threads if possible. Thank you for asking. The class sound like it is something I will be able to take away a lot of good information. I appreciate you offering it!! Charlotte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgia Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 Ditto!! I need help with Rainbows and Metallics also. Rainbows is beautiful and I would love to use it, but have had no success so far. I would love to add a little metallic now and then for a little bling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nora123 Posted March 28, 2009 Report Share Posted March 28, 2009 All I can say is WOW!!! what a great help your advice made in my tension Dawn. That is why I come here for support and friendship. Keep the good advice coming. Nora Millennium Washougal WA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grammie Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Dawn thanks for the info. Any chance the APQS crew would put your wonderful articles in pdf print format or another. It would be nice to keep the tips in my info collection I keep without having to print all the color stuff from the website each time. Just a thought. Hugs and thanks again Grammie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnCavanaugh Posted March 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 Grammie, Good idea! I'll see what I can do! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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