Buttonflower Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Hello Everybody! I've been hooked on reading this forum for years and now that I finally have my Freedom set up I thought I'd better join because I'm sure to have lots of questions as a new longarm quilter. First question: I have a lot of Metro thread with which I had no trouble on my old short arm machine, but I haven't been able to run it without breakage & problems on M'arly (my Harley). The thread is fraying at the needle & breaking, but also leaving intermittent loopies on the bottom. It is the top thread that is making the loopies. Any advice on how to tweak a Freedom when using Metro top & bottom? Buttonflower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindasewsit Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Hi Buttonflower! (love your name!) Welcome! Glad you joined us!! Sorry, I can't help you with your thread problem, but I'm glad you're here! linda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IBQLTN2 Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new Freedom!! My guess is that it is not the thread but rather a tension issue or a burr on the throat plate. someone with more experience than myself will pop in soon. I just wanted to welcome you and say hello!! Metro works very well with my Lenni so it should work in your machine as well once you get the tension adjusted to that thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustSewSimple Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 I agree with Jeanne! Check your thread path and check your needle size. I run Metro on my Freedom every day with a 3.5 needle. Also, do what Jeanne said. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nanbrug Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Welcome Buttonflower! I can't help you with thread issue I don't use Metro. I can suggest using a different thread to see if it's a thread issue or a needle burr. Nan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cblevins Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Hey Buttonflower glad you have come out of hiding! We use metro all the time on our Millie but we don't put it in the bobbin. We use the Magna glide pre wounds or we wind our own bottom line. It runs great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RitaR Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Welcome~! Stay and enjoy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Welcome, I would check your bobbin and needle plate for any burrs, change your needle and loosen up your tension....any or all of these could charge problems... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katydids Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 The intermittant loopies will happen when the threads "sling" off the cone. Slick threads tend to do this and I also get it with King Tut. Put a piece of batting in the guide above the cone of thread. Run the thread between the batting and guide. this will control the thread at that point if is slings off the cone again. Try backing off the upper thread tension some and see if the shredding stops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stagecl Posted August 3, 2011 Report Share Posted August 3, 2011 Welcome! I haven't used metro thread so I am not of much use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan Grady Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Welcome Buttonflower! Any questions you ask potentially help a lot of others on the forum, too. Have a great time with your new Freedom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmilner Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Welcome to the forum! Donna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connieb Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Welcome. I just played with Metro for the first time yesterday. I used Magna glide bobbins and didn't have any troubles on my Lenni. Unfortunatly I don't have any advice but you've already gotten great advice from others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoseCity Quilter Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Welcome! Can't add anything that has not already been said here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyLake Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Welcome, Buttonflower, and congratulations on your new Freedom! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsbishwit Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Welcome to the forum Buttonflower! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne from Guam Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Welcome! Looking forward to pics of your first quilt off of M'arley! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachside Quilter Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Welcome to the family, and enjoy your new Freedom!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted August 4, 2011 Report Share Posted August 4, 2011 Welcome. I use metro a lot and never have problems with breakage. I have had a few cones that the thread slips on or there is a rough area on the cone that the thread catches on. I'd bet it is your thread path or the thread coming off the cone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buttonflower Posted August 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 Thank you for all the wonderful "welcome to the forum" responses. I've decided there might be a burr on the needle after I compared my first practice sandwich to the charity quilt which had all the problems. I have ordered some new needles but I'm stuck for the moment with only one damaged needle. I'm not sure how I damaged the needle, as I know that I didn't hit any pins. I still plan to make another practice quilt sandwich & see if I can tweak the tension a bit. Of course I have lots of UFOs to piece in the meantime. I'll report back once I have a new needle & conquer the tension issue. I can also start cutting the boxes of scraps people have given me with my new accuquilt studio die cutter. Does any one have a favorite die to use with scraps? Thanks everyone for your suggestions. Buttonflower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
o2b Quilting Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 Welcome!! You will really enjoy your Freedom. I hope your new needles come quickly so you can truly experience the wonderful quilting of an APQS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katydids Posted August 5, 2011 Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 you should have received a pack of 10 needles in the shipment with your machine. If you haven't already gone through them. check your materials that came with the machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buttonflower Posted August 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2011 Thanks for the information about the package of needles Patty. I thought it was strange that they didn't include a pkg. of needles, but I've searched high & low with no results. A package of needles is quite small and there was a ton of packing in the 8 boxes. I figure something ate it. If I had gone through a whole package of needles the learning curve would be a lot steeper than I anticipated. I'm still bummed with myself for damaging my one & only needle. Buttonflower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bekah Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Welcome. I hope your new needles arrive quickly. Have fun with your other toy in the mean time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibbyG Posted August 6, 2011 Report Share Posted August 6, 2011 Glad to hear you're joining in on the fun. I use Metro on the top, but never in the bobbin. I couldn't get it to wind properly. Hope everything works out for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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