lorihufford Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 I am currently quilting a quilt using a pantograph, Double Plume. ( Wool batt. bottom line prewounds, So Fine on top) Everything looks great, except every once in a while, my top stitches look loose and underneath feels very rough on stitching line. This only happens when I am moving head of machine from left to right, as viewed from back of machine, so I am sure it is a needle flex issue instead of tension, but I don't know how to correct this. I tried moving a bit slower when I am going in that direction, which seems like it might have helped a bit, but not fully. Should I loosen or tighten top thread? Do bobbin cases wear out or need to be replaced periodically? I am still using the same ones that came with my machine 6 years ago, designating them for prewounds, magnetic and bobbins I wind myself. I usually have no tension issues, but also noticed that the bobbin rattles a bit louder when I am stitching in the direction that I am having problems with. Would it have something to do with the spring in the bobbin case? I hate to be so ignorant, but I hope someone can enlighten me, Thanks, Lori Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyLake Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Tighten your top tension and slow down. My bobbin case rattles, too, sometimes, but it seems to be the bobbin itself and hasn't affected my stitching at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srichardson Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Lori, If you think it is needle flex you could try using a larger needle. I was having needle flex issues on my last quilt and that helped. Dawn also wrote about needle flex too. http://www.apqs.com/artists_dawnc_blog.php?id=5 Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamu Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 Lori, I had a very similar issue happen with me...sounded awful and noticed the stitches being bad on the back...I tried new needle, tighten or loosen thread, new thread...just about everything I could think of...then I put a drop of oil in the bobbin area where your bobbin case goes into...problem solved!! I don't know if this will help or not, just saying it helped me. By the way, I have an older machine...Ultimate 11 with intellistitch, so I don't know if you would need to do this with the newer models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoseCity Quilter Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 I have that problem occasionally, and tightening my top tension always fixes it for me.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkayr Posted October 6, 2011 Report Share Posted October 6, 2011 When I hear that rattling noise, it means I need to clean, aerate, lube the bobbin area. Still a newbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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