Tension problem again!

[semedo2000]

Greetings,

I was about 3/4 through quilting a quilt this past weekend. I had it on 9 stitches per inch. The machine was going along fine until my thread started popping. I lossened the tention a tad bit. Then when I took the quilt off the machine, there was only a small area where there was loose tension in the back. Now I have to take this out and put in again.

I wonder if it has someting to do with not using the machine on a regular basis? The machine had been sitting for about a month without activity.

I do not understand how this could happen when 95% of the quilt, the tension was fine. Has this ever happened to anyone? If so what did you do?

I am very frustrated with the tension problem. I want this problem to go away. It has been happening for over a year. I do not know what else to do.

Please help.

[Quilting Heidi]

This is just a guess but I'd bet it has to do with lint in the bobbin case. Use a pin to carefully clean under the finger. Make sure the bobbin thread is staying in the pin. For me it is always a lint issue when my tension randomly changes. The only other thing that I've had happen is that the upper thread comes off the L shapped hook under the tension disk. Usually happens when I have to rethread the needle.

[RunningThreads]

I agree with Heidi that's the first place I check. Also make sure the thread is seated all the way in the tension disks and sometimes it will come out of a pigtail and cause you grief. And yes I have ripped out two full rows of a panto in the middle of a quilt.

Nigel

[semedo2000]

I am curious ladies, do you use the can of air to get rid of lint in the bobbin area. I try to clean the lent when I change my bobbin but I probably do not do a thourough job.

Thanks Heidi and Brenda. I will let you know how it goes.

[JustSewSimple]

I have a generator. Most folks on here do also. My tension may change when I put in a new bobbin so I have to check the tension when I reach for a new bobbin.

[RunningThreads]

We have a small compressor and usually blow out at the beginning of the day. Our go to threads are So Fine and Glide and therefore get very little lint. We used to get thread locally for about half the price of So Fine but we gots lots of lint with it and we had to blow out every couple of bobbin changes. Saving two or three dollars a day and doing more cleaning wasn't worth it.

Nigel

[Quilting Heidi]

I use an air compressor that I borrow from hubby's workroom. It is amazing how much lint can build up!

[semedo2000]

Interesting about the thread issue. I use so fine in the bobbin too. I really think that any thread causes a lot lint.

[KathyA]

I use an air compressor and yes, lint caught up in the bobbin area will cause the issue you describe. I always blow out the bobbin area after 2 bobbin changes. It makes a difference.

[semedo2000]

Okay, I will heed to your advise. I will use the air compressor more often. Thanks, cherlyn

[RoseCity Quilter]

Just today I commented that I did not know how people manage without an air compressor. Depending on the thread and the batting, I blow my bobbin and bobbin case out anywhere from with every row to every bobbin change. I am always amazed at how much lint there is...