mswings Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 My thread keeps breaking when I quilt from right to left. It is perfect when I am going left to right. I've cleaned, oiled, checked timing, checked for burrs, changed the needle twice. I can't fiqure it out. Using Bottom Line in top and bottom. I have never had a problem with this thread before. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Is there a burr on the cone of thread? Try thread lube or mineral oil on your thread and see if it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 where is it breaking? if you find where it is breaking, maybe you will see the problem. loosen the sandwich flip the cone over thread lubricant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mswings Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Didn't even think to check the cone!! I'll check that out. Thanks Heidi! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoinette Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Try a different cone of Bottom Line. It may just be that cone. If that's the case, give Superior Threads a call, I'm sure they'll make good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyLake Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 There is more needle flex when the machine goes right to left. It helps to slow down and move the machine at an even pace when going that direction and loosening your top tension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFQuilts Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I understand that you've used Bottom Line in the top as well as the bobbin. When I tried that early in my quilting career, I didn't have good luck. However, the breakage decreased when I stepped down to a size 3.0 or 3.5 needle. Is your needle size too large? Lynn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcclannan Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 GRRRR! Isn't that frustrating? I hope you find the problem and let us know how it turns out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mswings Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 It seems to be breaking at the needle. It is as if it is shreding. You can actually hear it. So I changed needle again and it is better but not fixed. It is so frustrating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterfly Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Yes, it IS frustrating. I have never been able to fix this. I think its just a function of moving left. When SIDing around a block I always have to go straight down the left side of the block and across the bottom to the right and stop. Then go across the top of the block and down the right side. I can never just go all the way around because inevitably my thread shreds and breaks after several inches going left. Jess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Try going up one size in your needle or turn the needle slightly to 6:30 position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyLake Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I find running the Bottom Line top tension extremely loose helps, especially with a thick quilt sandwich. It might help you to reduce the bobbin tension too. Keep loosening the top tension until you get loops on the bottom, then tighten it a bit and try that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyLake Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Jess, You shouldn't have to always be quilting down or to the right. I currently have to do that as well, but I know it is because I just retimed my machine, and haven't taken the time to fiddle with perfect tension. Call Amy at APQS and have her help you with this. It has to do with needle flex, where it flexes more going to the left or up, so the top thread is not being caught by the rotary hook at the correct time. Dawn has a video explaining this--anyone have a link to that, or Dawn can you chime in here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mswings Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 That sounds like a great video. I would love to see it. It anyone knows the link to this I would love it. I only have size 4.0 needles. Do I need 3.5? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srichardson Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Virginia here is the link to the video. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyLake Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Originally posted by mswings That sounds like a great video. I would love to see it. It anyone knows the link to this I would love it. I only have size 4.0 needles. Do I need 3.5? Yes, get 3.5, especially if you are using Bottom Line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mswings Posted July 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 Sue, thanks for the link. I just watched it! It's great. Joan, I'm going to try to get some needles today when Quilted Memories opens. Thanks for all the feed back. I'll let ya'll know how it turns out. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mswings Posted July 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Ok, I give up!! I have removed my hook asembly and retimed the machine. I've changed to a 3.5 needle and tried 3 different cones of thread and my thread is STILL breaking!! It is driving me nuts!!! I don't know what else to try. This is soooo frustrating. I am about to get very upset with my Millie:( I'm going to turn off the lights and settle down to a good book. Maybe things will be better tomorrow. Wish me luck! Jess, what year is your Millie? Mine is a 2008. Just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srichardson Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Sorry to hear that you are still have issues. Could it be that one of your thread guides is worn and causing a problem? I don't know why that would only be an issue when you are moving in a certain direction though. Just another thought! Enjoy your book and better luck tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobbieJones Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Have you tried loosening your quilt sandwich? That has helped me in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mswings Posted July 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 I have tired loosening the quilt sandwich. I don't know what else to try. I'll give apqs a call to have them help me. Thanks for all the suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Linda S Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Have you totally unthreaded and then re-threaded the machine? Sometimes there is just a little glitch somewhere in the thread path and totally re-doing pleases the thread gods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 sometimes when this happens, the only thing to do is start all over from scratch. unthread the machine. do the whole cleaning thing with wd40 and get the bobbin case finger area clean as well spray the snot out of the cone with lubricant clean the wheels and rails if you have an extended base on, take it off and clean under there when you are all done, rethread the machine, using the path you have always used and had success with put the bobbin in at the correct tension you always use loosen the top thread and slowly tighten til you get your good tension this has worked for me...i hope you have luck. one more thing to think of - if you are using a thread net, it is down below the shoulder of the cone? and if not, could you try one - pantyhose work just as well. good luck drink mojitos and eat chocolate, too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerickson Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Virginia: I agree with Meg, take it all down, and redo. Make sure the tension mechanism is clean. Now look at the bobbin side. Clean the bobbin case out. Look for any trash in it, and clean it out. Make sure the backlash spring is in properly. Check your timing again. Make sure the needle is pushed all the way up in the needle bar. If your tried Heidi's 6:30 position, try 5:30. I'm not sure which way it should be turned when stitching right to left. I don't know how the bobbin case basket is secured on a Millie, but on my Ult2, there is a black "finger" that enters a slot to keep it from turning. Make sure that the finger is in the slot the proper distance. I think the thread slides through the gap between the "finger" and the basket, and if the spacing is too tight, the thread could be catching there. Rotate the last thread guide slightly so that if there is wear there, it will be repositioned. Make sure the 3 hole tensioner is pointed in the proper direction. Sometimes they get loose, and move. After you've tried everything, and it doesn't work, try reducing the number of holes you thread the cone thread through (actually this is probably where you should start). Do you have a pad under your thread cone? If not make one from scrap batting and use it. Do you have a bit of batting in the thread cone hook to control how it spins off the cone? Add one. Have you tried a different cone of thread? If not do so. It may be that you have a cone that is improperly wound. It's something simple, you just have to keep looking til you find it. Regards. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcclannan Posted July 15, 2012 Report Share Posted July 15, 2012 Virginia, you have had some great advice here and I feel your frustration. I know someone at APQS will be able to get you up and running again. Be sure to let us know what the solution was. (hug) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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