Sheagatzi Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 So I've been having some weird problems with tension lately - I've posted about it - on a large queen quilt, maybe 5-6 loops total on the back. Played with tension. Then my last quilt I had super tension - or so I thought...and once in awhile - like three times on my quilt (queen) my TOP thread had this loop/knot formed on the top of the quilt. When I pulled on it, it was a knot, and skipped stitch. I'm at a loss. So out came the thread net to try, a suggestion from someone in a past thread I posted. And now I feel really stupid asking this, but is there a trick to putting a thread net on? Do you let the excess hang on top of the cone, or do you tuck the excess under the cone? I tried it both ways and my tension became so tight that I had to completely futz around with my tension again. That doesn't seem right, does it? sigh. I really need to take a break. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 Remember, no silly questions here. I use thread nets on my bobbin winder and have a little extra hanging off the top, and some kind of wrapped under the bottom. I don't fret about either of them if they aren't perfect though. I do think that thread nets cause increased tension, meaning you'll have to loosen your tension to get it back to normal. Start with a break. You'll feel so much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirleyl Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 I use thread nets on everything. I store them with them, so I just leave them on when sewing. I have very little on the top and put excess underneath. I have trouble without a net now. Some cones have something to catch the tread on the bottom and I seem to find it without a net. Shirley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamarack Posted July 17, 2014 Report Share Posted July 17, 2014 I only use a net when I wind bobbins and I tuck the extra inside the bottom of the cone. Have you tried placing a piece of batting in one of the thread guide to keep the tension coming from the cone even? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 I also use nets on every cone. They stay on the cone for storage. I cover the bottom two-thirds of the cone with the rest tucked under. Just make sure the net sits below the shoulder of the cone so the thread doesn't catch. Sometimes the net will get a bad spot that snags the thread and it will need to be replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primitive1 Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 I too use them occasionally when I have tension problems that just won't go away...I also wrap the extra under the cone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie in Ok Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 Not to get off subject but I only have a few of them and use them a lot but where do you order more from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheagatzi Posted July 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 Kathy - yep, that little wad of batting is always there! Thanks for the replies. I'm considering going to magna glides next. This very random infrequent loop thing is driving me nuts. My tension on my quilts is great except for the occasional loop. I analyze where it occurs, in what direction have I been stitching, etc and there is no rhyme or reason. sigh. So thread nets is my next experiment....and then new bobbin product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMALKB Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 Bonnie.......you can get the thread nets at a lot of the online shops, but I recently got some from Fil Tec when I was ordering bobbins. Superior also carries them. I use them most of the time and then they also help keep the thread on the cones when they are on my peg board. I've cut the long ones in half to use on smaller cones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirleyl Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 I get them from Superior Threads. I buy them in bog packs as I also store my threads in them, they don't come unwound that way. Shirley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie H Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 The only thread that I ever had this problem with was Glide. Not sure why! I sold it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMALKB Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 I love the Glide thread and always use the thread nets as it is a slicker thread. The one thread I had the most trouble with was King Tut from Superior and my machine just does not like it at all. Rainbows, not so much either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beachside Quilter Posted July 18, 2014 Report Share Posted July 18, 2014 Andrea; maybe your issue is something really simple; don't know how old your machine is or how much use it has but perhaps replacing your tension spring will help? Pull on the thread when threaded and it should drop to about 9 0'clock, then come quickly to rest at 11 o'clock. If it doesn't then your spring could need replaced. A simple fix, and may help solve some of your loopie issues. Also, be sure that you only have 1 business card distance under your hopping foot. Sometimes a combination of a couple small things will add up to the issues you describe. Good luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimerickson Posted July 19, 2014 Report Share Posted July 19, 2014 Andrea: Maybe the loops have something to do with the red light on your stitch regulator. You say they appear with skipped stitches. Next time the stitch regulator red light flashes, stop and check your stitches,. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wannabelongarm Posted July 20, 2014 Report Share Posted July 20, 2014 I always re-read Dawn's article on tension, and trouble shooting articles by APQS on skipped stitches when I am problem solving. There are so many variables that go along with tension. Batting, tightness off the sandwich and side clamps, type of backing and so forth. There might be some tips there for you. Also check all your connections, sometimes those encoders wiggle loose. Joanne Flamand APQS Sales and Education, Canada www.artisticquiltdesign.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen Baczynski Posted July 21, 2014 Report Share Posted July 21, 2014 Why not cut off the excess net and make it the right size for the cone? I've also cut a piece from pantyhose to put over thread like a net. You can buy cheap socks that are the same as pantyhose to cut up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnCavanaugh Posted July 21, 2014 Report Share Posted July 21, 2014 Andrea, When you can pick out a "knot" on the thread it's actually a slip knot. It happens when the thread twists so much that it finally catches up with itself and it forms a slip knot. Kind of like twisting the ends of a piece of yarn in opposite directions until it's really tight, and then when you pull the ends together, it twists upon itself. Try changing the path through the three-hole guide by your tension assembly to a "weaving" path (up in the first hole, down in the second, up in the third) instead of wrapping it and see if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheagatzi Posted October 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2014 okay. so I finally got a quilt where i can really show and tell what my issue is. Magnifico top thread, magnifico bottom thread. 80/20 batting. flannel backing. i tried the weave up and down like Dawn had suggested and still getting these random things. The quilt top stitches in these blips are slightly looser. These photos are of my backing. This happened in 4 places on my 75'' square quilt. Top tension needs to be tighter still???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shirleyl Posted October 8, 2014 Report Share Posted October 8, 2014 When was the last time you changed your tension spring? Shirley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg Posted October 9, 2014 Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 Hi Andrea, Here's my 2 cents... I put the thread net over the cone from the bottom. When I get to the spot where it starts to taper in, I fold the net over itself & back toward the bottom. I once had the top edge of the net was catching on the thread and causing issues. By folding it over, the edge of the net doesn't come in contact with the thread. I store my thread in nets, but only use the net for quilting on slippery, flyaway threads like rainbows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anniquilter Posted October 9, 2014 Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 Hi Andrea - you've probably done this but check that your sandwich is not too tight. That can cause an occasional problem too. Dawn says it should be loose enough that if you poke your finger up underneath the sandwich you should be able to grab it from above the quilt sandwich. The 3 layers then seem really loose but it does help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmland Quilter Posted October 9, 2014 Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 I have started using thread nets all the time. I purchased the tension testers for the top and bobbin thread from Superior Threads and bought a pkg of a dozen nets from them. I am in the process of creating a chart for the tension on all the combinations of types of thread, fabrics and batting I work with. It has saved me a lot of time and worry. I keep a separate bobbin case for each type od bobbin thread I use. I have set each one for a tension of 220 and now all I have to do is adjust my top tension. I feel they were worth the cost just to relieve some of my worry about tension issues. Sometimes I still tweak the tension after setting it to the number I have listed but usually only 1/2 - 1 turn of tension knob. I put a red dot with a sharpie on my tension dial so I know how much I am turning it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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