Judi Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 I usually use prewounds - like them much better, but I just do not have them in every color. So I wind my own with Bottom Line on the bobbins I purchased from APQS. The new ones with the slots for the thread to start and such... Anyhow - I am quilting along - doing McTavishing - using LOTS of thread - and when I replace a bobbin the tesion is way OFF! Very frustating and annoying! I think maybe it is this old junky looking bobbin winder I have...... It looks like it is mounted on an old used piece of a kitchen shelf. Yes - I know they now sell nice new fancy looking ones. But - is it the winder? Would it wind at such a difference to screw up the tension? I do have one on the side of my machine - but it has never been used. Might have to try that and see if it makes a difference, but does anyone think this is the cause? Or could it be a bad bobbin? I have checked the little blue spring in my case - it is just as before and working great. I have cleaned it out too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 Hi Judi, I've got the same problem only with pre-wounds too. Each time that I put in a new bobbin I have to use my tension gauge to adjust. Sometimes it's not much, if anything, but sure enough, if I don't, it's way off. Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ffq-lar Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 Hi Judi-- Not only can the tension vary from bobbin to bobbin, the tension can vary in one bobbin. Self-wounds for me always tighten up toward the end of the bobbin. My Towa gauge is my second-best friend! I always check the tension with the gauge--every time. It works! Linda Rech Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrna Ficken Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Your prewounds should all be the same (paper sided) When you wind your own they may not be would the same and it will make your tension crazy. Be sure to watch and keep the tension the same as it winds onto the bobbin. If I wind one I hold onto the thread as it is winding to be sure. Gotta love prewounds. Fast and easy. Myrna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judi Posted April 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Thanks for the replys - - I know that I am spoiled with the prewounds and the ease of them - they just do not vary - I have only had a problem once with them, must have been a wonky bobbin - which I then used in my DSM with no problem...... so it still was not a waste, Myrna - you know that is just what I do, as I am winding - I hold onto the thread out from the thingy and can feel little "slubs" in the thread some- times as it goes through my fingers. Maybe that is the problem..... I do not have the TOWA gauge - guess I should maybe get one of those! Is that something that APQS sells too? I'll have to check into it..... Again - thanks! Thought I was loosing it - or that my machine was being possesed by some nasty anti-tension spook! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrna Ficken Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 What type of thread are you using that you are feeling slubs? I know a lot of quilters love the Towa gauge. I don' t find that I need it. One thing you can do, after winding a bobbin use you fingernail or finger tip and push on the thread if it feels spongy it is not going to give you good tension. Unwind, toss the thread and start again. I find that I set my bobbin case for the thread I am using. Then any adjustments that need to be made should be made at the top tensioner. I have a bobbin case for perwounds, one for winding metal and one for decorative thread like Razzle Dazzle. Then I don't need to worry about them. Before I start quilting I check my tension on my cheater piece quilt sandwich, make any adjustments and I am ready to quilt. I don't have to worry about my bobbin tension again. Changing top threads may cause need to adjust the top tension. ( I try to have a cheater piece with the same type of batting I am using in the quilt) Don't have your quilt top too tight as this will cause tension issues. Check your bobbin case once in awhile to be sure you do not have lint built up under where your thread goes under the little spring. If you are using threads that have slubs or very linty cottons this can happen quilted often. I use a plastic tooth pick to get it out. Myrna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judi Posted April 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Bottom Line - The dark purple...... it is going much better now. It is just frustrating when using same kind of thread - same kind of bobbins - and then all of a sudden things change - even like Linda said - Sometimes with in the SAME bobbin - tension changes. I do have the cheater piece off to the side and when starting or changing threads I do a double-check. I just don't have to do that between bobbins usually - but I think I better with the bobbins that I wind......I am ripping out my "eyelashes" today..... Thankfully my husband brought me up a bar stool that is the perfect height, and I have now gotton to the end of the top, so I can easily unzip one end and toss it over to see the backing well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrna Ficken Posted April 1, 2007 Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 If you are getting eyelashes on the bottom it sounds like your top tension is too loose or your bobbin tension is way too tight . Check your thread path. I'm sure you already have though. Myrna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judi Posted April 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2007 Yes I did.... I am using Bottom Line on top too - it is as tight as I can go with out it breaking. At the usuall spot I have it...... was perfect - just with putting in another / different bobbin - things went wacky. Went back to the end of the last bobbin - perfect again..... Tried another new bobbin and it was fine. It is too easy to assume all is well , quilt along, then look back later and ooops!!!!!! Grrr...... eyelashes..... at least they are quick and easy to rip and clean-up - thats my good side to it all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myrna Ficken Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 LOL that's true, we should always look at the bright side:D Myrna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kusmaulk Posted July 10, 2007 Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 I am experiencing the same problem. Using bottom line on top and bobbin. Was getting eyelashes on the bottom, so I tightened my top tension. Now everything seems too tight, and top thread is breaking. I decided to look at it again in the morning. Maybe I need to loosen both bobbin and top? I hope I can work this out, as I have just ordered 6 cones of Bottom Line to get my business started. Plan to use it for top and bottom. I am using a wool blanket for my batting. Could this be contributing to my difficulty? It is very heavy. Advice is welcome. I am learning every day. thanks, Karol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judi Posted July 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 Karol - stick with it, Bottom line is a great thread. I am using it right now doing small feather wreaths, SID and a tiny meander. I usually use a pre- wound bobbin, as I am now. This thread is very fine just like bottom line, but on the prewounds, they get SO much more thread! Like you said, try again in the morning. Make sure you have a good needle in too, sometimes just change that to try it..... Let us know how it goes! Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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