meg_marsh Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 I loaded a quilt yesterday - King Tut on top and So Fine in bobbin. King Tut kept breaking. Used Dawn's method for threading, changed needle, started with very clean and oiled machine, etc., etc. Nothing I did worked so put that aside. Changed to Rainbows on top and Highlights in the bobbin. Had to go slower, but worked great. Have used King Tut, So Fine before with no problems, but this time, no way. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 Did you loosen your tension? I know it's a silly question, but sometimes the obvious ones are the answer. Shana has also talked about having the eye of the needle at about 6:30 position. Sorry you are having problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 Is it a spool of King Tut that you have used before or did it just now get unwrapped? I am having the same problems with a spool, but mine has been unwrapped for a few months now and this is the second time i've used it. I don't remember having trouble with it before but I am breaking in the same thread color (its a varigated thread) and my thinking is now that the thread is starting to turn bad.... Unfortunately thread does do that...and depending on your climate...mine was very humid during this past summer and I'm wondering if maybe it got more humidity than it should have. I will continue to play with the tension, just about have it dialed in, so instead of breaking every few inches its not breaking after several feet of thread...but each time its in the same color sequence. As for me Beth...did all that...so for me its a bad thread issue I'm sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 Loosen your bobbin tension so when you do the drop test, it drops slowly-but-consistently--like a spider on a web--- (not too fast and not to slow). Adjust the bobbin screw until you get that sort of drop with the bobbin. Then, you loosen your top tension accordingly until you get a nice top stitch. I never have problems with thread breaking (Tut, Rainbows, metallics, Valdani, etc.) if I keep my bobbin tension loosey goosey. PS: I always hold my hand under the bobbin while doing my drop test, and I do this over a large table or the quilt top so if the bobbin falls out it doesn't crash to the floor (not a good thing!!) Sometimes I do like Bonnie and run a few beads of Sewer's aid along the cone or spool to slick it up a little bit. That works, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boni Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 You just never know what's going to cause the thread to break. I was just working on a quilt and my thread kept breaking, and even shredding right before it broke. I changed the needle thinking maybe there was a flaw in the eye that was shredding it. Finally I suspected the pigtail that holds the thread in line with the needle. Voila! It's five years old and I guess it just succumbed to metal fatigue--the thread over the years had worn a groove into the coating. I'm sure that is the root of all my thread breakage for a long time! AAAAArrrgggghhhhh. I replaced it with a stock thread loop and so far I haven't had the same problem. Make a note to self: it could be something other than the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted September 19, 2008 Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 Also you can do a stress test on the thread to see if its not the thread....take a length long enough to wrap around each hand so that you have about 12 inches between your hands. Give a sharp, and steady tug...don't jerk it, just a quick tug. If it snaps...move down a bit further and try again...if it snaps with real ease...its a bad thread. Did that...and the orange in my varigated it going bad...all the oranges are breaking. Bummer, one reason larger spools dont' work for me...I don't always use it up before it goes south. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg_marsh Posted September 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2008 Did the tension thing - loose for the bobbin and then worked with the top so I know it wasn't that. I had had a finer thread on the machine which I ran tighter so made a point to loosen everything up. It is a loaner machine so don't want to tamper with the pigtails - but don't see anything anyway. It is actually a newer machine than mine (which should be coming home pretty soon). I think I will try Bonnie's stress test. I will also try a second spool of King Tut - it may just be a bad spool. It is new - just unwrapped but who knows how long it sat around someplace. I have found that I have to run slower with the Rainbows - do you find this also Shana??? Oh - & I was very careful to make sure that the quilt was not tight on the frame!! thanks for all your help - at least I did have some other thread and the quilt is cute - will get the binding on tonight. Have been working very hard on pantos lately and they are getting better!!!! Did the CutiePatootie and it is soooo cute. Shana - thanks for sharing that one a while ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 You're welcome on the cutie patootie! I agree with you; it's cute! Oh, and might I might add that Cutie Patootie is not what I would consider a "beginner's" panto. It's tight. So, if you've got cutie patootie down you can do any panto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quilting Heidi Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 Meg, I go through only one hole in the pigtail and loosen the tension a lot. Then Idon't get breaks. I keep my tension like Shana for the bobbin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SandraG Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 You can occasionally get a bad spool of thread. Try to run another spool of King Tut. If you get the same thing happening then you know it is not the thread. I had problems with running KT and SF at first. But like Shana said, you need to run both loose. Try loosening up bottom and top. Then tighten the bobbin first then the top. If you start too loose on both it is less frustrating. Rainbow, Highlights, Art Studio, Living Colors These are all 40 wt. tri-lobal threads. they have a diagonal cut on the surface. That is what give them that beautiful sheen. It is best to go a little slower with these threads b/c the cut weakens them a bit. LAVA is the same thread without the diagonal cut. IT is a little stronger. LAVA has a little less sheen. You should have no trouble running Rainbows etc. Also, all Rainbows colors have a co-ordinating Highlights color that you can run in the bobbin if you want to. The result is fantastic. Happy Stitching, Sandra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PamelaA Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 I am currently working on a quilt with King Tut in the top and Bottom Line in the bobbin. I had problems with breakage too, even in the same color spot most of the time. I used Shana's bobbin tension and loosened the top tension but still had some breakage. Finally I put the KT through only one hole on the three hole thing before the tension disks. That worked, at least last night it worked. I still have more quilting to go on the quilt. Hope my luck holds out! Pamela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg_marsh Posted September 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 thanks again everyone - I already had threaded using only one hole in the first pigtale - just need to take some time and test this spool........... I am thinking that it may well be just a bad spool since I have not generally had this problem. If it does seem to be bad, I will contact Bob at Superior and see if they will replace it. It is a wonderful lime green that I would love to keep in my collection!! The Rainbow/Highlite combination is wonderful on the quilt - just have to finish the binding and it is done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BethDurand Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 One more thought, try a different bobbin. I was suddenly having issues with one yesterday. When I finally finished it, I took the bobbin out and it was wound pretty funky. I emptied it, tried to load it again, and still wonky. I tossed the bobbin, and no problems since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quiltmonkey Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 I agree, the bobbin might be the culprit! Happened to me before. I think bottom line is we have to troubleshoot and isolate the problem. My DH is an electronics technician and is very good at troubleshooting and isolating a problem at his job. We quilters who have longarm machines sometimes have to put on our "troubleshooting cap" and wear it without fear. Just gotta be brave and get in there with our knowledge and our tools and try different things until somehow...we find that we've fixed the problem and all is well again. It takes a little patience and tenacity. But, we can do it. Then, we can be proud of ourselves for fixing it. And, we've learned something in the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgene Posted September 20, 2008 Report Share Posted September 20, 2008 Yes, that Sewer's Aid works for me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meg_marsh Posted September 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 21, 2008 One - didn't think of bobbin because it was the top thread breaking - bobbin thread was ok. Did not try Sewer's Aid - Will reload the threads and try that - good idea - will also try a different bobbin!!! Thanks girls! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Posted September 22, 2008 Report Share Posted September 22, 2008 I was having trouble with a brand new spool of Red Signature thread...when I really looked at the thread, every once in awhile there was a clump of whatever woven into the thread. I think this was a bad spool that missed getting caught at inspection. I have heard that certain dye colors like red and black a lot of times weaken the thread. Is there anything to that? I just threw out that brand new cone of signature red. I even unwound it quite a bit (cheapskate that I am) to see if it got better underneath. Anyone know of a good brand of red cotton thread that I should try (a wholesale connection)? Robin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnysnowden Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 I had trouble with breakage just yesterday. Fumbled with it for a long time, new needle, loosened bobbin, rethreaded machine, then read the troubleshooting guide in my old book. In plain english it said...YOUR NEEDLE IS TO SMALL( DUMMY). I was trying to use signature burgandy color 50 weight cotton thread. As soon as I switched to so fine everything was lovely. I hate those days when nothing seems to go the way you want. Ginny Snowden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnHenry Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 My previous addiction before quilting was braiding wool rugs. I wanted my very first rug to be yellow, and so after collecting used wool at Good Will (back in those days a wool skirt sold for 25 cents (a new zipper sold for 75 cents) so it was the bargain of a lifetime. Anyhow, I took the skirts apart and washed the fabric. Then I used color remover and removed the color from the wool and overdyed it with yellow. I combined that new yellow with other, non-overdyed wool and made my rug. Twenty-five years down the line, I have had to repair that rug countless times (only because it was my first rug did I figure it was worth repairing) because the linen thread (linen is 7 x stronger than cotton) kept breaking. All I could figure out is that the bleach from the color remover and/or the yellow dye leached out to weaken the thread. I never did the bleach and dye routine again, and I never had the same problem with subsequent rugs. The point I am trying to make in a very roundabout way is that the various colors in variegated threads are probably not all produced with the same dye, or used in the same amount. If the breakage always occurs in the same color, the thread is weaker at that point, and it must be the dye, don't you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.