Update: There was a stray thread caught in the tension discs. You can see the gory photos on my second post for today.
I was happily quilting my Twelve by Twelve Mythology piece yesterday and then I turned it over. That’s when the headache started. I am not talking about those vibrating blues and oranges. Just look at that horrible tension on the back (the top is fine):
Here is some key information:
- quilt sandwich made of high thread count Pimatex cotton top, 60/40 polywool batting and looser weave cotton backing;
- Rasant thread top and bobbin with bobbin wound using the automatic stop/start button for consistent winding;
- new Schmetz microtex sharp needle;
- defluffed hook race, feed dogs and bobbin area;
- rethreaded (multiple times);
- Janome open toed walking foot with dual feed engaged;
- automatic plate converter set for straight stitch;
- stitch length set at 2.4;
- thread tension dial set at 9+ (highest possible number) in accordance with the manual that states “If the need thread is too loose, the needle thread loops on the underside of the fabric…turn the thread tension dal to a high number to increase the thread tension”. (For good measure, I also tried the “AUTO” and lower thread tension settings with even more disastrous results.); and
- various foot pressure settings tested.
-
How would you balance out this tension and relieve my headache?
Nola Gibson says
Normally I would say top tension too loose or bobbin tension too tight but given that you have tightened the top tension up to 9 I would suspect there is something causing the tension not to tighten sufficiently. Perhaps there is some fluff or thread caught between the tension disks stopping them from pressing together enough to put tension on the thread. Can you push them apart and see between them on your machine? You may need to ‘floss’ between them to dislodge anything that might be there. Otherwise, loosening your bobbin tension should stop the top thread being pulled to the back so much. Hope this helps.
Chris Rolinson says
I would use a Bernina!
I can never get the tension right on either of my Janome machines including the new Horizon, although I must admit it is better that the older Janome, and better if I use Rasant thread. Have gone through the manual several times and it all sounds straight forward enough however…… If anyone finds the magic answer can I would love to know.
Patti Leal says
hi. i have a question. the orange thread has great tension. is it the same as the blue thread? i’ve not heard of that particular brand. if thread is the same, are all the tensions identical for needle thread and bobbin? I think your needle tension is toooooo tight but i think the bobbin is too tight also. (love the fabric!) i don’t believe it is a question of the machine itself. i’ve always had good luck with janomes.
Patti Leal says
another thought, maybe just put the top tension to around 5 or 6 and try a sample.
anne carter says
As I hate undoing stitching (or reverse sewing!) the first thing that came to mind was to use those loose stitches on the back to thread fancy yarns or fine ribbons through to create a reversible quilt design. Not a solution to the tension problem but certainly a design possibility!
Sarah Ann Smith says
Brenda…have been away and just saw your post. Hope it is fixed. Clearly with the orange thread everything was threaded properly, then something went amiss with the blue. General rule of thumb: if there are loops on the bottom, the problem is in the needle path. If the bobbin thread loops up to the top, the problem is in the bobbin area.
General steps to take: Cleaning helps, including removing the bobbin case. Also, open up the left side of the machine (that hinged side door) and see if a snippet of thread is caught in the uptake lever or at the top. In your example, I’d bet money there is an “issue” in the upper part of the machine (like lint, thread scrap) because it appears the needle thread had NO tension on it… as in it didn’t get properly seating in the tension discs. If you had been free-motioning, I would have guessed that you forgot to put the presser foot down, but since you were using the AccuFeed that isn’t the case this time.
Sometimes it is fabric… you can tell by switching with the same needle, bobbin thread and tension settings, and see if the machine will quilt well. There are finishes on commercial fabric that can wreak havoc, but I see you are using your own hand-dyes, which usually don’t pose “issues.”
And of course, there is always the “walk away, go outside, come back and you’ll see the issue” (or it will have fixed itself while you are away!) method….