Tension problems, I've tried EVERYTHING!

by Tasha
(Springfield, IL USA)

Ok, first of all, I have a very basic machine, it's just a sewing/mending machine, and has maybe 15 stitches, none of them decorative. The feed dogs do not drop, I have to cover them. I have a free motion foot, and I have used it before with OK results, but I forgot to write down what the settings were! So, here is my problem.

Two days ago, I sat down to quilt a quilt for charity. I kept getting thread nests, breaking needles (3 within an hour), and eyelashing. I turned to Google, and found this amazing website! I read everything on here about machine quilting, and rushed out to Jo-Ann's to buy new needles and machine quilting thread.

I came home, took my machine apart, cleaned and oiled it, and put it back together. I re-threaded it, making sure to use the same thread on the top and bottom, a new needle, and I started with the tension at 0 for the top. I started practicing on my quilt sandwich, and it was terrible. So, I adjusted the top tension up 1, and it was a little better. I kept going like this, until my tension was at 5(which is the average for my machine) and it was still doing it. So, I tried the bobbin tension, and I got it almost perfect, there was still some eyelashing on the top, but no nests on the back, which was a huge improvement. This took me quite a few hours of fiddling, so I took a break and came back to it later. When I got back to the machine, I decided to run a sandwich through it again, just to make sure it was still set like it needed to be. As I was sewing along, it seems that my tension loosened itself, and it went haywire again. I tried changing the needle and re-threading the machine again.

I'm at a loss as to what to do, any suggestions?

Reply

First, I want to CONGRATULATE YOU!

I know you're frustrated right now, but you've already shown the 'stick-to-it-tive-ness' that will make you a good machine quilter. You have tried all the obvious things that I would have tried, too. So...

Getting down to the nitty-gritty, given that the machine was doing fine, you left it for awhile and when you came back to start again, it seemed like the tension loosened itself, I think you should take your machine in to the repairman for a check-up.

Because you have a cover for the feed dogs, I'm assuming this is an older machine. Some of the parts may be at the end of their useful life and need to be replaced. The tension adjustment knob in my first sewing machine, an old Singer, is spring loaded. Mechanical parts just plain wear out over time.

Use machine quilting thread and not hand quilting thread...

Double check your quilting thread. Make sure it doesn't say it's for 'Hand Quilting'. Hand quilting thread sometimes has a glaze on it to make it easier to pull through the quilt sandwich. Sewing machines, on the other hand, don't like this glaze at all. If memory serves me correctly, it's either Guttermann or Mettler that glazes their hand quilting thread.

Tweaking Sewing Machine Tension...

Something that caught my eye in your description was that you started the tension setting at '0'. Then worked your way up. When the tension is set at zero, the only tension put on the needle thread is that caused by the friction of it against the thread guides on its way to the needle. A setting of 4-5, give or take a bit, seems to be the place to start when setting tension.

The big exception to this rule of thumb is monofilament thread. Monofilament has some inherent give or stretch to it. So to use it in your sewing machine, you offset set this by reducing the amount of tension the machine adds to it.

Larger, thicker threads usually require lower tension settings. They rub the guides more as they wind through your sewing machine, creating their own tension.

If you're adjusting tension and you just can't figure out which thread is causing the trouble, try using the same brand of thread, but use one color for the needle and and different color for the bobbin. You'll be able to see right away if one is poking through to the other side.

Adjusting Bobbin Tension...

To adjust bobbin tension, you must have turned the little screw on the bobbin case. This, too, is a temperamental part. The screw is minuscule and the threads do wear out. This would be another part to let the repairman know about.

That Pesky Eyelashing...

Eyelashing is caused by a combination of speed and tension. It happens on the curved portions of quilting lines. Your settings may be just fine for straight and gently arcing lines, but when you go around curves, do you tend to pull the quilt sandwich a bit faster? That is usually the cause of the eyelashing is the tension is OK otherwise.

The simple solution is to slow down a bit as you quilt the curves. I personally like a moderate, even pace as I quilt with no speeding up or slowing down. It's rather Zen-like after awhile. You may be able to tweak the tension tighter, just a wee bit, to help.

Again, I am so happy to see you jump right in and tackle your sewing machine's problems and then keep at it until you got it right. You will make a fine machine quilter!

Thank you for your question. Don't hesitate to ask more if you need to!

Readers, if you have more to add, please click on 'Click here to add your own comments' just below.

Thank you!

Piecefully,

Julie Baird
Editor

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