Activa 125 S- Trying to make a t-shirt quilt. Three layers per square: T-shirt with screened logo/picture. I need to sew an X through each 12inchx 12 inch square.

Page 5 of the manual. #32
https://www.bernina.com/en-US/Products-US/BERNINA-products/Sewing-Quilting-and-Embroidery/BERNINA-activa/BERNINA-activa-6#!support

Tension for stitching a quilt sandwich is tricky. It helps if you use the same color for top and bobbin thread,. If your quilting thread is not the same weight (either heavier or lighter) than thread used for regular sewing, then the bobbin tension may need to be adjusted. My quilting thread is lighter weight so I have a separate bobbin case whos tension has been adjusted specifically for quilting. The goal is have both threads meet in the middle of the sandwich. If the top thread is showing under the sandwich, you probably need to tighten the top tension so it will pull the bobbin thread up into the sandwich. Do the reverse if the bobbin thread shows on top.

It may also make a difference by changing the type and size needle. I tend to prefer a top-stitch needle. An embroidery or microtex may also work for you.

Machine Quilting Thread and Tension

Tension troubles on your quilting machine Try these tricks

5 Free Motion Quilting Problems and How to Fix Them

hi.
this is all i could find at the mo,try this link see if it helps you out.
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.crafts.textiles.quilting/PVKqfdUGW3Q
or this one.
Feed dog won come up on Bernina activa 210 Google Search

make sure that the thread tensions are correct for the thickness of material
remember that only the bottom foot walks and draws the material through so it may need a help and be pulled as it sews.
I find that women in sewing shops just love to talk about problems and how they can help so find a shop and discuss any problems with them

Could be several things.

First, install a brand new needle, perhaps a top-stitch needle will work better because it has a groove in the shaft that protects the thread. Make sure the needle is the appropriate size for the thread you are using--a needle eye that is too small will cause the thread to hang or shred. When the needle penetrates the sandwich, the top thread forms a loop. If the eye is too small, the thread will not come back up through the sandwich, leaving a loop under the fabric.

Remove the top thread from the machine.
ALWAYS RAISE the presser foot and rethread from the beginning.
Set the top tension to the midway point and retest your machine on a quilt sandwich made of the same fabric layers as your project.. Tension problems are more evident when sewing multiple layers of fabric, so tweak the tension until the top and bobbin threads meet in the middle of the sandwich.

I don't believe you will have to adjust the bobbin tension, but in case you do, be very careful. Mark the tension screw setting FIRST so you can reverse any changes you make. Bobbin adjustments are made in very SMALL increments. Because I tend to use a lighter weight thread for my quilting, I have a specific bobbin case that is adjusted for my quilt thread and I keep my other bobbin for regular sewing. Then I don't have to keep adjusting the bobbin tension when going from sewing a quilt to something else.

Some machines do better with certain brands of threads than others.

Adjusting Sewing Machine Tension to Prevent Problems

12 wt thread generally will not work well in the bobbin...


"Aurifil 12wt Thread
Aurifil 12 wt thread is ideal for hand quilting, big stitch hand quilting and machine quilting. 12 weight thread creates a more defined and often primitive look. It's great for designs that use a longer stitch length if using a machine. When machine quilting with 12 wt thread, use 40 wt in the bobbin, increase your stitch length, lower your tension, use Topstitch size 90 needles and stitch slowly."

Have you tried bees wax?

I assume you are doing free motion quilting? Use the V Menu, choose the first stitch. If you are using the Q Sensor foot or the spring free motion foot, go into the Set menu, hit "More" twice then turn On for either the Q Foot or Free motion. Make sure you have Needle Down turned on (top right-hand button on the left side above the needle). You might need to loosen the top tension by one or two clicks - first screen of the Set menu, under the picture that looks like DNA. A Size 90 needle is probably best and if the quilt is difficult to move about you might like to either use the Sewing Advisor to set for Heavy fabric or lessen the upper presser foot pressure - Set menu once again, next picture after the DNA. I have never had to do this with my D1 but I know some other people have. Get back if things are not working well for you.
Pam

I know this is strange, but make sure the pressure foot is down. When I quilt sometimes, after getting the bulk under the needle, I forget to put the pressure foot down or it get's knocked back up by the quilt and causes the same problem. Good luck.

either the bobbin thread is not in the lower tension or the lower tension is too loose or the top(upper) tension is too tight.
sewman7