How to quilt - Elna Quilter's Dream 6003Q

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

Quilting is a bit more finicky than regular sewing. Be sure to ALWAYS RAISE the presser foot when threading the top thread. FWIW, I use a separate bobbin case for FMQ that I have tightened the tension to keep the bobbin thread from coming to the top of the sandwich, but I tend to use a finer thread for quilting so adjusting the bobbin takes care of it. In your case, however, it sounds like the top thread is staying under the fabric. I would try tightening the top tension. Also, install a brand new needle--a top stitch, embroidery, or microtex needle seem to work well for me. Test well on a sandwich made of the same fabric and batting and get it adjusted well before sewing on your quilt. Sometimes sewing speed will affect stitches under the fabric, or even on top.

5 Free Motion Quilting Problems and How to Fix Them

Correcting Sewing Machine Tension for Free Motion Quilting NQC

LOOPS Tension or Speed

https://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/machine-quilting-thread.html

https://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/sewing-machine-tension.html

https://www.generations-quilt-patterns.com/machine-quilting-tension-problems.html

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This is free motion quilting. There are a ton of web sites and videos available. You'll need a darning or free motion quilting foot for your machine. Drop the feed dogs. If you are certain you want to do free motion quilting, a Supreme Slider helps you move the fabric.
https://www.amazon.com/Supreme-Slider-Motion-Machine-Quilting/dp/B007XGITA2

Learn How to Free Motion Quilt Stippling

How to Free Motion Quilt on Regular Sewing Machine

Free Motion Quilting for Beginners 10 Tips

Free Motion Quilting Beginner Tutorial 1 of 4

Don't expect a quilt to be as accurate from a serger as from a sewing machine. First, you probably want to focus a strip quilt where rows of strips are stitched together. If you do strips, you won't have to worry so much about maintaining an exact 1/4" seam. You can also vary the widths of strips in order to camouflage any seam variations. Avoid a pattern that requires points being aligned! Any seam width variances will not as obvious as an error (it is intensive getting an accurate 1/4" on a sewing machine--so-o-o-o much more difficult on a serger). There are usually seam width marks on a serger that you can follow as a guide, but straight line serging is very difficult to accomplish. You can always try marking a line on your serger using painter's tape.

FWIW, making a strip quilt on a serger is a fast way of finishing a quilt. I divide my quilt into 3 or 4 sections, like making it in thirds or fourths. That way, when the quilt begins to grow, you are not constantly grappling with flipping or turning the heavy and bulky fabric. Instead, do each section separately, then stitch the sections together to make the whole quilt.

Also, be sure to press all the seams of a strip quilt in the same direction.

Strip Quilt Patterns

4 Free Strip Quilt Patterns That Standout from the Crowd Fons Porter

How To Sew An Easy Strip Quilt

https://www.quiltinaday.com/community/topic.asp?forum=2&topic=5481

Make FAST Serger Strip Quilt with 1 4 square Triangles

You need to drop the feed dogs, install a darning or free motion quilting foot (make sure the presser foot is lowered). Because you will not be using the machine to move the fabric, the stitch length selection is of no importance. Make sure the stitch width is set to zero. You should test FMQ on a scrap quilt sandwich of the same makeup of your project, ie quilt fabric with batting sandwiched between. The upper tension should be set so that both threads meet in the middle of the quilt sandwich. Because it is FMQ, some extra adjustment may be needed.

Once the tension is where you want it, you can practice FMQ until you can move it smoothly in conjunction with the machine speed.

Practicing on a white board with erasable markers is a handy way to learn to move smoothly. The most difficult part of free motion quilting is learning to move the fabric smoothly. Do NOT lack for practice as that is the only way to improve. Those people who make it look simple have been doing it for years!

How to Free Motion Quilt on Regular Sewing Machine

Free Motion Quilting for Beginners Part 1 Video from Sewing with Nancy

Free Motion Quilting

Learn How to Free Motion Quilt Stippling

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Pantograph - IntelliQuilter® ' Computerized Quilting ...

www.intelliquilter.com/iQpedia/Pantograph.php

A pantograph pattern is one that goes from edge to edge, over the entire quilt ...patterns - there are some interesting combinations you can use to create ... Remember to align the on-screen quilt to the quilt on the machine before you sew (use the ...Touch Realign, and follow the on-screen prompts: Find a reference point on ...

Baby Lock: Ellure

babylock.com/sewing/ellure/

With a 5" X 7" embroidery hoop and a wide variety of built-in stitches and designs, ...With 120 frame patterns and a large library of built-in designs (including 40 ... cover so you see your progress and avoid running out of thread mid-stitch. ... Baby Lock IQ Technology is what makes Baby Lock machines so smart and efficient.

[PDF]Quilt Magician Manual updated 4-23-12.indd - TinLizzie18

tinlizzie18.com/images/Quilt-Magician-Manual-updated-4-23-12.pdf

This manual will cover everything you will need to know to RUN your Quilt ... Let's getto know your Quilt Magician™... .... pattern boxes at one time, the system will onlyrun the pat- ... You can have as many patterns as you like in each pattern box. Circle for. Start. (X) for ... button and follow the on screen steps to re-calibrate.

[PDF]SideSaddle (SS) Users Manual - The Quilting Solution

You will want to bind your quilt. Go to YouTube and search for "bind a quilt" or something similar and watch the video tutorials. There are several ways of binding a quilt, so you'll need to decide which method you want to use.

youtube bind quilt Google Search

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here are some links for video's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Joc7YXh_4KU

http://www.sewingmachine-sales.co.uk/video/pfaff-quilting-edge-guide.htm

http://www.sewingmachine-sales.co.uk/video/pfaff-quilting-needle-plate.htm

http://www.quiltersclubofamerica.com/forums/t/7892.aspx

http://quiltingtutorials.com/

http://www.diaryofaquilter.com/2011/06/simple-stripes-quilt-tutorial.html

http://anyonecanquilt.typepad.com/my_weblog/machine-quilting-tutorial/

http://www.sewhappy.me/tutorials/

This should be an easy fix, something is wrong with the upper threading. Take the thread off the machine, raise the presser foot up and rethread the machine, that should take care of it.

Try a different needle. Use a quilting or topstitch or even a metallic needle - one that has a larger scarf than normal. The scarf is the groove at the back of the needle where the thread goes while the stitch is being formed. Quilting threads often need more "room" there. I have been told that the Inspira quilting needles are good because they have a thread groove on the front and the back of the needle. Not tried them personally but might be worthwhile for you to consider.

For the looping, you could fiddle with your tensions a little either loosening the bobbin tension or tightening the top, or both. Only ever do this in very small increments. But the good news is that even the "professional" quilters do not have perfect quilt backs - just have a look at them at quilt shows!
Pam M.