I have a Kenquilt long arm quilting machine. I am having trouble with the thread breaking. Any trouble shootin

Question

hints?

Answer 1

You don't say how long you've had the machine. If you're fairly new to it and are just working out the details, try the ideas below. If you've had it for a while and this is a new problem, you may need to talk to the dealer. I don't have that particular machine, but here are the things that I check on my short-arm set up.

1. Thread tension! First set the bobbin tension so it is fairly loose. If you hold the tail in your hand and drop the bobbin, it should fall easily, with just a little flick of your wrist. Once that's set, adjust your top tension as needed to match the bobbin. You'll need to sew on a practice piece to determine the adjustment. Check for bobbin thread showing on top, or top thread showing on bottom, and adjust the top tension accordingly (loosen if bottom thread is showing on top, tighten if top showing on bottom). It helps to use two different colors of thread.

2. Quilt tension. Make sure your quilt isn't too tight on the frame. It should be fairly loose - on mine I can poke a finger up from the bottom and grab it on top.

3. Quality of thread. Experiment with different threads. I've had luck with Superior, Aurifil and YLI, but every machine is different. Also, thread gets brittle with age, lack of humidity, and even exposure to sunlight.

4. Size of thread/size of needle. If you're using thick thread (smaller number = larger thread - 50 is fine thread, 28 is thick) you need to use a needle with a larger eye. I use an 18 needle. Regardless of the thread, you need a sturdier needle because of the additional stress of frame quilting.

5. Height of the take up rail. The bottom of the quilt rolled onto the take up rail should be just a finger's width above the base of the machine.

6. Stray thread in the bobbin area. Clean everything out, remove the bobbin, and needle plate, if possible. Check for thread caught in the bobbin works. I've had a 1/4" piece of thread give me fits for hours. It messes with the bobbin tension. You may need a flashlight and tweezers. If you use oil in the bobbin area on this machine, a drop can help you work the thread out.

7. The top thread is getting caught on something. Do not thread the needle, but do everything else. Pull on the thread - does it pull smoothly? If not, it may be getting caught somewhere. Backtrack through the thread path until you find where it's getting caught.

You might want to check out Yahoo! Groups - I belong to several and this is one of the most common questions. Try one specifically for your set up, or try one for long arm quilting systems in general (or even home quilting systems).

Answer 2

I ran into that on my Kenmore when I first started quilting on the machne.It's your tensions-both of them,I had to loosen the screw on my bobbin case to let it move more freely.No one -in all the books i'd read or looked at ever mentioned it.Try scraps in the thickness you'll be using and you'll find what works.I got a second bobbin case for my regular sewing,once I got the quilting flow right.