How to Free Motion Quilt; Tension Adjustments
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- Опубликовано: 18 май 2013
- Showing the basic movements and tips for free motion quilting, including how to adjust thread tension. Part of a series of How To Free Motion Quilt at Amy's Free Motion Quilting Adventures, www.freemotionquiltingadventur...
Visit Amy's online shop at AmyQuilts.com for her favorite quilting tools, feet, rulers and more to make quilting easier and more fun. 
Хобби
this helped me a lot, thank you. I just finally managed to get the tension right using your method, and managed some wobbly writing on a quilt square, for a quilt i am making for my daughter. Its my very first quilt, so i don't care if the writing is wobbly, it all looks home made and she is going to love it 😀💕
Thank you Amy.Very informative and you covered all the bases.
So glad I found this video. I've been struggling with FMQ, you gave me some good ideas on what to do.
What a brilliant informative tutorial. Thanks so much.
I just want to say thank you for all your help! I was so confused about tension and now I know my number for my machine and to go slow! I'm quilting now!
So glad to hear it!
Splendid confidence builder! Thank you so much for Using the Supreme Slider :-)
You're welcome. I'm quite a fan of the slider.
Your videos are the best on U-Tube for FMQ. Not only can I now sort out tension, but you also inspired me to make feathers (another of your videos). Many many thanks!
Why, thank you! Such encouraging words.
I agree Gwen! I've only just discovered her videos last night but I'm thrilled at how well they are done for explaining as well as easy to watch what she's doing!
*blush*
Seems like no mater what tension I’m on, it’s nothing but “ nesting” as you quilters call it, so frustrating, but I’ll keep watching and keep trying unless my machine flys out a window lol
Thanks for videos!
Thank you for the captioning!
Very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks so much for your help. You are an excellent Teacher.
Thank you!
Really like "this method" of testing tension for freehand--and, will adapt it to regular piecing as well. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
great teacher thanks
Thanks Amy, most helpful as I have long lashes behind I shall now run a test for tension and go from there.
Hugs WAH
You're quite welcome!
Excellent! Thank-you very much.
Thanks Amy!
Thank you Amy 😻
thank you for all that you have shown me
You're quite welcome!
Once again Amy you have cleared some things up. It is hard to get those hands just the way they should be. Today I'm making some practice "sandwiches" and I'm anxious to get to trying the suggestions you have given me. Bless you and your willingness to help us wanna be quilters.
Sally F i
excellent. It will be helpful to see the photos at the end. Thanks. Ma in N. Calif.
This was very helpful. Do you have any suggestions on how to adjust the tension on the Artistic SD? I've had issues with it since day 1. The bobbin thread is always showing. I've tried a full range of tensions and can't seem to find the sweet spot. Any ideas?
I recently changed my FMQ thread to Isacord, I am using a 90/14 topstitch needle. i'll be Quilting along and the top stitch makes a long stitch top with a shredded nest on the bottom side. i rethread, take the bobbin out then place back and try again. Also i have changed the needle. The tension looks good. I am a novice. Still trying to get my rhythm with hands and pedal.PS love your videos.So cool
Hmmm... so hard to diagnose some things via comment. If that one long stitch is actually a result of skipped stitches (needle goes down, but doesn't make an actual stitch) you could think a bigger needle is needed, but a 90/14 is big enough for Isacord. Check how the thread is feeding off the spool. If it is getting hung up while on a horizontal spool pin, see about getting a "special spool cap" or using a cone stand. (This kinda depends on your machine. There's a bit of kink to this thread and it can twist up if it's not feeding just right.) See this post I did for my Janome shop: www.sewsimpleoflynchburg.com/2017/01/06/better-feeding-of-threads-for-better-stitches/
Thanks, Amy, Good read on your blog. The thread did get caught up between the spool cap and the spool but just once. It did cross my mind to try the cone stand. Fingers crossed. Thanks again.
Very helpful, thank you
Thank you thank you for this video!! You are so careful to explain all the details... I have watched dozens of videos trying to figure out tension and finally I found yours. Did I say Thank You?? :)
Really practical and I know it will help. Thank you.
I have a Pfaff quilt expression 4. I use my spring motion foot rather than the darning foot that the machine comes with. the default tension is set on 5.2 which doesnt work for any thread. wonder why that is the default? I usually have to turn the tension down to 2.8. I come back to my machine another day and I have to set tension at ? 3.2. Sometimes get eyelashes on top, sometimes on bottom. I always have to adjust tension depending on the thread I'm using. 30wt, sulky rayon 40 wt. aurifil 50 wt. etc.... (I do usually use 50wt. in bobbin)
Anyone out there use the same machine I do? any suggestions?
Questions
1. lowering the tension number, does that loosen the top thread or tighten it
2. Is my tension issue due to the fact that I am still in the practice mode for FMQ?
Where do you find quilt and slide? Thank you for this excellent video!
Does it matter what type of thread to use when quilting? If so what makes the difference? Thank you for the tutorial.
So sorry for the late response. I don't think youtube sends me all my notifications about comments. Anywho, you've likely found an answer by now, but I prefer a strong, high quality thread as it gets quite a workout when free motioning. My favorite is trilobal polyester 40wt embroidery thread, which is carried by several makers. I use Glide the most, but Isacord is another similar thread. No lint, smooth, and strong.
I have the same convertible foot as you have. My instruction booklet states not to pull the fabric toward you with the open toe foot on. Do you know why this is?
Not a clue as to why with the open toe, but it's always a good idea to not pull the fabric directly towards you as there's greater needle deflection and also because the thread comes out the back of the needle, it can cause issues. See this blog post of mine for a better explanation: www.freemotionquiltingadventures.com/2018/04/shredded-thread-four-things-to-check.html
Do you change the thread length?
Hi, I have found your video's and the blog invaluable in teaching myself to quilt and to freehand embroider. However, the quilt I made using freehand embroidery feels a little rough on one side due to the stitches being loose underneath. They have not tightened up enough so the quilting on that side doesn't have that puffy look that you get when you quilt with a nice thick batting. Can you please give me any advice as to how to fix this please? I really do struggle understanding tensions, even with this video and my test piece that I made as you show in the video. I use the singer futura Xl embroidery machine if this helps in any way. Any advice or suggestions as to how to tighten up the stitching underneath would be welcomed. Thank you again, so much for the wonderful videos that you share and your blog. You have kind of become my teacher. The tension is the only thing I just can't seem to get right. Thank you in advance. X
So sorry for the late response. I don't think youtube sends me all my notifications about comments. Anywho, you've likely found an answer by now, but it sounds as if your top tension needs to be tightened.
Amy Johnson Hi Amy, thank you so much for replying. I had decided not to do anymore freehand until I found the answer, but you have now answered the question thoroughly. So thank you for this, I will now get to the quilt I want to make. I asked smother lady but got no response and then I got a little poorly so was too tired to quilt. But I am now raring to go again.
Your response is never too late, it's nice to think that I am getting advice from someone so talented and proven. Thank you so much again for taking the time to reply.
What don't I want to see I have got red thread in my bobbin and I'm using white bread I take it I don't want to see the white thread I guess I'm really not for sure so would you please let me know
If the top thread is showing on the bottom, tighten your top tension. Contrasting colors are hard to balance if you are working on an actual quilt project.
What is the best thread for this?
This is a great tutorial. I'm having lots of problems trying to learn to free motion quilt and the tension has been the problem. The top will look fine but the underneath has the eye lashes on the curves. Thank You for the bigggg help. I will win this battle.
Tightening the tension should help (top), but also keep in mind that if you are new to FMQ, the smoothness (or rather the lack of it) of your hands will affect your tension. If you have tension issues in just certain areas (Like the top right side of a circle, or tips of feather shapes) this is more a hand and speed issue instead of tension issue and will resolve as you get more experienced.
Amy Johnson Thank you for responding, I'm not only new to FMQ, I'm new to sewing. I've never sewed enough to really learn it and now at 77 and retired with a great- grandson almost 2 ,I want to make blankets and this quilt. I have the handprints of the parents, the grandma and the great grandma (me) to put on the quilt. I have an older Kenmore and not very familiar with it. Your tension tutorial will help me a lot. I notice I get the eye lashes when I make a curve in the loop, like a big U. My foot pedal is kind of stiff so I may have my grandson take a look at it. In the meantime I'm looking for a good machine that will be easier to use. I'm wondering if the material may be my problem, I'm using flannel for the top and the warm and natural (Ithink) for the batting and then just a thin cotton for the back. Should that cause tension problems?
Sally F I don't think the material is the problem. When it comes to those curves, try slowing your hands down a bit. Our hands tend to speed up when we whip out the curves which tends to cause those tension issues seen only in the curves.
if you could explain what it means to get eyelashes or red dots on the back or red dots on the top or black etc.. What does all of that mean? Is it that the tension is too tight or too loose etc. Otherwise I loved your video
Sure! Eyelashes is a term used to describe tension imbalances (usually on the back) where the thread from the opposite side is being pulled to the back. Tension adjustments are typically done just on the top side, where we can easily change it with accuracy since there are numbers on the dial or menu. So for example, if I say the tension is too tight, I'm seeing my bobbin thread on the top and the top tension needs to be loosened.
What kind of sewing machine are you using? Thanks.
Janome 8200 here.
Amy Johnson
Thank you. That machine is at the top of my list to purchase.
Oh perfect!!! You're a saint...lol! Why didn't I think of using the two different colors of threads? Another question...the gloves you're wearing - are they cotton to keep the fabric clear of body oil & soil? Or are they rubberized for a better grip to guide the fabric? Or both?
I promise I'll try not to turn this into 20 questions...thank you so much for anwering quickly when someone asks you a question tho'...very much appreciated!
~Ginger
A saint I am not, but I try. As far as the gloves, they're Machingers which have grippy tips to help move the quilt better. More comfortable than other options.
Thank you again! The things I didn't even know existed! I've been a lifelong classic teddy bear maker so I didn't have a lot of worries about fabrics slipping.
So you would recommend these for this kind of glove for stitching then?
Just for free motion quilting.
Amy Johnson Thanks Amy...that's what I thought!
I'm waiting for some to arrive from Amazon & then watch me go! LOL!
what do i do when i have large skipping during free motion
Virgina Davila likely switch to a bigger needle. I use a universal 90/14. Also, while I do stitch slow, you don't want to go so slow that your needle is "ping-ing" as it comes out of the fabric. Finally, if your machine is slightly out of time, it will show up in fmq before regular sewing.
Thank you for your video. However, also look at the bottom thread because the top can look fine and the bottom horrible.
what kind of machine do you have?
This was on a Janome 6600, but I use a Janome 8200 now.
Is it possible to free-motion quilt on a singer confidence? My tension only goes to 3 in either direction
Is the thread quilting thread? I cannot get my tension just perfect eyelashes on the back....I cannot get the perfect adjust ment on my babylock aventura
If your eyelashes are mainly in the curves, leave the tension alone and work on consistency of your speed. We all tend to whip our hands around the curves, which results in eyelashes. If even your straight runs of stitching in free motion is showing top thread on the back, increase your tension.
What is your stitch length?
Hi Lisa, when working in free motion, your feed dogs are down and your hands control the stitch length. So it can vary a lot. Eventually, you will get a more regular stitch length, but that can still vary based on the size of the design you are stitching. I've been asked this question before, so I have measured stitches in the past. On a medium design, I'm usually getting about 10-11 stitches per inch. As far as what my machine might be set at, it depends on the brand and model. On this particular machine, when I select free motion, it automatically puts the stitch length to zero. On other machines I use, the stitch length goes to zero when I drop the feed dogs. Other machines stay on the same stitch length setting but since the feed dogs are down, it doesn't matter. I'm a fan of having the stitch length move or set to 0 when doing free motion quilting, just so they aren't still making their circular path down in the machine.
@@AmyQuilts thanks for your response. I've discovered that my 90's Husqvarna sewing machine only likes quilting on small blocks! The drag that results with quilting a large quilt makes very large stitches!! The foot I purchased was for this machine apparently and looks more like a darning foot with a clear plastic bottom. I will look into QAYG blocks for my next quilt that I want embellished. My large quilts I am happy to quilt straight lines using my walking foot (which I absolutely love). Love your tutorials esp on start and stop threads on quilt that you embellish!! Needless to say I have subscribed!
so it's too loose if you're getting eyelashes?
Yes, eyelashes on the back means the top tension is too loose. BUT if it's only in curves, it is caused by uneven handspeed in the curves.
Eyelashes on bottom