I have heard that these little bobbin washers help prevent skipped stitches in free motion quilting. They are pretty cheap, and you might give them a try.

They are essentially a paper thin little teflon washer that fits into your bobbin case before you put in the bobbin. It helps prevent friction between the bobbin and bobbin case.

I have one, but haven't used it yet. Give it a whirl. I think they are recommended by Sharon Schamber.

BethMI

the mystery continues. I tried the bobbin finger thing, forgot to mention that. Don't know if I mentioned I'm using BSR1. BUT instead of going on to the other quilt, I stuck with this same one, just went to other sections, nearer the edges. Didn't change a thing, bobbin threads all look fine. Stitch length is good, fairly consistent. I think it's got to be something about being in the center. More quilt shoved under the arm, more in my lap, but I'm certainly doing everything I can think of to keep it from pulling
The quilting I've just done, however, is also more open (wine glass) whereas the problem quilting is more curliques, tighter turns. Maybe I'll just have to try that short stitch length, hope it looks ok, 'cause I don't want to have to try to pull THAT out...
Anyway, I'll sleep on it, see if anyone else has an idea, & give that a go tomorrow....
thanks for the support!! 6 days to go...
Florence

Florence, This is so peculiar. I can't imagine what the problem is if you've tried all the suggestions. What did you set your top tension at? I set mine at 2.5. I don't lower the foot pressure at all. This actually sounds more like a bobbin tension problem than a top tension problem. Maybe your bobbin is having issues.

Florence, I don't know if your bobbin case has a little "finger" on it, but if it does, try threading your bobbin thread through it. Sometimes that helps the bottom tension.
So sorry for your frustration....

Problem! Nearing deadline, and all of a sudden I'm running in to BSR trouble. I've used it already on parts of this same quilt without ANY difficulty, and then it goes & starts skipping stitches. I haven't changed threads, did try a new needle, the same size. I've read every post on here and tried all the things mentioned.

I've changed the presser foot pressure but I can't see that's making any difference either way. Reducing the thread tension seemed to help, stopped the skipping, BUT then I've got the top thread showing on the back in a big way... (2 slightly different colors) I think I'd put up with the telltale dots if I had to, but it's SO loose that the bobbin thread can just be pulled right out! Between that & the skipping, I've ripped this quilting out 3 times already, and I'm afraid I'm going to wear out the fabric if I can't get this right!
I made a practice sample out of the same exact fabrics for all this testing, and with the above changes, it seemed ok again. Then I go back to the quilt, the problem comes back.

I also tried shortening the stitch length, but am not very pleased with the look, PLUS it looks quite different from all the other quilting already on the quilt, which was done at 2.0 with no problem. I HAVEN'T tried the really short stitches (1.0-1.5) on the actual quilt, b/c I don't think I'd be able to get them out if it's not right!!

The ONLY thing I can imagine is different is that I'm now working very near the center of the quilt. Could the weight of the quilt pulling be making this difference? I've got the quilt fully supported behind and to the left of the machine, but my machine is NOT set down in a cabinet, so I've just got the plastic 'shelf' that comes with the machine (440QE) (I'm sure there's a name for that piece, but frustration is turning my mind to mush!)


So what to do??
RESCUE ME!!

Florence

I finally tried my BSR on BSR1 and with the foot pedal engaged and wow I feel like it was the easiest thing....it worked great. Thanks you all for your input and ideas. I felt I had all the control I needed and the stitches were very even. It still wants to tug a little bit when I stitch over some of the heavily appliqued areas, but I found if I went even slower and held the fabric down very tightly it made it without skipping any stitches. I can't wait to use it again on another project....yippee a new toy to play with and not get too frustrated. Thanks again Karen

Does anyone know of a good instructional DVD for learning the BSR? The one on the web site is way to short to be good and doesn't really answer questions that I have. I've checked the Bernina site and the stuff there is just trying to sell it to you. The info in the book that comes with the machine doesn't really help either. I've been practicing and practicing and practicing and its not going well Thanks. Sandi in FL

Not tried the throwing across the room trick, but sounds expensive, as for the dogs, they better, but went to view the fish in the pond, or should I say, the pond without any fish. Seems like a heron had a really good breakfast. Thats twice now they have emptied it, so herons 25 (KOI that is) pond 0. WON'T BOTHER to restock as the herons will get so fat, they will fall out the sky and then we will be in trouble for harming the wildlife!!!!
lynn in really sunny but windy UK

I do believe you can but when you are new to the machine and learning it that kind of defeats the reason for it. However, throwing the machine across the room in anoyance at the sound is rather detrimental too.

Can't you just turn the bell off? My machine allows you to turn it off, and I do, but I have to watch it not to go too fast...It's best at a somewhat slower pace than without the BSR, but it also allows you to do things more precisely that way.

in bsr 1 with foot pedal! any suggestions?
Lynn

lmcfood wrote:

Hmm, were you in BSR1 or BSR2? I think I am usually on BSR1 and it doesn't beep at me.

I just had to unpick a couple of 1.6mm stitched seams and it's near impossible!!!

You and your dog are not seeing eye to eye lately are you!!??!!

I tried some tips on great quilting with the BSR, set tension down to 1.5 and stitches were so small you couldnt see them! My default is 2 on the 630, dont know if that makes a difference! ALSO tried slow speed aka Ritzy but then it kept beeping at me for going to fast, so you cant win! And by the way, this quilting business is more expensive than you realise, shut my Jack Russell in his crate so I could go and quilt and when I came back, noticed that the crate had been pushed up to my Welsh Dresser, and yes you guessed it, little b***** has chewed through bottom part of plinth and the carved molding on the front. Think I will just go and dispatch him now! :shock:
Lynn in now sunny UK