I'm having a non-BSR free motion quilting problem that's got me stumped. My #29 clear foot and I are going happily along at a reasonable speed doing pretty even stitches and then it all goes horribly wrong. The quilt resists moving, I make teeny tiny stitches as if the top thread is jammed then WHOOSH, off we go again but usually in the wrong direction after having taken a a rather long stitch. It doesn't matter what kind of design or what direction I'm going.
This only happens when I am doing free motion quilting; not when I'm pieceing or using the walking foot.
I always do a test run on a quilt sandwich to make any adjustments before going to the project. I mainly use Superior threads and begin by following Bob's advice as to needle and tension. This problem happens with 100% cotton, polyesters, metallics, and glitters. Bottonline is in the bobbin.
These are the things I checked, rechecked and adjusted:
Machine cleaned and oiled
using supreme slider
feed dogs down
straight stitch plate
new needles
tension adjustments
presser foot pressure reduced to almost 0
machine stable in cabinet
no basting spray
metallic thread quide
bobbin threaded through finger (or not)
bobbin tension
I had DH watch the thread come of the spool while I sewed to determine if thread was getting hung up anywhere.
I get fooled into thinking I've got it right using the quilt sandwich and go to the project but it eventually happens again.
Need more suggestions or tips.