This may be a speed issue as well. Sometimes what looks like tension issues (as described) are actually the machine & our hands not being in good coordinated speed. Is there any chance that you can post a picture of what's happening?

Teri

What kind of throat plate are you using? Is it a throat plate that you can use a zig zag stitch? Sometimes, using a straight stitch throat plate or single hole throat plate helps with balancing the tension.

Laura, I know exactly what you mean--I have the same thing happen here and when I adjust the tension then the top thread shows on the back of the quilt. I wonder if it is like Rob Appell was talking about when he was talking about skipped stitches. Maybe it is the same thing? What do you think?

Laura, you might need to adjust your bobbin tension. You can read Dr. Bob Purcell's educational topics about thread tension here:

http://www.superiorthreads.com/education/

So, I have been noticing in my FMQ that my bobbin thread is showing up on the top in the spots where I am changing direction, like if I am doing a flower, and have done the circle for the centre, as I do the petals and come back to the original circle I'm not going fast, but when I switch to the next petal, I have a little bunch of the bobbin thread showing. It's not that bad unless I am using different thread colors between front and back and then it's very noticeable. I've adjusted my upper tension, changed to a different thread, changed needles, changed needle sizes and it still happens. Is there any thing else to try to avoid this?? It happens also when I have stitched in the same place a few times, when I go to stop and reposition my hands, I'm noticing it there as well.