Sponsors
Sponsors
Machine shreds my thread (Moderated by EleanorSews)
Posted on: 3/31/14 12:53 PM ET
My new janome horizon 8900 is a floor model purchase. Upon getting it home I jumped right in & cleaned it. I then attempted to chain piece my next quilt project & the machine shreds the thread as I try to space my chain pieces. I also have issues with it when I FMQ. I've had the machine for a little more than two months. The dealer is 50 miles away & insists it's a "user" issue. I can't problem solve this to save my life. :/
Posted on: 3/31/14 12:56 PM ET
In reply to Littlenit
Check the needle plate for nicks. These can be smooth out.
Larger eye needle may also help.
For the FMQ, have you tried the Little Genie Magic Washers? You may also have to reduced the presser foot pressure.
Using a thread stand, or dropping the the spool into a mug (I place this next to the right end of the machine within easy reach) will help if the top thread is not feeding as smooth as it should.
-- Edited on 3/31/14 1:08 PM --
------
Larger eye needle may also help.
For the FMQ, have you tried the Little Genie Magic Washers? You may also have to reduced the presser foot pressure.
Using a thread stand, or dropping the the spool into a mug (I place this next to the right end of the machine within easy reach) will help if the top thread is not feeding as smooth as it should.
-- Edited on 3/31/14 1:08 PM --
------
OLD CHINESE PROVERB: I HEAR & I FORGET; I SEE & I REMEMBER; I DO & I UNDERSTAND.
Posted on: 3/31/14 3:44 PM ET
I use the little genie washers as well as the supreme slider. I have tried all kinds of needles. I have adjusted the the foot hight.
It only seems to shred my thread when FMQ'ing from right to left. I use a different throat plate for my chain piecing and it only shreds my thread when it comes off of the fabric as I chain piece. I had it back to the dealer once already. She seems very busy & quite convinced it is not the machine. I've made arrangements to trade the floor model in for a new machine. I just feel really stupid having to return it. I had much less issues with my singer stylist. I just wanted to upgrade to a machine designed for quilting. I just hope that it's the machine. I'll feel even worse if I have the same problems with the new one.
I started out with the stand. I switched to isacord thread too. I've used embroidery needles, top stitching needles, sharp as well as universal needles. To no avail.
-- Edited on 3/31/14 3:51 PM --
It only seems to shred my thread when FMQ'ing from right to left. I use a different throat plate for my chain piecing and it only shreds my thread when it comes off of the fabric as I chain piece. I had it back to the dealer once already. She seems very busy & quite convinced it is not the machine. I've made arrangements to trade the floor model in for a new machine. I just feel really stupid having to return it. I had much less issues with my singer stylist. I just wanted to upgrade to a machine designed for quilting. I just hope that it's the machine. I'll feel even worse if I have the same problems with the new one.
I started out with the stand. I switched to isacord thread too. I've used embroidery needles, top stitching needles, sharp as well as universal needles. To no avail.
-- Edited on 3/31/14 3:51 PM --
Posted on: 3/31/14 3:48 PM ET
In reply to Littlenit
Don't feel bad about trading your machine for one that will work better for you. You have a big investment there and it needs to feel right. (I don't believe that it's NOT the machine.)
------
------
Linda
Bernina 830LE - Brother Dreamweaver VQ3000 - Bernina B-770QE - Janome 6600P - Pfaff 1209 - Babylock Evolution - Babylock Sashiko2 - Babylock BLCS-2
Bernina 830LE - Brother Dreamweaver VQ3000 - Bernina B-770QE - Janome 6600P - Pfaff 1209 - Babylock Evolution - Babylock Sashiko2 - Babylock BLCS-2
Posted on: 3/31/14 3:58 PM ET
In reply to lgrande
Thanks Linda,
I really needed that encouragement. None of my friends or family sew at all so I have had to search the internet to learn how to sew as well as trouble shoot. I thought I would give it one last hurah before giving up the ghost. ;)
I really needed that encouragement. None of my friends or family sew at all so I have had to search the internet to learn how to sew as well as trouble shoot. I thought I would give it one last hurah before giving up the ghost. ;)
Posted on: 3/31/14 4:04 PM ET
In reply to Littlenit
somewhat to echo lgrande -- is the machine/isn't the machine -- doesn't matter. For the money you paid the dealer should be able to make it work. You are right to trade if they can't. I also don't have other sewers or time to go to classes and am mostly self-taught through the internet (including LOTS) of help from this message board. I have been back to my dealer several times with problems. Lots of them were user error (like one time when I just didn't have my serger needles inserted all they way -- couldn't figure it out for the life of me); others were issues where the machine needed service. Either way they sit down with me till it works. That is part of what you are paying for if you purchase from a dealer.
------
------
Mostly Babylock: Ellegante, Crescendo, Evolution, Ovation. Plus a Sailrite LSZ-1
Member since 2/4/08
Posts: 1060
Posts: 1060
Australian Capital Territory Australia
Skill: Intermediate
Skill: Intermediate
Posted on: 3/31/14 4:07 PM ET
Have you changed the thread to see if it happens with other thread? Can you show the dealer what it is doing and ask her what adjustments she thinks it needs. If the techs are on site maybe you could arrange to show them?
I really sympathise, that's a lot of outlay for it to not perform one of its main tasks.
------
I really sympathise, that's a lot of outlay for it to not perform one of its main tasks.
------
Tracy, Canberra
Janome 7700QCP, Janome 4618QC, Husky S25 overlock/coverstitch
Janome 7700QCP, Janome 4618QC, Husky S25 overlock/coverstitch
Posted on: 3/31/14 4:09 PM ET
In reply to PattiAnnJ
Thank you PattiAnnJ so much for your time and great troubleshooting suggestions. I truly appreciate it. :)
Posted on: 3/31/14 4:30 PM ET
In reply to Littlenit
Quote:
I just feel really stupid having to return it.
I just feel really stupid having to return it.
There are dealers who play on the fact that their clients are women and that this is so easy to do to women. Can you imagine MEN saying that?
Nope. You are NOT stupid and you have a very very valid complaint here. Take that machine in and kindly and gently stand up for your rights as a consumer. Be very polite and don't let 'em see you sweat!
------
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." --Dalai Lama
https://eyeletsintheseams.blogspot.com
Pfaff 1222E, Elna eXcellence 720, Brother Innovis PS500, Brother SE400, Brother 1034D, Sunbeam irons ;)
https://eyeletsintheseams.blogspot.com
Pfaff 1222E, Elna eXcellence 720, Brother Innovis PS500, Brother SE400, Brother 1034D, Sunbeam irons ;)
Posted on: 3/31/14 4:30 PM ET
Since you already made arangements to trade it, I think trade it.
But, "chain piece my next quilt project & the machine shreds the thread as I try to space my chain pieces" to me sounds like you are really trying to sew over plain air, with no fabric and no paper and no even clear stabilizer under your pressure foot and stitch plate at all too.
Most sewing machines just don't do that very good, for very long at all.
And overlocker can do that instead, just because it can chain on and off that way, because it does not even use a lock stitch, but sewing machines can't so much at all.
If you try to sew "on air" with no fabric or paper or stabilizer under the pressure foot for too long, and too long could be anything, then you probably do get a thread tangle, and a mess and shredding thread, and then even your feed dogs scrape up the bottom of your pressure foot, and your needle might be hitting your stitch plate and making rough scratches and dings on it, and maybe even your needle hitting your hook, and doing the same there. So in case you think that might be going on, maybe check that out too.
I do think some sewing machines are a bit better for that than others sometimes, if you are sewing off the edge of something, or even trying to sew scallops of the edge of some fabric into air with no stabilizer or fabric under there at all, and probably for lots of factors working in there too each time, but they just are not made to really do that either. I know on some of mine I can sometimes get away a bit with that more than others, but not too far or for too long at all. So are you sure you don't have unrealistic expectations of how a stitch is made and how there is supposed to be fabric in it too most of the time?
I think you had better try anything you want to do with any machine you want to buy before hand, just to make sure it really can do it also.
-- Edited on 3/31/14 4:41 PM --
But, "chain piece my next quilt project & the machine shreds the thread as I try to space my chain pieces" to me sounds like you are really trying to sew over plain air, with no fabric and no paper and no even clear stabilizer under your pressure foot and stitch plate at all too.
Most sewing machines just don't do that very good, for very long at all.
And overlocker can do that instead, just because it can chain on and off that way, because it does not even use a lock stitch, but sewing machines can't so much at all.
If you try to sew "on air" with no fabric or paper or stabilizer under the pressure foot for too long, and too long could be anything, then you probably do get a thread tangle, and a mess and shredding thread, and then even your feed dogs scrape up the bottom of your pressure foot, and your needle might be hitting your stitch plate and making rough scratches and dings on it, and maybe even your needle hitting your hook, and doing the same there. So in case you think that might be going on, maybe check that out too.
I do think some sewing machines are a bit better for that than others sometimes, if you are sewing off the edge of something, or even trying to sew scallops of the edge of some fabric into air with no stabilizer or fabric under there at all, and probably for lots of factors working in there too each time, but they just are not made to really do that either. I know on some of mine I can sometimes get away a bit with that more than others, but not too far or for too long at all. So are you sure you don't have unrealistic expectations of how a stitch is made and how there is supposed to be fabric in it too most of the time?
I think you had better try anything you want to do with any machine you want to buy before hand, just to make sure it really can do it also.
-- Edited on 3/31/14 4:41 PM --
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Fancy Frocks Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics
Fine Designer Fabrics






![Jennifer Lauren Isla Wrap Dress Digital Pattern [6-24]](https://images.patternreview.com/sewing/patterns/jenniferlauren/isla/isla_t.jpg)
