Good Morning, Quilters!
We have a busy week here at The Inbox Jaunt–including a BIG Announcement–so stay tuned…
Today–a machine quilting Quick Tip…one that seem sooooo obvious once you see it…
Some machine feet are “open”-like my favorite for machine quilting, BERNINA’s #24 Free Motion Embroidery Foot.
Other feet have a slit in the front or the side for your to slide the thread after threading the needle.
But what do you do when you have a foot that is completely closed–an enclosed ring–like BERNINA’s #72 Adjustable Ruler Foot?
Most of us fuss around and insert the thread through the foot.
There is a faster and easier way…
Unlatch the foot from the machine and lift it up–effectively threading the needle through the foot–then pull the thread through and re-attach the foot.
Presto! Chango!
Fast and easy!
Every time you use this trick I want you to think of me! LOL! (Every time I use it, I think of my friend, Jeanne from BERNINA, who taught it to me!)
What about YOU?
Do YOU have any machine quilting quick tips YOU’d like to share!?
We’d LOVE to hear!
May your days be filled with happy stitching!
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of Lori Kennedy at The Inbox Jaunt and are intended for personal use. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to The Inbox Jaunt. For all other purposes, please contact me at lckennedy@hotmail.com. Thanks!PS…If you like these motifs and tips, be sure to check out my book, Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 .
32 comments
Suzanne G.
Great tips for handling threads! I generally use the “send the needle down, then up” method, pull up the bobbin thread with the top thread and sweep them back with a seam ripper or some other narrow tool. I also hold both threads to the back and keep them slightly taut as I make the first 2 or 3 stitches. This seems to prevent thread nesting.
On an unrelated topic: I am a senior and for a while had been having quite a problem “tracking” my stitching during FMQ. Even with my new glasses I was going a little goofy trying to produce nice designs; I couldn’t keep my eyes focused where I wanted them. I tried working more slowly (awful stitches), I tried speeding up (disaster!) I kept changing presser feet, some open, some not, some clear plastic, some metal and nothing helped until the day I put on an open metal darning foot that I’d never used before and suddenly I could FMQ again!. So what was the difference?
The darning foot DOESN’T hop!! Apparently the motion of the hopping foot really was messing with my eyes. It most likely has to do with age, I’m sure, but I’m so happy to be able to quilt again! Not that what I do is that great but now I’m improving – what a relief! Just thought I’d pass this on in case another “youngster” like me is having a similar problem.
Thanks for all the help you give us Lori!
Lori Kennedy
Thank you Suzanne for that tip! I do not prefer the true “hopping” feet either. What machine do you have and what is the number for the hopping foot and the other foot? Might be helpful!
Teri Coha
That is the best trick I have seen in awhile. I hated trying to thread through the foot. Whoo hoo!!!
Faith Alexander
Ironing is part of any sewing and that can result in burns. Should you burn your finger/ hand press the burned area against your earlobe. Yes, your earlobe!! The flesh absorbs the heat and in 10 min or so …. hold til the pain eases, ….no pain, no scar. NO JOKE. For children use your adult lobe. I have used this trick for years, and it always works .Plus you always have your ears with you.♡
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Amazing trick! Thanks for sharing! Hopefully I won’t need to use it soon!
Scrappychris
Wouldn’t it be ok to get someone who has the proper tool to make a cut on the foot so it is easy to get both threads where you want them and not having to drop the foot completely?
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I’m not sure. In most cases there is a reason it was designed without the slit.
Arvilla Trag
putting a slit in the foot would end up being expensive, as it is very tiny, would take special tools, and would have to be polished to eliminate the rough edges. It would be all around cheaper to just buy an open toe hopping foot.
Lynn
A tip for sewing seams on black and dark blue fabric: Rather than using black or dark blue thread use a medium to dark grey thread. That way if you need to “unsew” a seam you can see the thread.
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That is a great idea! Black thread is hard on old eyes!
Arvilla Trag
I just got silicone bobbin washers, purported to eliminate the rat’s nest at the beginning of a seam. They did do that, but my tension became so loose I can pull out the stitches with my fingers, no Jack the Ripper needed. No amount of adjustment helps. Anyone else have this issue?
Marta
To eliminate the rats or birdnests at the beginning of sewing, I read advice online. Advice was : 1. Lower needle by hand into the fabric, 2. lower the presser foot, 3. hold tight to the top and bobbin thread together, 4. Sew 4-7 stitches, 5, Let go of the threads and proceed with the seam. I have not had another nest since changing to that method. Wish I had the money back I spent at repair shops trying to solve nests.Works with my two different brand machines.The bobbin needs something to pull against to get started.l
WordPress.com Support
I don’t use those. I don’t think they are recommended for BERNINA s
Lynn
Have you tried using a “thread buddy” at the beginning and ending of a seam? (A small piece of fabric sewn through before beginning the seam and another at the end of the seam. Saves lots of thread too!) just cut the “buddies” off and reuse them.
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Love that! Thank you!
Mele
I had a problem with my quilting machine and I’m hoping you can help me fixed it. I’ve been taking it to the machine shop to get it fixed and it’s still the same thing. Anyways the problem is that when I press the button to go forward it goes backwards I don’t know what to do.
Arvilla Trag
Could you give the make and model?
Becky Thompson
Oh…my…goodness!! Brilliant! That’s definitely one of those WOW moments. Thank you!
farmquilter
On my longarm, I just put the needle down and back up. It picks up the bobbin thread (which you need on top for quilting)…just grab the tail of bobbin thread and pull your top thread through the hopping foot bottom. I’ll use my finger or tweezers to swipe at the top thread to get it all easily through the hopping foot. Much easier then trying to thread the hopping foot AND my bobbin thread is on top of the quilt, right where I need it – one action, two jobs completed, works for me!
Sue H
LOL! I most definitely WILL think of you every time I use this tip. Hahahaha! Thanks!!!!
Vanessa
Thank youyfor sharing! ????
Linda Denner
I recently purchased Bernina foot #15 which was recommended by an article in MQU. The dealer had to order it since it is relatively unknown. The lower part of the foot is oval and gives wonderful visibility. Great for free-motion on pieced work.
Robbie Carpenter
Good morning Lori! I need help. I feel so stupid but I can’t figure out how to get to another tutorial on your site. I would like the tutorial for the cute little sewing machine as posted above. Thank you so much for all your wonderful tips and tutorials. I love your book and look forward to your next one!
Lori Kennedy
I am working on making it easier to find and search for motifs and article…sorry it’s so hard!
Here’s the link to the sewing machine…(BTW–The Sewing Machine is included in my next book!) https://lorikennedyquilts.com/2015/03/17/the-sewing-machine-a-free-motion-quilt-tutorial/
Arvilla Trag
Alas, my Brother makes this process more complicated that it is worth. I just draw up my bobbin thread and then pull the top thread through from beneath the presser foot with the back edge of my seam ripper (aka Jack). Or I forget to do that and get things so seriously tangled around the foot that it takes scissors, much foul language and two glasses of white wine to sort it out.
Tessa
Great idea! With my older Bernina, a snap-on ruler foot is not available; I use Westalee’s ruler foot that screws on. So I “thread” the foot in a different way: Thread the needle, then holding on to the needle thread with my left hand, lower the ruler foot & take the needle down & up. Then lift the ruler foot up again, (still holding needle thread) and using a pointy tool in my right hand (bamboo skewer, tiny scissors, seam ripper, awl, etc), sweep under the ruler foot from right to left. This not only gets the upper thread through the ruler foot, it also brings the bobbin thread up to the surface of the quilt. Sounds complicated, but after you try it once or twice, it’s a simple motion.
Kerry
Same here – no need to take it off.
Pat in WNY
I do the same thing. Quick, easy and just becomes a natural motion after a few times.
Mary VanDoodewaard
That’s how I do it. No need to unlatch the presser foot.
Babs R
Exactly. And you can even skip using a pointy tool if you keep hold of the top thread but allow it some slack as it pulls up the bobbin.
Before the whole loop of bobbin thread has come up from below, slide your fabric an inch or so out from under the foot. That way, the bobbin thread will pull the top thread DOWN through the ruler foot ring WHILE the top thread is pulling the bobbin thread up to the surface. Both bottom AND top threads will appear below the ruler foot ring (if they don’t, then you’re pulling too tightly on the top thread).
Then you can swipe both of them at once with your finger, letting go of the top thread as you do so. Ta-da!
Move the fabric back under the foot, lower the foot, and start stitching.
You can get a glimpse of how to do this on the Handiquilter website in this video: https://youtu.be/916nfeYMdtU at about the 21:48 minute mark. Not great color contrast, but she does start with the top thread not passed through the ruler foot, and you will be able to see how she swipes it and the bobbin loop together to get them both out and under the ruler foot.
Marta
That’s great for most people.. But..but… when you have fat joints from arthritis, everything about changing or adjusting feet,, needles, etc. is an ordeal. I like to
grasp thread with my trusty tweezers and guide it through. Thank you…
Marta
Well…. that works only when lifting the presser foot is not possible.. LOL
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