Today’s Topic: Machine Quilting Perfect Tension
Other topics we will cover this week:
- Wavy Line Motifs
- Five Ways to Grip a Quilt for Machine Quilting
- The Messy Spiral and Other Motifs
- Bobbin Cases
Welcome to Week Six!
of The Better Machine Quilt-a-long based on my book 25 Days to Better Machine Quilting.
Find all of the previous Lessons HERE.
Sign up for emails of the class HERE.
Good Morning, Quilters!
Welcome to another week of happy quilting. This week we will focus on tension for machine quilting. We will review what good tension looks like and how to achieve it. In addition, we will learn a few new motifs to add to our workbasket.
It’s another family-filled week here. I hope to stick to my blogging schedule…but if something better comes along, I hate to say it, but I might stand you up.
(Minnesota Statutes 1.01 Mandatory Practices. Subdivsion 1. All residents must take advantage of good weather when available regardless of other duties including dusting, blogging, etc.)
Manufacturer Calibrated Tension
Most sewing machine manufacturers calibrate tension using 50 wt thread on the top and in the bobbin. The technicians adjust the machine to create a balanced straight stitch while sewing on two pieces of fabric.
Well…. when we are free motion quilting, we are using a variety of thread weights on top, from 100wt to 12 wt. In addition, We add a layer of batting between the cotton. And we are definitely not just straight or zig zag stitching-we are (gently) pushing and pulling our quilts in all directions!
In other words, we are using our machines outside of her(!?) tension “comfort zone”.
Therefore, it is likely we will need to make a few tension adjustments to attain The Perfect Quilting Stitch.
Balanced Tension for Machine Quilting
In balanced machine quilting tension, the top thread and the bobbin thread meet in the middle of the batting. You should not see the top thread on the back of the quilt, nor should you notice the bobbin thread when looking at the top of the quilt.
In the illustration above, imagine you are looking at an unbound quilt from a side view. You can see the blue quilt top, the gray batting and the green backing. When the tension is balanced, the brown top thread meets the red bobbin thread and they twist in the batting layer.
From the top of the quilt, you can see the blue quilt fabric with even brown stitches. From the back of the quilt, you see the green backing with even red bobbin stitches.
When the Top Tension is Too High
When the top tension is too high, it pulls the bobbin thread to the top of the quilt. The twist (where the top and bobbin threads meet)- is noticeable on the top of the quilt and shows up as dots of color on top of the quilt. (See red bobbin thread dots on top of blue quilt-illustration above.)
On the back of the quilt, the stitch looks tight and poorly formed.
When the Top Tension is Too Low
When the top tension is too low, the bobbin thread pulls the top thread to the back of the quilt. The stitching on the top of the quilt is tight and poorly formed. On the back of the quilt, you will notice dots or pulled lines of top thread.
When the Top and Bottom Tension are Both Too Tight
Sometimes, the top and bobbin threads meet in the center of the batting layer, but both are too tight. This results in puckering of the quilt-and may indicate a need for professional service of the sewing machine.
Top Tension v. Bobbin Tension
I’ve purposely reviewed tension from the point of view of the TOP thread. (Notice that I wrote “top tension too high or too low”.)
I did this because on most sewing machines, tension can be balanced by adjusting the TOP TENSION alone–and never adjusting the bobbin case tension.
In my experience teaching workshops, almost all machines can be calibrated to create a good quality stitch by lowering the top tension. A rare few, require increasing the top tension. Almost no machine, in good working order, requires tension adjustment in the bobbin case.
Homework Today
Evaluate the tension on the samples and quilts you’ve made in weeks 1-5.
Review how to make tension adjustments in your sewing machine manual.
Doodle–of course!
Tell everyone on social media about our quilt-a-long (THANK YOU)
Try a few LK motifs- from BERNINA We All Sew:
Happy Tension-Free Quilting,
Lori
PS…All tutorials, images and information are the property of LoriKennedyQuilts and are intended for personal use only. Feel free to re-blog, pin or share with attribution to LKQ. For all other purposes, please contact me at Lori@LoriKennedyQuilts.com. Thanks!You might also enjoy my motif books: Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3 and More Free Motion Machine Quilting 1-2-3
30 comments
Marta
OK, I will try that with new sandwich…thank you. I assume to 1 or 2…
maryheard
Hello Lori thank you for your help. Does the pressure need to come into consideration when striving for the perfect stitch? There is a wheel on the top left hand side of my machine
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Mary, This is an excellent question! The presser foot pressure does influence stitch tension insofar as it interferes with your ability to move the quilt under the needle. I would start by making sure the quilt moves easily under the presser foot and only adjust it as necessary. This is a bit of trial and error. Once you are comfortable that the quilt can move freely, then go through the steps to create a well-balanced stitch.
Marta
I’m catching up here… My machine has no such adjustment wheel. Is there anything that can be done to compensate? I think this is my whole problem with any kind of quilting. Pucker, pucker, pucker ! LOL…
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Marta, what happens when you reduce the tension to a very low setting?
keetje
Love reading this and its so informative. When longarming, there isn’t always room for a warmup on the side, and i love to use this for binding later. Any tips and making that easier to do somehow?
Cindy Clark
Question. On my Bernina 440 QE, there is a tension adjuster on the top of the machine that runs from 0 to 10. The tension adjuster on the left side of the machine runs from about 1-42. In my machine instructions, for f.m.q., ×it tells me to put the tension on the side all the way down to 1 and leave the other alone…at about 4.5.
Which one of these is considered the “top thread” tension button and which is the “bobbin thread” tension button? I can’t find that info in my book.
Mary Heard
The wheel on the left hand side adjusts pressure I think the default is 47 I would
be interested to know if we have to include this in adjustments for the achieving an acceptable tension.
Lori Kennedy Quilts
See above. Make sure your quilt moves freely, then adjust tension.
Marta
Thank you, thank you, thank you !!!!!
Linda Neubauer
Take as much family time as you need, Lori. Life is getting in the way and I’m falling behind just a bit. It takes the pressure off to have an extra day or two to catch up. You’ve picked the perfect time for your Q along, thank you so much for what you’re teaching us.
Rosemary B
I just finished walking foot quilting two cute table mats for the peeps I love. So I am ready to put the fmq foot on and see how she goes. I am using my White mechanical machine (I do not own an computer machines) and it is a pretty sturdy friend, so I will let you know how this goes. Thank you as always Lori. It takes me forever to comment, or send a quick statement of appreciation and thanks. I just want you to know, I always read your blog posts.
Thank you for always encouraging and sharing your skills. They are massive <3
Marta
Hey Rosemary, missed you. I have 2 mechanical machines that are wonderful. My fancy computer one is throwing a fit in the tension wheel (?).. It will automatically, noisily, readjust itself. So far have not found repair person who can fix it. I am interested in your results on your White. Look forward to that share?!
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Thank you for commenting Rosemary–We are always glad to hear from you!
Kathie Banks
Don’t worry kids, we can’t talk tension without talking about those eyelashes. Lori will cover that, I’m sure.
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Exactly!
Sherry Moore
My quilting has the eyelashes shown in the last picture…..but I don’t see those addressed in your comments.
Lori Kennedy Quilts
We will troubleshoot tomorrow!
maryheard
Sometimes I think I have correct tension and all seems well then a curve can spoil that. Also if my stitches become smaller then tension seems to alter.
Lori Kennedy Quilts
Mary-try a new and larger needle. Tension issues on curves are often caused by flex in the needle.
Mary Heard
Thank you I will try that
Maria (in Tucson)
Can you specifically talk about the “eyelash” stitches that show up in your sample?
Julia
Hi Lori… If you miss a few days of blogging we’ll be happy to know you are spending quality time with family! There’s nothing more important!!! Take lotsa pictures of those babies.
Vicki
Janome sells a blue dot bobbin case with a lower tension for free motion quilting. Simply changing out the bobbin case gives perfect tension without adjusting the screw on the supplied bobbin case.
Jackson M. Watkins
I have the blue for bobbin case for free motion quilting and it makes all the difference.
susan hilsenbeck
Vicki — I have one (blue dot Janome bobbin case), but always wondered what made it different. I tried it a couple of times, but it made an odd sound so have not used it much. Will have to try again. Thanks.
Gloria Roman
When I had a Janome, the blue dot bobbin was great.
susan ulrich
By all means you must follow Minnesota Mandatory Practices rules if it becomes necessary! I am torn between hoping it’s necessary and hoping it’s not necessary 🙂
susan hilsenbeck
Lori — Great tension illustrations. Note that the link to Nora’s rose is to your Blog and not to the one with the video on We All Sew. Both descriptions are great. I almost wrote ‘A Nora by any other name would be as sweet’ on my Week 5 sampler. 😉
Kate Reed
Thank you for helping so many of us
Comments are closed.