QM Tips

Sandra Dorrbecker
A second place winner at the 1993 American Quilter's Society Show.

Tips & Techniques

 Prize-Winning Tips for Machine Quilting

Balancing Tension

It's a good idea to have a factory representative for your brand of machine do a yearly check up.
Carol

Test the threads you'll be using on a warm-up sample and repeat the testing throughout your project for any changes.
Sandra

Don't be afraid to change the tension settings. I spend at least one afternoon quilting samples to adjust tension and choose thread and batting before I start on the quilt. Quilt a sample with the actual fabrics from the quilt and the batting, threads and needle you'll use. Test the tension using these products, not a muslin practice sample.
Diane

Make adjustments in small increments and only adjust one thing at a time so you know what makes the difference. Take notes.
Diane

Any necessary adjustments can almost always be done with the tension dial on the top of the machine rather than fooling about with the bobbin case.
Barbara

No matter how perfect the tensions are, if the colors of the thread in the top and bobbin contrast highly, you will always have problems with either the bobbin thread showing slightly on the top or the top thread showing on the back. I use matching or similar colors for the top and bobbin threads.
Sue

I give my machine a drop of oil every few bobbins and I brush out the fuzz often.
Carolee

I always use a straight-stitch throat plate for free-motion quilting.
Pat