TinLizzie18 Apprentice Plus, Руководство пользователя

Страница: 12 / 16

22 | Apprentice Plus User Guide Apprentice Plus User Guide | 23
How Do I Make Adjustments to Make the Perfect Stitch?
Understanding how your long arm machine makes a stitch will help you make the proper adjustments to
make the perfect stitch. The technique all long arm machines use to make a stitch is basically opposite
of the home sewing machine. The home sewing machine is designed to press together two layers of
fabric and sew while the fabric is held in place by the presser foot. Long arm machines are designed
to press and sew multiple layers together while the machine head is moving. The difference is, there is
practically no needle deflection on a standard sewing machine, and a large amount of needle deflection
on the long arm. The higher the tension, the more the needle will deflect. Another cause for the needle
to deflect on a standard machine is the type of fabric being sewn. A tightly woven fabric tends to force
the needle in different directions as it penetrates the fabric. This type of deflection depends greatly on
the type of needle and type of point you use, such as a ball point or sharp point.
What is needle deflection? What causes it? And how is needle deflection related to the
stitches on my quilt?
On a long arm quilting machine, a stitch is mechanically created the same way as a home sewing
machine, except the quilter is the feeddog moving the machine head over the fabric. The hopping foot
presses the fabric together tighter and more quickly than a home sewing machine presser foot because
the fabric must be able to slide between the foot and the needle plate as the machine is sewing. This
means that the machine is moving while the needle is in the fabric. The worst thing for a needle is to be
in the fabric while the machine is moving which bends the needle, creating needle deflection.
Good stitches will interlock in the batting between the quilt top and backing. In real life, this goal is rarely
achieved. For this reason, you need to be aware that you will have “pokies” if you use different colors of
thread on top and in the bobbin. Pokies are where you can see tiny dots of the contrasting thread where
the bobbin catches the top thread. If there is slightly more tension on the top than on the bottom, you
will see the pokies on the top side of the quilt. If the greater tension is on the bobbin, you will see the
pokies on the back of the quilt. If the pokies are objectionable to you, use the same color thread on both
top and bottom.
TIP: A general rule of thumb is...if the stitch looks bad on the top, it is the bottom tension. If the
stitch looks bad on the bottom, it is the upper tension. The upper and lower threads play tug of
war with each other.
Tension, Tension, Tension
This probably causes more problems than anything else. You need correct tension on the top and
bottom threads, but you must also have correct tension on the quilt held between the bars. You should
be able to gently rock the belly bar where the backing fabric is attached. This allows enough movement
of your quilt layers for the needle to penetrate and make good stitches.
Before you start making adjustments to your machine, ask yourself, “What changed?” If your machine
was stitching great and all of a sudden it has loopies on the back or puckers, “What changed?” Did you
just change the bobbin? Did you just lift the take up bar? Did you lower the take up bar after finishing
your last quilt? Did you recently change the needle? Did you just roll the quilt?
If the take up bar with the quilted portion of your quilt is too high, it will result in poor stitch quality. You
need a fingertip space between the quilt and the machine bed. Higher will result in poor stitch quality.
Lower and the quilt will create a drag on your machine’s movement.
Look at your bobbin. A sloppy wound bobbin will not create a good stitch. Make sure that the threads
on the bobbin are snug and evenly wound. Check to see if there is a piece of lint in the bobbin case.
Tension Troubleshooting Checklist
• Is the side tension lever down?
• Have I oiled my machine regularly?
• Is the quilt too tight on the frame?
• Is the thread coming off the cone freely?
• Has your thread jumped out of the tension discs?
• Check your threading. Has anything been missed, or has the thread flipped itself around something,
increasing your tension?
• Is the hopping foot too high or too low?
• Is your take up bar too high? Did you lower the take up bar after your last quilt?
• Do you need to change your needle?
• Is your needle in properly?
Top Thread Breaking
• Check to see that your thread is coming off the spool freely, and the thread guide is centered over the
spool and has not developed any burrs or catches.
• Check to see if the thread has looped itself around the spool pin.
• Check to see if the needle is in correctly, with the scarf facing the back of the machine.
• Have you recently changed the needle? Is it as high as it will go in the needle bar?
The Stitch Regulator does not keep up with me
Just like driving your car, you need to make controlled starts and stops, practice being consistent in your
movements.
Eyelashes
Eyelashes on the back of the quilt can be caused by too little top tension. Turn the thread tension disk
clockwise ¼ turn. Make small adjustments. Repeat until stitch quality is good. Remember the upper
and lower thread play tug of war with each other.
Loose Top Stitch
• Is the tension lever handle down? It lowers the hopping foot and applies the tension disk.
• Is the bobbin thread inserted in the slot of the bobbin case?
• Adjust the tension disk small turns clockwise. Repeat until stitch quality is good.