Let me just say, tongue in cheek...if you get that
tension thing mastered make sure you publish it...it will be like winning the
lottery. As I have said before...the Wallen Video was the biggest help we have
received regarding bobbin tension...We tried the Towa...really to no avail
considering it too comes with a range, i.e. Superior's Omni, using #18 needle
Towa setting 170-200...with a little sarcasm...Well what is it 170 or 200?
Totally understandable when one considers the variety of materials, batting, and
threads. I'll continue to check my bobbin via Wallen and just run a couple of
stitches over a swatch of material consistent with what the top is on the
excess batting and back of the quilt I have on the machine.
In an effort to help I am trying to think what has been the
best source of information pertaining to thread tension...I'm passing these on
as being the two best that have aided our quest to produce the best quality,
consistent even stitching and pleasing to the eye quilting that our experience,
ever changing, will allow us to produce. Okay there are three...Print out and
follow the ABM/Innova instructions on setting the machines tension...FROM
SCRATCH…the Service Bulletin can be found on their web site. I'm old
school...if you are going to give me the way it was set when it left the
factory...then crated, moved around with a fork lift, transported who knows how
many miles, stored in a facility that may or may not be 120 degrees or -10,
moved by a couple of more fork lifts, transported some more and then set up by
technicians that may or may not have ever quilted and may or may not know what
thread tension is and the vibration, may or may not, have tightened or loosened
the knob or affected the spring tension, well I'm going to reset it. Do we have
to make any changes?...of course... we use different material, different
threads, different batting. We check it for every quilt...when necessary we
make the needed adjustments.
NOW the two things: The Jamie Wallen bobbin method and the
Superior Threads web site...Now it might just be us...but if you can't find
help about thread and everything dealing with thread on this site...it won't be
found. And as you may or may not recall...I have this thing about KISS...they
have pictures and charts.
And one more thing...if you have the resources to charity
quilts, Linus Project, Quilts of Valor or any other organization in your area
you might want to look into longarming for them...I don't mean that you just
whiz through a quilt without due regard for quality...but I can't tell you how
much experience you will gain in a very short amount of time donating a little
of your time and thread. This is where I learned all about that little seam
ripper thing-a-ma-jig I loath. Experience only comes from doing...do as often
and as much as you can. Les and Elaine Page...Virginia Beach, VA
www.wequilttogether.blogspot.com
Ya just gotta love pictures:
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