skipping stitches, breaking thread

Iam new to this forum. I am trying to find some help with my Juki quilter. It will sew just fine for a while, then it starts skipping stitches and breaking thread. I have blown out the dust around the bobbin and I have oiled where I am supposed to oil. It sewed great for a few minutes and I thought I had licked the problem but then it started happening again. I have adjusted the tension and everything. I was wondering if If I need a heavier thread. I use machine quilting thread but it seems so light.

Good luck Lyniag, I hope someone can offer some advice or help. Fingers crossed for you

Thanks, I need all the help I can get!

Generally...if the problem shows up on the top it's caused by the bobbin. Problems showing up on the bottom of the sewing comes from the top. Sometimes turning the machine off and reinserting the bobbin and rethreading the machine will fix problems?

If you are doing free motion quilting..it may be that you are going a bit too fast..possibly bending the needle slightly as you go? Or..did you use a fusible batting or basting spray? They can gunk up your needle and cause problems. Are you using a quilting needle? Using the wrong needle can cause problems too.

I hope you can find the source of the problem? It's so frustrating when the thread keeps breaking! I got a spool of Coats and Clarks brand machine quilting thread and it kept breaking. It turns out the thread was defective!

Changing needles and changing thread is your best bet.... Glad to have you here...

Welcome Lyniag, with some machines it's a matter of making sure there isn't a very small piece of lint caught in one of the tensions, and sometimes it's a bad needle or even some machines do not like certain brands of thread, as we most have learned here. I think it's kind of trial and error, but I would try a new needle first and go from there, the eyes have been known to have a burr in them sometimes which will cause that too. Norma

Welcome, Lyniag! I feel your pain. . .it can be sooooooo frustrating. A couple of things I've learned with my Handiquilter, in addition to the good tips you've already gotten from others: I sometimes have to unscrew and remove the needle plate to find a little lint or stray bit of thread in there that's causing problems. It's amazing that something so teeny can cause a big problem. Aarrgghhhh. One time I was using thread that was on a regular type spool. It took me awhile to figure out that the thread wasn't pulling off correctly, and I needed thread on a cone instead of the spool. (This might have been obvious to someone else, but not me!)

This may be obvious, too - - but if the top tension is too tight it will break your thread, too.

Good luck! Hang in there!

Hi Lyn...nice to meet you. I don't have anything to add, the ladies have made all the suggestions that I would have made...except...sometimes a curse word or two works wonders...or a prayer : ) I have a tiny little glass jar with a rubber stopper that I keep snips of fabric that are soaked in alcohol next to my sewing machine when I'm using sprays or fusable to clean the needle. 9 times out of ten when I am having a problem changing the needle and rethreading solves my problems...even new needles can have defects that you can't see (well at least I cant see)

Welcome Lyniag, hope you have found a solution to your problem!

Lyniag, are you removing all of the bobbin parts, every thing in the bottom area that comes out. You need to take the little brush that should be in your tool box and brush all the lint and dust out. You really should not be using canned air to clean the machine, it sometimes blows dust and lint back up into the machine. Good luck, this isn't fun, esp. this time of year. Welcome to the group, I think you will like it here.

Welcome aboard!!

I tend to get this problem. Usually, I realize that I was going too fast in free motion. The others are right, however, the smallest bit of lint ANYWHERE can cause problems as can a worn or damaged needle. Poor thread quality can also cause problems. A repairman told me to quilt with a slightly heavier needle so that I am less apt to warp it in the free motion work.

Oh, I'm glad QMN thought to mention the heavier needle! That's important when you're using a heavier thread and going through all the layers.

Nothing beats experience. My repairman retired at 70, but still works from his home. He has been giving hints to DH on ow to extend my machine's life. (Nice guy, but slightly sexist.)

Welcome, Lyniag! I have nothing to add...everyone said the BEST advice there is! ALL great suggestions and hints for not so obvious problems!!!