Tension, Tension, Tension - Encore sitdown User Manual

Tension, tension, tension...

You need correct tension on the top and bottom threads, but you also must 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 finger tip 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 Trouble Shooting 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. 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?
This probably causes more problems than anything else.
Updated January 2019 | 19