What’s the worst tension nightmare you’ve had?
Mine was a months long affair that turned out to be a funky little thing in my bobbin case… I want to say rocker arm but … that sounds like chairs… well, it was a loose screw holding (or not) something in place that controlled the release of thread as it looped around my bobbin case.
Needless to say, I used this longarm quilters tension test a LOT over the few months when I was trying every tiny thing, (test…) one fix at a time, (test…) to tweak (test …again…) before I successfully bribed a machine mechanic with cookies and cash to come to my house and identify this SUPER obscure problem.
I hope you never have to practice doing this as much as I did.
Use the thread, batting, and backing combination you’re going to quilt with.
Pop a fabric scrap about 3” square next to your quilt top in the waste area. I start at the top left, just left of the top. Leave room for more, like a column. Just in case.
Pin/tack the edges of the scrap if you like, I usually play chicken and hold the scrap edges down. With my tender, fleshy fingers. Hmmmm.
Define your boundaries as the edge of the scrap.
Place the pattern within the boundary using you preferred function. I use a Gammill with CS7 and use a function called “pattern to boundary”. I really want to know what you call it! Especially if your system is different from mine.
Stitch! Carefully. 🖐🏼
Examine your stitches front and back, (zip off leaders for the win) and adjust tension according to the method you like.
(Hint – I do most of my physical tension adjustments at the bobbin spring with a towa bobbin gauge… but you do what works for you!)
I’m so glad you’ve hung out a little!
If you’re just learning about the Tension Test now, you can grab it here.
Want your customers to bring you well pieced quilt backing? See this post about how to make one.
Longarmers, this free tension test will save you time and help you deliver quality quilting.
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