I just purchased a pfpaff grand quilter 1200 last week, when I tested it in the store and did a test project at home with cotton thread everything was perfect.
So I loaded my quilt top, placed a full bobbin in, and wanted to use poly thread I kept getting thread breaks, and irregular stitches.
I switched to top stitch needles which the shop recomended. Can someone please give advice. I have a stitch regulator on the machine and getting non stop thread breaks and skipped stitches. I'm ready to take the machine back

Thank You
Ginger :cry:

There is a yahoo group dedicated to the GrandQuilter. They have great FQAs and you can get lots of help there. It sounds like she doesn't like your thread. Some machines are a little picky about needles and thread and you just have to please them. Fighting won't do any good.

Did you test on a quilt sandwich?

Don't give up so quickly - those machines need to find their sweet spot. Lots of moving parts. I haven't even made it to the "I suck" stage yet.

Have you started the threading from scratch? Maybe she's misthreaded. I'd go back to cotton thread and a regular needle (you know she takes a special needle, not just a standard size, right?) to see if she works - then go from there.

Wishing you patience.

How frustrating. I wish I could help.

I just jioned that group, I did find I had it rolled wrong on the frame, so I rerolled and so far no thread breaks, but I'm getting skipped stitches. I didn't know about the needles the store I purchased it at said I could use Schmetz topstitch 90/14 needles. I think my bobbin winding skills can have something to do with it? I but prewound bobbins for my Brother machine, I suck at winding bobbins. What thread should I use for my bobbins when quilting?

Thanks
Ginger

According to the book, it takes a special size needle HLX5 and I think they have different eye sizes for different threads. I get my needles at the dealer.

Not sure what you mean by poor bobbin winding. Are you using the bobbin that comes with the Pfaff? That baby holds a lot of thread. I use the bobbin-winding module ON the GQ to wind my bobbins and I'm not sure if it's required for this machine, but I make sure that the motor speed is set to the fastest speed. Never worked with prewounds.

I remember that I had some trouble with the threading in the beginning. For me, the machine liked having the thread going through 2 of the tension hole guides. Can't tell you how many times I rethreaded mine to get it right.

I am not adventurous so I match my bobbin thread to the top thread (thickness - not color).

I just got my Pfaff 1200 as well and luckily I have not encountered these problems to any any great extent. I am using the needle that came in the machine and the same cone thread that I use on my serger, not expensive but it is 100% cotton and I too use the same thread in the bobbin as on top. Winding the bobbins should be no problem just start the thread through the hole in the bobbin and put it on the bobbin winder. My dealer also told me that I would have fewer problems if I ensured that the quilt was sitting perfectly level in the frame (are your feed and take-up rails sitting level with each other and level from one end to the other). Hope you find the answer and can get back to quilting.

Thank your for all the tips, I took the machine into the shop where I purchased it at and the sales person sat down with me and sewed on it for a while and had all the same problems I did no matter what thread she used. So off to the service department it went I guess I will have to cut more fabric until I get it back :lol:

Make sure your top isn't rolled to tight. You should be able to grab your knuckle from underneath

Sorry you're having trouble. Sometimes the machines just aren't adjusted right from the factory - I had a Brother that drove me crazy with broken threads and bent and broken needles til I went back to the dealer with it for a class and they noticed that it didn't sound right. Back it went and got readjusted.
I always just use Schmetz topstitch or quilting needles 90/14 in my GQ and have no trouble. However, I did have a learning curve with it when I broke a lot of thread and needles. I learned to slow down. Once I found the speed my machine liked to travel at, we work great together.
Good Luck.

That's good to know.