Well, if the top thread is pulling to the back, loosen the top tension by a bit. If your top tension is already really loose (for example, at a 1 or 2 on a 10 scale), the problem becomes more complicated.

Before doing anything, make up a practice piece, loosen the top tension, and try sewing a bit more slowly.

Mary

I'm still working on that same problem but it seems that if I speed up the machine and move the fabric slower it solves it..I think..maybe?
I hope you(and I)get some way better answers than mine on this one!!!!LOL!
Bon
:)

I have the same problem. The tension is fine with the feed dogs up, but with the darning foot (?), I can't get the tension right. Mine usually have the bottom thread pulled up to the top a little, especially in the curves.

I'd love to figure it out. Adjusting the tension--top and bottom--hasn't helped.

I'm with Bon--hoping for a better answer than mine:)

Cheryl

If the bottom tension is so tight that the top thread is being pulled through, then shouldn't the top tension be tightened, rather than made looser, so it will match tightness of the bottom?

However, I shouldn't speak, since I have had the reverse problem a couple of times, with the bottom thread being pulled up and showing on the top! I'd love to have a definitive answer, too!

Biwako is right. If the top thread is showing on the bottom then you need to tighten the tension. Regular hand movement is important too. If you whoosh through curves, then that can cause irregular stitches and a sort of "eyelash" effect underneath.
Some machines just don't cope well with free motion. I had a Singer that just wouldn't do it.
Wearing those gloves with the rubber bits helps a lot in the steady motion of the quilt.
I wonder if it doesn't happen on the practice piece is because you're trying it out on a small sandwich that you can control better. On the real thing, which I'm guessing is a lot bigger, then you're getting some drag.
Keep at it. You'll get there!

Just wanted to mention I have had the same problem. I adjusted my tension and then realized I was sewing with my presser foot UP. It is easy to do with fmq because the foot doesn't really look that different when it is up, but boy does it make a difference!

Thanks all. I will keep trying. Looking at it in the light of day it almost looks like there is no bobbin thread! Just top thread front and back! Luckily this quilt is not for anyone specific. One thing I did think of this morning is on my practice piece I used black for both the top and bottom! (light fabric) so there's no way to really tell if it is full of the same thing as my real quilt anyway!
It really makes a diference when using the full size quilt that's for sure! Those practice peices are a piece of cake compared to man handling the full quilt even though I did use Jenifers idea of cutting off the batting.
I'll put together another sandwich and use two different threads and see what happens.
There's no way to take out that much sewing without poking a bunch of holes in the backing so I will live with it! I tried to color the thread with a permanent blue marker but that doesn't seem to be working yet! LOL! I though that would work great with 100% cotton thread!

Biwako and Islay are right - top tension needs to be tightened. I was in a brain fog, clearly.

Mary

I have the same problem. But as Bon said, sewing machine at faster speed, hand movement slower, I try circles as that is my biggest problem, making that curve I have a problem keeping a long stitch from happening, and that has to do with my hands jerking the fabric,some things I have learned, by moving the fabric gentley and having the stitches come forward helped. And learning to stop when you readjust your fingers, so that we don't go off course. I set my stitch length to 0 using 2 different color threads does help seeing your mistakes just keep practicing LOL Rene