Troubleshoot Tension Issues on a Grace Qnique longarm
In this post, we’re going to troubleshoot tension issues on a Grace Qnique Longarm. This week I noticed I had a tension issue when quilting the checkerboard tiles block. The top thread was pulling in the corners of my Boxy Loops design. It’s frustrating to see a tension issue like this AFTER you quilt an entire block. This is a good reason to check in with your tension often and make sure to look at the front and back of your quilt!
Troubleshoot Tension Problems Video
Learn how I troubleshot this issue and got the longarm Qnique back to stitching with perfect tension in this video:
Need more help troubleshooting tension issues? Click Here to find three videos on troubleshooting tension on a Qnique longarm machine.
I find it so much easier to quilt on the longarm frame than a home machine and while it’s had a learning curve, I am definitely finishing a lot more quilts these days! Unfortunately I didn’t take the time to test my tension before filming this week’s Checkerboard Tiles quilting tutorial:
The Key to Troubleshooting any Machine Issue
The absolute key to troubleshooting any sewing machine or longarm machine issue is to only change one thing at a time and test the machine with each change. If you change seven things at once and then do some quilting, you’ll not know what fixed the issue, you may create new issues, and ultimately you won’t have any idea how to fix the problem next time.
Only change one thing at a time, then quilt 3 to 4 inches with the design that was having problems and see how your stitch is look.
Subtle Tension Issues
There’s a big difference between the thread pulling issue I was having when I quilted the boxy spiral knots design and the subtle tension issue I was experiencing the day I found this video.
After testing and running through all the steps, the culprit behind the tension issue was a badly spinning bobbin. If you drop a bobbin on the floor or it bangs against something hard, it can warp slightly which makes it not spin as evenly in your bobbin case. When you identify a bobbin that has stronger tension or this feeding issue, mark it with a permanent magic marker and keep it at the bottom of your bobbin stash so you only use it in emergencies. A bad bobbin can create a lot of issues with your thread feeding and tension, and it’s a fairly common problem.
As for the subtle tension I was experiencing in the video, this was mostly an issue of stitches not being delineated clearly. Instead of forming a nice space between each stitch, the thread looked almost like a straight line laying on the surface of the quilt.
Other Tension Issues
Most likely this subtle tension issue will be sorted out when the quilt is washed. After washing, the thread and fabric and batting will all shift and fluff up, likely concealing it. This delineation issue only becomes a problem when the thread is so loose you can easily pull it out all of the bobbin thread with one gentle tug. In this case the thread should be removed and stitches ripped out.
This issue was not showing up consistently on my quilt. That could imply it was a speed issue and maybe I was running the longarm too fast in certain sections. It could also be the machine doesn’t particularly like the direction I was stitching in. This is far less common on a frame-mounted longarm on a frame than a home machine but it can still happen.
Adjusting the Guides on Your Machine
Many of the guides on the grace Qnique 15 R/14+ are adjustable. As the machine moves and quilts some of the screws can become loose. It’s good to check on occasion and make sure everything is stable and not rattling around. I noticed the top tension guide was moving very easily and had tilted forward. I adjusted this to tilt backwards and tightened the screw so it would not move on its own.
If you feel that a guide is off, first test your stitching to see how it looks, then adjust the guide, then test again to see how your stitches have changed. If your stitch looks better and more consistent and the tension stronger, then leave the guide where you’ve adjusted it.
One of the biggest issues with tension on the grace Qnique is user error. Every time I’ve worked with a quilter with tension issues on this machine it has been due to missing a guide in the threading, or having new materials and not adjusting the tension before starting. I suspect a lot of the comments online of tension issues on the Qnique have more to do with quilters not understanding how longarms work and that tension is a continual balancing act when quilting on a longarm.
Get into the Habit of Checking Regularly
Please get used to the idea of checking your tension every day, and with every bobbin or thread change. This is the key to quilting with great-looking stitches all the time. Unlike a home machine, your longarm can lose good tension overnight, within the course of a week, with a single bobbin change, or with just changing the thread.
At every point it’s good to check in and see how the machine is stitching off the edge of the quilt. Remember it’s never a waste of time or fabric to test.
Checking in on Your Frustration
Only troubleshoot your longarm tension issues when you’re feeling energetic and excited to solve the problem. If you’re already frustrated, angry, or tired that is not the time to work on your machine!
It’s important to work on your longarm and troubleshoot when you feel great and you have a clear mind. The worst thing you can do is get on a longarm, change five consecutive things, and then compound your frustration as you now have new problems.
I hope this has helped you understand tension issues and how to solve them. No matter what you read in reviews please understand that all longarms have a learning curve, especially where tension is involved.
Learn more about my longarm quilting setup. I love my Grace Qnique 15R / 14+ and I know I’ve finished so many more quilts this year thanks to this longarm!
Let’s go quilt,
Leah Day
Great video and blog post! Do you have a video on setting the bobbin tension? I’m struggling to know if that is correct or not.
I don’t have a video on bobbin tension specifically, but I shared a bit about checking your bobbin tension with the yo-yo test here: https://leahday.com/blogs/machinequilting/troubleshoot-tension-on-a-longarm
Thanks for help with tension issues. No one has ever said only change one thing at a time. Why didn’t I think of that!!! Trying to solve problems when u r tired and upset is a definite nono which happens to me way too often. P
It’s really easy to start changing things like crazy and when you get upset, even easier to make mistakes. I’m so glad you found this helpful!
I have a Grace 14+. I have an issue with skipping of stitches going up & down. I have cleaned the bobbin case, checked the tension on bobbin, checked the top thread path & so far nothing has changed. Do you have any other suggestions?
Have you tried a different thread type / brand? Some machines simply don’t like certain threads. I would try one or two types to see if this skipping issue continues with different threads.
Leah, I so appreciate your blog and the help you give with your videos and comments. I recently purchased a Q’Nique 15Pro with the Queen frame. I am having major tension issues where the thread on the bottom of the quilt sandwich can be just pulled out. I have followed your video frame by frame and followed the manual….still does not look right. I am using King Tut thread so almost no lint but I went ahead and cleaned out the bobbin area just in case. My sandwich consists of black quilter’s cotton with a thin loft (for placemats) for the batting. I used black fabric so i could see the stitches…ugh….I don’t know what else to look for…..getting a bit frustrated to say the least…any suggestions or other videos I might look at???
PS: Again thank you for being so helpful, friendly and approachable….
You’re very welcome Miranda! It sounds like you need to start from scratch just getting to know your machine. Here’s a video of my steps as I took my very first stitches on the Qnique 21: https://freemotionproject.com/2019/05/first-stitch-out-on-the-grace-qnique-21-longarm.html
From what it sounds like, you could have several issues going on at once. Here are a few things to check and test ONE at a time. Remember, you won’t know what the problem is unless you try one thing at a time to identify the culprit. So first, check the height of your back rail and make sure it’s 1/4 inch from the top of the machine. Test straight stitches. Curves can wait until straight stitches balance out. Next check your bobbin tension according to the instructions in the video I linked up. Test again.
Third, check your top tension. Also make sure you have properly threaded the tension discs. You have to manually PULL the thread (like flossing your teeth) through the tension discs because these longarms never lose tension. There is always pressure of the discs against the thread.
Try all of this one step at a time and let me know how it goes!
I’m 77 yrs old and having trouble with Grace 15,every time I change thread color xz I get looping in bottom of quilt,I’m getting so discussed xz I wish I hadn’t got the machine!
I’m sorry to hear you’re struggling Goldie. Are you sure you are threading the top tension area correctly? I find this is the leading cause of tension issues on any Qnique. Basically on these longarms, the tension discs are always actively pressing against one another. It doesn’t lose tension when the foot is up like a home machine. This means you need to floss the thread through the tension discs – really pull it through tight to make sure the thread is passing through. Lower your top tension to 1 and try this.
Hi Leah, I purchased my Q’unique 15R approsimately 2 years ago. I lost my husband about the same time and I haven’t been able to use the machine. Just this week, I decided it was time and I have been trying to learn to use it. I believe I have watched all of your videos. They are all very helpful. You do an amazing job explaining things. Thank you so very much. I am getting an error message that says “Internal Sensor Error” Reboot. I have rebooted several times and it just keeps happening. Can you help me with this issue or guide me in the right direction? I would appreciate it so very much!
Thank you,
It sounds like you have an internal component, maybe a board or sensor that has gone bad. I would contact Grace Company directly for help troubleshooting and figuring out which part to replace – 1-800-264-0644.
What does “Internal Sensor Error” mean on the Qnique 14+
Thank you ?
That sounds like a good time to call Grace Company! 1-800-267-0644 – They can talk you through this and send you replacement parts if needed.
my tension is perfect but when i quilt to the left the machine feels like it’s dragging ,then it skips a stitch and the thread breaks .quilkting to the right is no problem.any clues to solving that problem ? i changed the needle and am using quality thread
Your machine may not like that direction in which case avoiding it is sometimes the only option. I once had a machine that hated quilting backwards. No joke – I avoided that direction for years. Start experimenting with how far you can stitch in that direction before the thread break happens.
My bottom tension is good for a couple of inches then I have a long section where the bottom thread is just a string through the top stitches. I have adjusted top and bottom tensions, and rethreaded. It keeps happening.
I would try a different type of thread Wanda. Specifically if you are using a variegated thread. These are especially prone to having tension issues as the thread changes from one color to the next.
i have a qnique 21 have major issues have watched videos for days Through trial and error we can now sew from left to right. it will sew up direction but not the down direction. Have no idea what to try now Have a project on the machine that just needs a row and half to complete IT was having problems with thread breaking then started sewing great til it got close to the end any advice would be greatly appreciated
I’m sorry to hear this Sharon. Troubleshooting is something I offer to my Grace customers. I would advise reaching out to your Grace Dealer for help troubleshooting this issue.
I have a Qnique 15r, it’s just under a year old. I use the recommended Finesse thread and it frays and breaks! Setting the tension is a nightmare! I have had to wind a couple of bobbins just to work on the tension! Finally, I get the tension correct, now the machine is skipping stitches. Any advice? I have watched your videos and learned a lot, but this is a problem I haven’t found a resolution. Truth be told I am getting ready to put the entire frame and machine up for sale! Thank you for any ideas you may have, if you could email me a response to be sure I get it that too would be wonderful.
Having same problem! Ready to give up and get rid of machine! I need help
Try to stay patient and follow the steps in this post. Test one thing at a time, change one thing at a time. Don’t be afraid to try different thread and different needles. I have a few more videos on troubleshooting tension here – https://leahday.com/blogs/machinequilting/troubleshoot-tension-on-a-longarm
I would try a different thread for quilting, and possibly different needles. Sometimes we have to get creative with our thread and needles and try a few different things before we find what works. I seriously doubt there is anything wrong with your quilting machine or frame, but I do know how frustrating this can be. Stick with it, keep trying different things and you will find what works with your machine.
hi Leah i was just reading comments as im having tension problems on the back of my tester piece as im a beginner to long arm quilting, and noticed a lot of people having problems with stitching going good 1 way but not another, i had this problem when i 1st tried my machine (Qnique 15 pro) and after a lot of frustration found it was the little wheels that run on the tracks forgotten the name lol any way 1 of them wasnt connecting properly
I’m glad you were able to find the solution! Yes, encoder problems will definitely cause stitching issues.