hi every one .I recently acquired a horizon 7700 ,but I am having trouble finding a needle for free motion sewing I've tried all sizes but they all make popping noises passing through the material which is cotton and wool batting .can any one suggest a good needle regards ava claire

Have you successfully free motion quilted before on your 7700? If so can you remember what is different. I keep a notebook with settings used on different projects so I can refer back to later if I need to.

You already have some great advice but I will give a couple of suggestions also.
Have you tried a different brand of needle? I had several bad batches at once from a good brand. Most had burrs and made that popping noise.

Are you switching to single needle hole plate? It may have a burr inside that hole that needs filing.

Other than that it could simply be the fabric combination. Sometimes fabric weaves are quite fine and they don't like to play nicely when Fmq.
There is a yahoo group for the 7700 and they may have a solution for you if suggestions from everyone here do not help.

I have the janome 6600 and even with the fmq blue dot bobbin case and countless different settings, needles and thread it still won't behave properly. I usually quilt on my brother pq1500 as it fmq perfectly, I can even free motion pieces of lace together. So I no longer waste time trying to get my 6600 to behave while I have a machine that does fmq well.

1 comment

by avaclaire2 28 Jan 2017

thank you for you suggestions it is now working well i think it was the starched material and tension and thin batting .i am now ready to do my project .thank you sew much regards ava

If your top thread is showing on the bottom you have a tension issue. You need to tighten the top tension or loosen the bottom bobbin tension...this may be causing the "popping" noise...also check the space between the foot and the quilt sandwich...it sounds a bit like your fabric sandwich might be bouncing a bit. I do not think it is the needle that is the problem. I have also heard this popping sound sometimes when free motion quilting and it is usually the sound of the needle going through "stiff" fabric which could be because of your starch. But you definitely need to adjust your tension...also, do you hear this sound when just stitching? If you have a walking foot, try the same quilt sandwich with the walking foot..do you still hear the popping?

2 comments

by avaclaire2 28 Jan 2017

thank you it is now much better i think it was the tension and the starched material i'm on the move again isn't it great when things go right regards ava

by dragonflyer 29 Jan 2017

Thanks for coming back to the post and letting us all know you are back up and running!

Does it make the same popping noise if you were to sew normally through the same fiber sandwich and not free motion?

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by avaclaire2 28 Jan 2017

hi actually it sounds like i'm sewing on a light plasic when just sewing i'm using homespun material with starch .just had a thought maybe it's the spray starch?

by crafter2243 28 Jan 2017

If the stitching looks good then I would think that it is just the material. I have this happen sometimes when making micro wave bowls.

A popping noise usually means the needle is dull & needs to be changed. However, if you have been trying other needles, that couldn't be the reason. Hope someone can help you. May want to try a "sharp" or "top stitch" needle.

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by avaclaire2 28 Jan 2017

hi i have used 14's to 11 top stitch sharps and microtex
all with the same result i'm sewing on homespun and wool
batting top thread is showing a little on the back i've tried all that i know .thank s

I wonder if your needle is hitting the bobbin or throat plate or something else that would cause the needle to bend.

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by avaclaire2 28 Jan 2017

thank you i've just checked that every thing seems fine
i've also changed the cotton type