Bernina 1080 looping thread on underside

[Sewdreamy]

I've been trying to machine quilt on my Bernina 1080 & the thread loops on the underside. Do I need a tune up or is it the tension? Any suggestions are appreciated as a tune up requires a 1 hour drive & at least a week without my machine. Gas is an issue right now. Thanks!!

[Sewdreamy]

Stephanie this may sound simplistic, but believe me, we've all probably done it sometime, but make sure your presser foot is lowered. It won't SEEM like it's lowered b/c the quilting foot doesn't "press" down the same way an ordinary foot would, but that would cause those loops. If it's not that, it's tension, but those loops aren't usually as big. I'm guessing it's the presser foot.
Florence

[littleflower]

Hey Stephanie, great machine.
Take the throat plate off and remove the bobbin housing. Make sure the whole area is clean and as lint free as possible.
Then wind a new bobbin. Sometimes the bobbin doesn't wind properly. If you're using a heavier thread in the bobbin loosen the tension a bit on the bobbin case. Just mark where the regular tension is so that when you're finished using this thread you can return it to the normal position.
Then make sure the feed dogs are dropped. This does make a huge difference.
Then drop the tension down to at least 1.5 or less. The top tension does 90% of the work. The bottom tension does 4% of the work and we do the balance. Make sure that you're moving the quilt appropriate to how fast the needle is going. This is the bit that takes practice.

Let me know if you need more help.

Teri

PS I have two 1080s! Great machine

[littleflower]

Thanks everyone! I'll try the suggestions & let you know what happens. Appreciate the quick responses!!