Quilting the Quilt: Tackling Tension

If “tension struggles” isn’t at the top of your frustration list when you machine quilt, I’d wager it is definitely among the top three! Tension won’t be so mysterious and  irritating if you learn a few secrets about managing it and how the other choices you’ve made regarding your quilt top affect it.

Machine quilters have two tension devices on the machine that will impact our stitch quality—the tensioner that controls the top thread and the bobbin case (or hook assembly if you have a drop-in bobbin). However, those two mechanisms are only a small part of what ultimately affects tension. Once you know about all the other factors involved, your success rate will increase dramatically!

Download Dawn’s “Quilting the Quilt: Tackling Tension” article