How to Adjust the Tension on Your Longarm

Just like with a domestic machine, beautiful stitches on your longarm depend on well-balanced tension. But how exactly does one check or adjust your tension? What about the bobbin? Don’t worry, Rockstar, I’ll show you!

(this post contains affiliate links)

 
How to Adjust the Tension on Your Longarm Quilting Machine by HollyAnne Knight of String & Story
 

The single most important thing to do if you want gorgeous free motion quilting, is to learn how to adjust your tension to get beautifully formed stitches on the top and back of your quilt. Truly— you can do all the FMQ practice in the world, learn all the motifs, etc, but if you’re battling thread breaks or eye lashes, your quilting won’t look the way you’ve dreamed. In order to make those FMQ Dreams come true, let’s talk tension!

Supplies

To adjust tension on your longarm, I recommend a few key tools:

  • A fresh needle (16/100 or 18/110 are my go to sizes)

  • High quality thread (Aurifil 50 wt, 40 wt, or Forty-three— shop our store here)

  • A TOWA Gauge (shop Amazon here)

  • Scrap fabric next to a loaded quilt on your frame or just load a practice sandwich on the frame

Video

Steps

  1. Gather your supplies and load your quilt/ practice sandwich on the longarm

  2. Use your Towa Gauge to adjust the bobbin tension

  3. Thread the Machine

  4. Test stitch

  5. Adjust the top tension

  6. Happy Quilting!

Resources

Download:

A Quick Guide to Tension Cheat Sheet

    PS Don’t forget to pin this post so you can find it later!

    Previous
    Previous

    Free Motion Quilting Academy Rockstar Graduation: Summer 2021

    Next
    Next

    Free Motion Quilting Academy Rockstar Graduation: Spring 2021