Skipping Stitches (bobbin thread not pulling up)

Skipping stitches are a mechanical problem caused by excessive TENSION or poor TIMING on the machine. 

Possible solutions and things to check for are:

1. Machine not properly threaded - check the thread path. 

2. Check the needle. 
    Needle in backwards 
    Needle in the 6:00 position - may need to turn the needle to 6:30 position 
    Needle bent, has a burr or dull point 

3. Tension is too tight, this can often cause skipped stitching. 
    Reset bobbin tension 
    Reset top tension 
    Tighten top tension all the way.  Back off 7 complete turns to return to factory setting.  
    Test tension and adjust as needed.  

   
4. Often, the skipping stitches will occur when sewing from front to back. This is caused by having to much needle distance between the hook and the needle from poor timing play in the needle bar, or axial movement in the hook shaft (shredding or breaking will often occur in this situation as well). The timing may need to be adjusted by a Handi Quilter retailer. 

5. If the stitches are skipping while sewing from left to right or seemingly random, the radial timing on the machine may need to be adjusted by a Handi Quilter retailer.

6. If the hopping foot on the machine is set too high above the needle plate while the needle is in the down position, the quilt will bounce, resulting in skipped stitches. The needle plate needs to be adjusted properly using the feeler guage located in the rep timing kit. A buisness card works for this as well. with the needle at the lowest position, the hopping foot should be as close to the needle plate as possible while still not touching.