Q. Have you ever heard of a finicky Gammill? I have one of those machines. Every time I use it I have to pray, "please let this dumb machine work...or please help this dumb quilter to learn how to use it !!!")
A. By loosening the preset tension settings, longarm machines can much better accommodate decorative threads. I
1. Loosen the bobbin tension to the point where the thread can be pulled up out of the bobbin with almost no tension. Holding the bobbin case in your left hand, pull up the thread with your right hand. The bobbin case should not lift up at all.
2. Skip the intermittent tensioner.
3. On the secondary tensioner (rotary tensioner), don't wrap the thread all the way around in a 360-degree loop. Just do the half-loop under.
4. Increase the needle size to an 18 or 19.
5. Slow down until you get the tension set just right.
The first three steps reduce the tension enough to run most decorative and specialty threads, including Metallics. If the tension becomes too loose, go back and use the first tensioner. Remember to keep some slack in the quilt fabrics. They do not need to be drum tight