Help me use my sewing machine properly.
March 12, 2015 11:47 AM Subscribe
I'm trying to use a sewing machine. The stitch looks great on top but it's a complete mess underneath. Why?
I'm a sewing machine novice.
I'm sure I've threaded the machine correctly, put the bobbin in the holder thing the right way, etc… But for some reason, more often than not, the stitching ain't too good.
Here's a photo. The purple thread is the top thread. The yellow thread is loaded in the bobbin underneath.
What seems to be happening is that the top thread is getting caught in the spinning contraption below the needle. Why? I have no idea.
I've tried everything. Different needles. Different tensions. Tried threading the machine differently. Loaded the bobbin the other way round. Nothing seems to work.
I did however manage to stitch a few hems the other day without any problems. However it soon went back to its old ways.
The machine is practically new. Hardly used. It's a Singer Serenade, if that makes any difference. What's going on? What am I doing wrong?
I'm a sewing machine novice.
I'm sure I've threaded the machine correctly, put the bobbin in the holder thing the right way, etc… But for some reason, more often than not, the stitching ain't too good.
Here's a photo. The purple thread is the top thread. The yellow thread is loaded in the bobbin underneath.
What seems to be happening is that the top thread is getting caught in the spinning contraption below the needle. Why? I have no idea.
I've tried everything. Different needles. Different tensions. Tried threading the machine differently. Loaded the bobbin the other way round. Nothing seems to work.
I did however manage to stitch a few hems the other day without any problems. However it soon went back to its old ways.
The machine is practically new. Hardly used. It's a Singer Serenade, if that makes any difference. What's going on? What am I doing wrong?
Are the yellow and purple threads the same except for color?
posted by zennie at 12:17 PM on March 12, 2015
posted by zennie at 12:17 PM on March 12, 2015
Make sure your needle is the right kind (i.e. ball point for knits, larger size for heavier fabrics, etc.) and is SHARP. Somewhere, they recommend replacing the needle for every project, but I'm not sure how true that is.
Clean the bobbin casing thoroughly. Some machines come with a little brush for this purpose.
If the machine has been sitting unused for several months or more, take it into to a shop that services Singers. They do all sorts of magical adjusting, oiling, etc.
After all that, yeah, bobbin tension.
posted by Melismata at 12:32 PM on March 12, 2015
Clean the bobbin casing thoroughly. Some machines come with a little brush for this purpose.
If the machine has been sitting unused for several months or more, take it into to a shop that services Singers. They do all sorts of magical adjusting, oiling, etc.
After all that, yeah, bobbin tension.
posted by Melismata at 12:32 PM on March 12, 2015
This happened to me once or twice and it was definitely a bobbin tension problem. But I haven't sewn in years so I'm afraid I can't be more specific.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:37 PM on March 12, 2015
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:37 PM on March 12, 2015
I'd take the thread and bobbin out, and rethread. Or post photos of how it's threaded - something is off. Are you using the same bobbin that the machine came with or did you buy another one? Sometimes the size is a bit off but I think it's the tension or a threading issue. And you're sure you lowered the foot?
posted by barnone at 12:39 PM on March 12, 2015
posted by barnone at 12:39 PM on March 12, 2015
Take the bobbin case out and when you put it back in, wiggle it to make SURE it's seated that last fraction of a mm. Usually on my machine I get the first thread nest for a perfectly normal reason like back stitching off the fabric, fine fabric getting sucked into throat plate, etc., then I'm all annoyed and not as careful as I should be in getting that bobbin case perfectly seated and it keeps happening. Maybe mine is extra finicky but it's one more thing for you to check. You can also ask at Pattern Review; the depth of knowledge there is incredible and they're very generous with advice.
posted by HotToddy at 1:00 PM on March 12, 2015
posted by HotToddy at 1:00 PM on March 12, 2015
Even though the machine is new and barely-used, it may need to be serviced if it's been jostled. Some machines, for reasons that are mysterious, get out of whack very easily and others can live in the trunk of a car and be fine.
posted by mchorn at 1:10 PM on March 12, 2015
posted by mchorn at 1:10 PM on March 12, 2015
My Singer requires the thread to come off the bobbin counterclockwise and then it hooks around and is pulled out of the case in a clockwise direction . If I load it clockwise, the back is a mess, but that can also happen if the top thread isn't threaded exactly right. Machines vary as to how easy it is to accidentally misthread the top so it has almost no tension.
Load the bobbin case into the machine but do not close or put any covers back on. Gently pull the bobbin thread. It should unspool steadily, without much bobbin jiggling but you should not have to force it. Now thread the needle (do not take up the bobbin thread yet)and pull that thread the same way. If that goes well, hand crank the wheel so the needle thread takes up the bobbin thread and gently pull them both again. Now put the fabric in but do not use the pedal. Hand crank a straight stitch 3-4 times and stop with the needle down. Lift the presser foot and check the back of the fabric. Keep doing that several more times until you know it is working and then use the pedal.
posted by soelo at 1:16 PM on March 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Load the bobbin case into the machine but do not close or put any covers back on. Gently pull the bobbin thread. It should unspool steadily, without much bobbin jiggling but you should not have to force it. Now thread the needle (do not take up the bobbin thread yet)and pull that thread the same way. If that goes well, hand crank the wheel so the needle thread takes up the bobbin thread and gently pull them both again. Now put the fabric in but do not use the pedal. Hand crank a straight stitch 3-4 times and stop with the needle down. Lift the presser foot and check the back of the fabric. Keep doing that several more times until you know it is working and then use the pedal.
posted by soelo at 1:16 PM on March 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Be careful adjusting the bobbin tension--it is easy to mess up bobbin tension & then you will be at the repair shop (and those tiny screws are easy to lose). I sew a lot and rarely, rarely adjust bobbin tension. The top tension--usually a knob or wheel somewhere--is probably the problem. Or not using the same weight thread in bobbin as for the spool. Or there is a thread tail stuck somewhere, or too much fuzz in the bobbin well, or other possibilities.
That knotted mess also happens if the machine is misthreaded--it is easy to do that on my machine, so I have seen this often. Re-read the manual and re-thread the machine. Wind a new bobbin so the thread is properly on the bobbin, be sure the bobbin thread is coming off in the right direction, then try again. A good rule of thumb is to run a line or two of sticking on a scrap, adjust tension, try again, until it works. If you bought your machine from a local dealer, take it in and ask them for help.
posted by Nosey Mrs. Rat at 1:39 PM on March 12, 2015
That knotted mess also happens if the machine is misthreaded--it is easy to do that on my machine, so I have seen this often. Re-read the manual and re-thread the machine. Wind a new bobbin so the thread is properly on the bobbin, be sure the bobbin thread is coming off in the right direction, then try again. A good rule of thumb is to run a line or two of sticking on a scrap, adjust tension, try again, until it works. If you bought your machine from a local dealer, take it in and ask them for help.
posted by Nosey Mrs. Rat at 1:39 PM on March 12, 2015
Check your needle size. That's a classic mistake because people think that one size fits all and that's simply not true. Check that the needle is inserted into the machine correctly too. It's easy to put them in sideways. Also, make sure that your needle is sharp and not dull. All of these can lead to looping as I've learned all too well.
posted by patheral at 2:02 PM on March 12, 2015
posted by patheral at 2:02 PM on March 12, 2015
I regularly tear my hair out on account of my sewing machine. Things I have recently learned:
(1) The ball-tip needles that are supposed to be good for sewing knit fabrics sometimes don't go all the way through the fabric even if it's knit fabric, and that messes/snarls everything up. So try using a new, sharp, pointy normal sewing needle.
(2) It turns out that it matters which orientation the bobbin goes into the bobbin holder (= which way the thread is coming off the top). One way is bad. Check your manual.
(3) your top tension can have an effect as well.
posted by leahwrenn at 2:48 PM on March 12, 2015
(1) The ball-tip needles that are supposed to be good for sewing knit fabrics sometimes don't go all the way through the fabric even if it's knit fabric, and that messes/snarls everything up. So try using a new, sharp, pointy normal sewing needle.
(2) It turns out that it matters which orientation the bobbin goes into the bobbin holder (= which way the thread is coming off the top). One way is bad. Check your manual.
(3) your top tension can have an effect as well.
posted by leahwrenn at 2:48 PM on March 12, 2015
Response by poster: I've adjusted the bobbin tension as per the instructions in the manual. No joy. I've loosened it further and tightened it up. Still no joy. I've also tried all settings on the top tension and tried different threads on different bobbins. The stitching is still a mess.
I also can see nothing to suggest I'm threading the machine in the wrong way. I'll have another go tomorrow. The frustration has worn me out.
posted by popcassady at 2:52 PM on March 12, 2015
I also can see nothing to suggest I'm threading the machine in the wrong way. I'll have another go tomorrow. The frustration has worn me out.
posted by popcassady at 2:52 PM on March 12, 2015
Honestly if you can't get it to work with MeFi tips just bring it to one of those ubiquitous sewing machine/vacuum repair places.
posted by radioamy at 2:54 PM on March 12, 2015
posted by radioamy at 2:54 PM on March 12, 2015
Can you post a picture of the spool on top, it being threaded through the arm and the needle and bobbin? I do think there's something not quite right with the threading. I've soooooo been there!
posted by barnone at 4:27 PM on March 12, 2015
posted by barnone at 4:27 PM on March 12, 2015
IIRC I've ended up with a snarled mess of bobbin thread when there's been just a tiny scrap of thread *somewhere* in the bobbin case. The brush that comes with your machine or canned air would work well to clean the bobbin case thoroughly. It's amazing how much icky stuff gathers in there.
posted by DrGail at 5:21 PM on March 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by DrGail at 5:21 PM on March 12, 2015 [3 favorites]
Nthing DrGail. When this happens to me (on my bought-at-a-garage-sale machine), it means I need to clean out any lint and dust in the bobbin compartment. I feel you -- it's SUPER annoying because it happens underneath the fabric and you can't see it as it occurs. But it makes me keep my machine clean. >sigh< Oh well, it was $20.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 6:57 PM on March 12, 2015
posted by mon-ma-tron at 6:57 PM on March 12, 2015
Same thing happened with my sewing machine - I took it to get serviced and it turned out there was all sorts of thread jammed in the tension crank *and* a needle point stuck in the bobbin mechanism, which I hadn't seen in my examinations.
posted by Lucinda at 7:16 PM on March 12, 2015
posted by Lucinda at 7:16 PM on March 12, 2015
Put all your tension settings back the way they were and try again, holding your threads taut when you start.
posted by peachfuzz at 8:40 PM on March 12, 2015
posted by peachfuzz at 8:40 PM on March 12, 2015
This has happened to me twice - once it was dust and a piece of thread below the bobbin housing and the other time changing the needle to a new one fixed it right up.
I've read that cheap thread can cause the birdsnest mess also. I have two machines, one New Home and one Brother and both of them require the bobbin thread to come off the bobbin from the back to the front from the left - counterclockwise, IOW - and then the thread has to be inserted into this tiny little slot on the almost right and pulled to the left until it catches and sort of clicks. If any of that process is off, I know the nest is guaranteed because even my old Singer would refuse to do anything if that was haywire. My Brother machine insists that it has its own bobbin size and won't work properly with regular plastic bobbins, so I try to use the right ones - they're supposedly a titch taller than the usual - but I'm not yet convinced that the others won't work because I've used them a few times without problems; still, that's what the book says. Oh, and when you wind your bobbin, be sure it's wound smoothly and evenly - if it's uneven or there are messy threads on the bobbin, it will jam for sure. Also, when you fill your bobbin, be sure to cut off the end of the thread that you pull through to the top to begin the winding; if you don't cut it off, it can get caught when the needle engages the bobbin and snarl all up - I did that one twice before I caught on.
Sigh. A sewing machine is a lovely thing, but it can sure be a devil when it's cranky.
As for setting the tension, find out from your book where your bobbin tension should be set and set it there, then set the upper tension at about 3 - then sew two pieces of ordinary cotton or similar fabric together with all the stuff above covered. Don't get too busy fooling with tensions - they really don't require much in the way of adjustment unless you're sewing on very heavy fabric or very fine fabric - or slippery stuff. But if you can sew two pieces of cotton fabric together and it works okay, you know there's nothing major going on. If it doesn't work, I don't know any other alternative to hauling it to the shop.
posted by aryma at 9:59 PM on March 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
I've read that cheap thread can cause the birdsnest mess also. I have two machines, one New Home and one Brother and both of them require the bobbin thread to come off the bobbin from the back to the front from the left - counterclockwise, IOW - and then the thread has to be inserted into this tiny little slot on the almost right and pulled to the left until it catches and sort of clicks. If any of that process is off, I know the nest is guaranteed because even my old Singer would refuse to do anything if that was haywire. My Brother machine insists that it has its own bobbin size and won't work properly with regular plastic bobbins, so I try to use the right ones - they're supposedly a titch taller than the usual - but I'm not yet convinced that the others won't work because I've used them a few times without problems; still, that's what the book says. Oh, and when you wind your bobbin, be sure it's wound smoothly and evenly - if it's uneven or there are messy threads on the bobbin, it will jam for sure. Also, when you fill your bobbin, be sure to cut off the end of the thread that you pull through to the top to begin the winding; if you don't cut it off, it can get caught when the needle engages the bobbin and snarl all up - I did that one twice before I caught on.
Sigh. A sewing machine is a lovely thing, but it can sure be a devil when it's cranky.
As for setting the tension, find out from your book where your bobbin tension should be set and set it there, then set the upper tension at about 3 - then sew two pieces of ordinary cotton or similar fabric together with all the stuff above covered. Don't get too busy fooling with tensions - they really don't require much in the way of adjustment unless you're sewing on very heavy fabric or very fine fabric - or slippery stuff. But if you can sew two pieces of cotton fabric together and it works okay, you know there's nothing major going on. If it doesn't work, I don't know any other alternative to hauling it to the shop.
posted by aryma at 9:59 PM on March 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
I have a Singer bought in about 1994. I always had trouble with the timing and had to take it in to get it adjusted frequently. When it needed adjusting, it caused exactly this problem - fine on top, a mess underneath. I've been told that modern Singers often have timing problems. There are instructions floating around for DIY repair but it was worth it to me to have an expert take care of it quickly and cheaply. Good luck.
Oh and I just recalled that I had a similar issue with my HuskyStar when I had the (slightly) wrong sized bobbin in so maybe try a different one to check.
posted by Beti at 10:30 PM on March 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
Oh and I just recalled that I had a similar issue with my HuskyStar when I had the (slightly) wrong sized bobbin in so maybe try a different one to check.
posted by Beti at 10:30 PM on March 12, 2015 [1 favorite]
« Older And I thought money was hard when we didn't have... | What's with my weird sleep pattern? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by aimedwander at 12:03 PM on March 12, 2015 [3 favorites]