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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Help, Help! I have a sewing question!

Many times, my sewing machine makes awful jumbles of thread on the back of my projects. This tends to happen when there is more than one layer to sew through. This is an example. A tame example.
Why is this happening? Is there any troubleshooting info out there? My sewing machine is so old that we've thrown away the manual.

Help. Please.

7 comments:

  1. use Google to find a pdf of the manual. that's my best advice... (or make sure your thread is taut and not too loosey goosey).

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  2. Three cheers for old machines! The first time I heard someone call mine "vintage", I just about died! I've got a 1969 Viking Husq and it does that too sometimes! I have no answer for you. Usually I pull off tons of bobbin thread to make sure it gets past any weird spots and double check my tension. Usually it happens several times in a row and I get so frustrated I give up and stop sewing. Usually when I try again the next day, it's all worked out! Who knows. Have you had it serviced lately? Good luck!

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  3. no...confess I have NEVER had it serviced!! and I will check for a pdf of the manual! thanks:)

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  4. I did just adjust my thread tension! It is working better. So exciting. I did some trial & error...but still haven't looked up the manual online!

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  5. Hi Jennifer, when it comes to sewing machines, the "old" one's are usually far superior to any inexpensive new one. I can think of several things to try. First & foremost, having your machine serviced once every year or two is always a good idea.(You wouldn't let your car go for years without a tune-up, would you? Of course not.) Next, the first thing I do when I have almost any sewing problem is rethread the machine. Redo the bobbin too. That alone often does the trick. Also, always begin & end sewing onto a scrap of fabric to make sure the thread tails don't get caught in the bobbin area & make a mess. Every time I put in a new bobbin, I dust out the bobbin area with a little brush. It's amazing how quickly huge dust bunnies can accumulate under there. I hope this helps. Happy sewing!

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  6. When I have that trouble with my sewing machine it is usually because it is not threaded properly. Check your bobbin to be sure the thread is slipped through the guide - not sure of the technical terms, but mine sometimes slips out resulting in no bobbin tension. Also totally rethread your machine. Be sure your presser foot is in the up position when you thread it so the tension discs are not engaged. Again, I don't know the technical terms. Also be sure that the thread is securely popped into the guide just above the needle. I'm sure this will solve most of your thread problems.

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  7. Hi from Malaga (South Spain). My machine, a "new one" (it's only 15 yrs old, and I agree with kathryn, usually "vintage" machines are better than cheap news machines) uses to do the same sometimes. I have found that its, as Anne said, that is not threaded properly. Stop, open the machine and fit the thread and the bobbin again. It works 9/10. Hope to be useful. And I try to make my machine serviced at least once every five years. I did a couple of times since I bought it.

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