Superior Threads

Problems? (Part 2) | Troubleshooting Tips

1. Check the thread path from the spool or cone to the needle. Is it threaded correctly?

2. Is the needle in correctly? Is it square to the face of the machine? Is the scarf to the back? Are you using the correct needle? Is it inserted all the way?

3. Is the bobbin tension correct in relation to the top tension? Is the bobbin positioned correctly? Is there lint or other debris under the tension spring?

4. Is the top tension correct in relation to the bobbin tension?

5. Is the needle coming down in the center of the darning foot?

6. If a particular needle keeps breaking thread, do the following: Remove the thread and put it on a different machine. If the problem follows the spool of thread, you can assume the problem is a bad spool of thread. If the thread works fin on the second machine, the problem is with the first machine and not with the thread.

7. Change speed according to the job being done. As a general rule, the following will apply: The wider a satin stitch, the faster the machine can be run. The narrower a satin stitch, the slower the machine should be run. Compensate for slowing the machine down on small satin stitches by speeding it up on large satin stitches and fill stitches. There is nothing wrong with changing machine speed while running the same design. The speed control was put on the machine to do exactly that -- to change the speed in accordance to what you are running.

Tension is the term we give to the process of balancing the top and bottom threads so the machine will sew a good stitch.

Problem: The top thread frays.
Probable Cause: The needle is too small, the top tension is too tight, or there is a burr or rough in the thread path.

Problem: The bobbin thread shows through on the top.
Probable Cause: The bobbin tension is too loose, or the top tension is too tight.

Problem: The top thread loops on the bottom.
Probable Cause: The bobbin tension is too tight or the top tension is too loose.

Problem: The top thread snaps and leaves a small hook at the point of the break.
Probable Cause: The top thread is too tight.

Problem: The thread gathers under the needle plate.
Probable Cause: There are two reasons why thread gathers under the needle plate. Either the top tension is too low or the machine is threaded incorrectly, bypassing the take-up lever. It is not a thread problem. If the thread were inferior it would simply break and not be strong enough to gather under the needle plate and jam the machine. What is occurring is that when your take-up lever raises to pull the thread back up through the fabric and form the stitching knot, it is instead simply pulling thread off the spool because there is not sufficient top tension. This situation results when the tension is set too low, the tension disks are held apart by lint or thread debris or the thread is not pulled all the way down between the disks. The other condition occurs when the take-up lever is not pulling the thread back through at all because it is not threaded. Clean your machine regularly.