How to troubleshoot your sewing machine – things to try before you take it for a service
Every now and again my sewing machine gives me trouble. It could be skipping stitches or making a funny sound. Sometimes it chews up the bobbin thread or my fabric – GASP!
Like all mechanical things, it can sometimes need a service from a sewing machine professional who really understands how it works inside – unlike me. But before I rush off to my local machine guy, there are a few simple things that I have learnt can fix the problem with less time out.
Things I do when my machine is not sewing properly:
- Clean out the fluff – This is always my first thing to try. Fluff gathers quickly so remove the bobbin and brush out any dirt or threads. My machine also has a metal plate above the bobbin which can come off to gain greater access to the bobbin area. I often pop that off as well to clean the feed dogs.
- Check the bobbin – My machine has a small bobbin casing that comes out of the machine that the bobbin sits into. (I know some machines don’t have this.) While the bobbin and it’s casing is out of the machine, I remove the bobbin and brush out the casing. Then I can put the bobbin back into the casing, checking that it is threaded the correct way. I also check that the bobbin doesn’t have any loose thread hanging from it that could interfere with the machine workings.
- Re-thread the machine – Next step is to completely un-thread the machine and re-thread it. Many machines will still sew even when they are threaded incorrectly, so if you’re not sure about how to thread yours, check the manual and make sure you’re threading it correctly.
- Change the needle – Next, grab a new needle. When I was first told to try this I thought “Really? But my needle is pretty new”. Now that I have changed needles to fix problems a few times, I have realised that this is really a ‘thing’. A needle can have just a little bend on the end or be a little blunt and that can cause the machine to work harder to push it through the fabric.
- A little oil – I don’t oil my machine anywhere near enough but check your manual to see whether it recommends oiling and if so exactly where you should put the tiniest drop of oil. I tend to leave this one to a professional but it may solve your problem – especially on older machines.
- Turn it off and on again – Another step that might seem a little useless but it is for computerised sewing machines. Turning it off will let the computer reset itself and start afresh – just like when you need to regularly turn off a mobile phone or desktop computer.
- Check your settings – Is the stitch length, stitch width, and tension all set where you would normally have them? It can be easy to knock a dial or button without realising it so check them all.
- Take a break – If all else fails and your machine is still not playing nice, turn it off and take a break! I get frustrated with my machine not working and just taking a minute to walk away, grab a coffee and check my Instagram feed means that I go back refreshed – and my machine has cooled down too!
Of course, if all else fails, it might be time for a service. There should be someone in your area who specialises in your brand of machine and who can give you a quote on price and the time it will take before they start. I have found my local guy only needs my machine for a couple of days to give it a little tune up and have it running like new.
I find that sometimes just switching your sewing foot will do wonders for “loud banging sounds”. Also, checking to see that your bobbin thread and top thread are the same weight!
I also learned that if the presser foot isn’t raised when you thread your machine you will not engagebthevtension discs resulting in birds nests or loose stitches.
My upper thread breaks when U am using the wrong needle. And if the thread is bunching, ut usually means the bobbin is going to run out of thread soon, and needs to be wound again
Thanks for the tips, Richa.
I use canned air to dust out places that the little brushes can’t reach. It’s amazing how much lint can accumulate inside the moving parts of a sewing machine.
So true, Beth! I hadn’t used my machine for a while so I had to give it a good clean yesterday – amazing how much dust there was after a couple of weeks! I must remember to cover it next time.
Make sure your presser foot lever is UP before threading. When down, the tension discs are closed and cannot “receive” the thread to apply tension to.
Yes! I learnt this the hard way!
Make sure your bobbin thread and upper thread match….eg guteman 15 and guteman 15 ..not 10 and 15 and dont use chesp thread it snaps and frays
Yes – great tip!
My machine is eating my fabric any thoughts
Hi Debra,
How frustrating or you!!
Is it just eating it as you start sewing from the edge? I find sometimes that happens to me and I have to start in from the edge a little so that the raw edge doesn’t get pushed down into the needle hole.
I’m going to post your question over on my Facebook page and see if anyone in the community has any tips. (http://www.facebook.com/craftymummy) I’ll let you know if I get any answers over there.
Tonya
If your machine is pulling your fabric into the machine when you first start stitching, take a piece of scrap paper and start stitching on it first. Stop, lift the pressure feet, put your fabric on top of the paper, lower the feet and start sewing. Your fabric should stay in place and you can just tear away the paper when you are finished.
Just learning to sew. I have a slant-o-matic 401a. When i try to back stich my fabric keeps bunching up, its been ceaned oiled threaded and rethreaded, bobbin checked and rechecked. Cant seem to figure it out
How frustrating for you, Stacey! I don’t have any more tips unfortunately but I did come across this site that seems to have lots of tips: http://www.tandtrepair.com/SlantOMatics.html – and this blog seems to be written by someone who fixes them and writes tips as well: http://www.archaicarcane.com/tag/slantomatic/
I’ll also put your question out on my Facebook page and see if anyone can suggest anything
Tonya
Thank you for your help
Hi Tonya! I was going through the referral links on my site and saw a link to here. Thanks! I’m glad I’ve been able to help you solve issues with your machines! BTW, yes, I do fix machines as well as using them when I can.
Hi Tammi,
Your blog had so much info so thank you so much for sharing with us!
I have a Singer model 638 which I have just had serviced, unfortunately it keeps making a birds nest under the fabric. I am an experienced sewer and have done all the usual, re threading, new needle, checked the bobbin etc. I am at my wits end with it. I have been back to the place where it was serviced but of course it did not do it in the shop. Any ideas?
Thanks
PS
I am in the UK
I have found that starting off with a peice of scrap fabric in the machine stops nesting threads and somrtimes it can also be caused by a bobbin that is not wound evenly rewind the bobbin it may help.
I bought a Janome sewing machine at a thrift store. I brought it home and cleaned it up and started sewing (I’m new) but the feed dogs won’t feed the material through the machine. what would cause this?
Hi Rhonda,
I would guess that the feed dogs could be stuck down or not moving freely. I know my machine has a way to set the feed dogs down permanently when I am free motion quilting so check that first. If they are up, then perhaps they need cleaning, oiling or servicing? They should move up and towards the back as you turn the fly wheel so you should be able to see whether they are moving at all by watching as you turn the wheel slowly.
Hope that gives you some clues,
Tonya
I had a problem a few days ago. I usually sew with Rasant, but didn’t have the right colour to match a dress I was making, so I used Polyester. I sewed the whole dress with this it was perfectly OK. Then I tried to sew some shorts, I started to use the matching colour in Polyester, but it just wouldn’t see properly. Tried everything, cleaning it, changing the needle etc. Then I remembered reading somewhere that some machines are set to use whatever type or brand of cotton it was tested with in the factory, so I thought ok, will give Rasant a try. So after spending $8.00 plus on it, the thread worked like a charm, much cheaper than putting it in for a check up.
I’m not sure about newer machines, but my old circa 1980s mechanical machine that still runs like a dream has a tension setting on the bobbin. It’s a little screw. I somehow missed that lesson when I learned to sew. Wow! What a difference futzing with THAT made.
My machine only likes expensive cotton brands, could be that, or needle is blunt
Didn’t see my problem addressed….my machine doesn’t sew a seam–the upper thread and the bobbin don’t meet up to make the stitch. I have checked the threading, needle, etc. What could be causing this
Help, the needle on my embroidery machine hits the bottom of the drop in bobbin case. The needle is all the way in and I have changes the needle several times. Is there a way to adjust the rod that carries the needle or do I adjust thebobbin case? Thank you
elo i have a new bernina 700d overlocker liht come on but when i tap the footpanel doesent whant to work can it be the footpanel????