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From: yeepers
Date: 09-06-2003, 08:11 AM (1 of 17)
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Hi all! Quick question regarding some tension/thread issues that I've noticed but have not really had success fixing. My top thread is sewing out beautifully. Nice and even stitches and tight but not too tight. Bottom thread is not as nice. Do top and botton stitches ever look identical? I just can't get the bottom to look like the top. They're not as neat and not as tight. What should I be adjusting? Also, I've noticed that while the top thread sews out in a perfectly straight line the bottom thread will sew out some stitches slights askew. Help please! -Yee
Two Turtles |
User: yeepers
Member since: 03-29-2002 Total posts: 52 
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From: LoriV
Date: 09-06-2003, 09:55 AM (2 of 17)
Hi,  I just wanted to let you know that you aren't alone. I have 2 Janomes, and I have failed to achieve balanced tension on either one. Of course, they are both over 2 years old and have never been properly serviced, which might explain things.  I'm bringing one into my local Janome dealer for a tune up. Hopefully, the tension issue will either straighten out, or the dealer will point out what I'm doing wrong. Plus, I *swear* there are Tension Gremlins among us. Sometimes I get it just right (and I'm all proud of myself). The next day, it's off again. Go figure. |
User: LoriV
Member since: 01-24-2001 Total posts: 6 |
From: yeepers
Date: 09-06-2003, 06:05 PM (3 of 17)
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Hi Lori, Thanks for sounding in. I just got this machine serviced so that shouldn't be an issue. Still, I guess maybe I'm just a freak about it? The ideal is where it's perfectly balanced between the top and bottom, right? Just can't get it. Guess I'll keep trying. Any further suggestions welcome! -Yee
Two Turtles |
User: yeepers
Member since: 03-29-2002 Total posts: 52
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From: Aimee S
Date: 09-06-2003, 09:53 PM (4 of 17)
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I also on occasion have trouble with my tension. Usally it has to do with lint in the tensioners. Last time it was where right before you go down and around before going down to the needle. i had a bunch of gunk caught in there and it made the bobbin area look like a nest. I took a piece of paper and ran it back and forth in the spot and the gunk disloadged. Hope this helps
The more you disaprove, the more fun I am having!
http://photos.yahoo.com/aimeehs29 |
User: Aimee S
Member since: 02-23-2003 Total posts: 488 
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From: Colette
Date: 09-07-2003, 01:32 AM (5 of 17)
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Hi, I used to buy economy polyester thread before I knew the difference. The thin stuff wreaks your tension by actually cutting into the metal along the thread guides if you use it a lot. Tension must be adjusted according to the thickness of the thread used so if you change your thread you might have to change your tension. To adust the bobbin thread tension, you turn the little screw in the bobbin holder where the thread guide is. Be careful with that screw since it can be stripped pretty easily. This is not a tension you want to be playing with all the time. Just a small adjustment goes a long way. Proper tension is important to me! Colette
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User: Colette
Member since: 07-25-2003 Total posts: 2 
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From: wghmch
Date: 09-07-2003, 11:03 PM (6 of 17)
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Remember that "tensions are opposites." If the loops are on the bottom, this is the top thread that is not being pulled up, and the top tension may be too loose. If the loops are on the top, the tension on the bobbin case may be allowing too much thread to go to the top, and need tightening. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: yeepers
Date: 09-08-2003, 08:12 AM (7 of 17)
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Hi Bill, It's not that it's looping on either side. Simply that I can never get the bottom to look identical to the top even though I am using the same thread for both. The top stitches look nice and neat and tight while the bottom never looks quite as tight and sometimes has a tendency to want to be a little crooked. I have not managed to fix this yet even with all the tweaking I've been doing. Mostly with the upper tension and not with the bobbin tension as that seems to be fine. Thanks. -Yee
Two Turtles |
User: yeepers
Member since: 03-29-2002 Total posts: 52
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From: wghmch
Date: 09-08-2003, 09:18 AM (8 of 17)
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I'm probably not going to be much help without seeing it, but I'll offer a few (possibly relevant) thoughts. 1-When you say "the bottom stitches aren't as tight", to me, this describes "looping". Loops don't have to be big curls of thread, but can be tiny nubs that just aren't being snugged into the fabric. 2-In some fabrics, the opening caused by the needle's penetration can make your eye "see loops". This is lessened by using lighter colored thread when testing. Never try to set tensions with dark thread. You will never get it right. 3-If thread is loose on one side of the fabric, it is usually the thread from the opposite side that is loose. However, on occasion, the thread from the same side will be loose, and this is usually caused by the feed mechanism being out of time. If it does not feed at precisely the right time, the motion of the feed can draw out extra thread, and since the length of the stitch is already determined, the "extra thread" will be loose. 4-Straight stitches aren't actually straight. This has always been almost impossible for many people to accept, but it is a fact nonetheless. A stitch is simply 2 threads being wrapped around each other. The threads have thickness to them, and so the threads HAVE to be at a slight angle to wrap around each other. In most cases, they are pulled back to the center line as they exit the needle hole, but in some instances, especially in lighter weight fabrics, or with heavier weight threads, your eye can see this angle, and you revert to the "it's gotta look straight" mode. I consider a stitch to be good if the needle is penetrating in a perfectly straight line, and each stitch is laying perfectly parallel, even if it is at a very tiny slant. Hope there is something here that will help. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: mamahoogie
Date: 09-08-2003, 09:36 AM (9 of 17)
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I was taught long, long time ago this method of checking tension and it has worked for me ever since. - Put two different coloured darkish threads - but same kind, eg. poly, or cotton, etc. - one in bobbin, the other on top. - Set your machine to a wide zig zag and stitch on white or light fabric. - check your stitches. It is easy to see if one is too tight or loose. Once you get the zig zag stitches to be even, the straight stitches will be too. Hope this helps  p.s. Are you using the same type of thread top and bottom? If not, this will throw your stitches off too. I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
From: wghmch
Date: 09-08-2003, 11:47 AM (10 of 17)
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"Once you get the zig zag stitches to be even, the straight stitches will be too." I'm sorry, but if this works out, it is just a lucky break with a specific machine. Many, many machines cannot use the same upper tension setting to get a good ZZ as they use on a straight stitch. This is especially true of most older horizontal bobbin Singers. Generally speaking, we set those so that the straight stitch was good on "3" and the ZZ was good on "5". And dark thread, when setting tensions on a straight stitch, is something that no experienced mechanic would try. If anyone has doubts about this, balance your tensions correctly, using an ordinary weight of fabric and light color threads. Then change the top thread to black, and look at the underside of the fabric. This is the extreme case, but it will demonstrate how your perception can be fooled by the combination of the dark thread and the needle opening. Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: yeepers
Date: 09-08-2003, 11:54 AM (11 of 17)
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Hi Bill - I can see that I'm not very good at describing the "problem". Really, it's not a problem per se...simply that I cannot seem to get the bottom stitches to look like the top ones. The top stitches are neat and "tight". By this I mean that there is a clear delineation between each stitch. I can never seem to get the bottom stitches to display the same delineation. They seem to appear more as a "run-on" stitch. Don't get me wrong, both top and bottom thread are getting pulled to the middle of the fabric and neither is loose on top or bottom. I just can't get the bottom to "look" like the top. Does that make sense? Cheers. -Yee
Two Turtles |
User: yeepers
Member since: 03-29-2002 Total posts: 52
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From: wghmch
Date: 09-08-2003, 12:12 PM (12 of 17)
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"I just can't get the bottom to "look" like the top. Does that make sense?" It makes perfect sense, because there are more circumstances where it will look somewhat different than the same. The most obvious aspect is that the fabric has been pushed toward that side by the needle, and the opening will interact (for the beholder) visually with the thread. From what you're saying, I think that you've got it set just fine, and on certain fabrics, it will look almost perfect. Over many years in the business, I had a number of customers who let things like this drive them nuts. Don't worry about it. Enjoy your machine! Bill Holman |
User: wghmch
Member since: 03-04-2003 Total posts: 249 |
From: yeepers
Date: 09-08-2003, 01:51 PM (13 of 17)
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Hey Bill, I guess I'm one of the persnickety ones  It's not a huge issue just that most of the things I sew both the top and bottom threads are visible and I'd love to get it so that they both look the same.Ah well, there are more important things to be worried about. Thanks for your input and advice. Cheers. -Yee
Two Turtles |
User: yeepers
Member since: 03-29-2002 Total posts: 52
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From: LoriV
Date: 09-08-2003, 03:05 PM (14 of 17)
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Thanks for the info, Bill!
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User: LoriV
Member since: 01-24-2001 Total posts: 6 |
From: mamahoogie
Date: 09-11-2003, 09:50 PM (15 of 17)
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Well Bill sounds like an expert and I'm sure not so I guess you can just colour me lucky that my system has always worked for me. I still find it easier to set my tension using a medium wide zig zag. I find it easier to see where tension is off but what the hey, what works for one, obviously doesn't for another.
I've decided to live forever - so far, so good.
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User: mamahoogie
Member since: 12-25-2002 Total posts: 461 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-12-2003, 06:01 PM (16 of 17)
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My machine makes beautiful stitches but the top and the bottom look slightly different.. Its because of the twisting or locking of the stitch.. If anyone would ever examine my stitches close enough to see the difference and comment on it, Can't you just imagine what I would say to that ??? Yeepers, I'm sure your stitches are just fine... Maybe you have been watching MR. Monk on tv too much...(just kidding, girlfriend...)
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: yeepers
Date: 09-12-2003, 09:04 PM (17 of 17)
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Hey Libby... I'm so seriously anal retentive that it's amazing that anything ever passes muster!!! I have to learn not to be so persnickety. One thing I've learned is that I can see all the little things that I see because I do the same thing day in and day out...however, if you asked someone else they wouldn't notice any of the "faults" I notice at all! Can anyone say therapy????
-Yee
Two Turtles |
User: yeepers
Member since: 03-29-2002 Total posts: 52
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