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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and quilting message board “Sew What’s New,” which was retired in August 2007. It is being provided by “Sew What’s Up,” which serves as the new home for many members of “Sew What’s New.”
From: Noodles
Date: 05-30-2004, 06:15 AM (1 of 5)
When I sew my stitches are not meeting in the middle of the fabric, instead the bobbin thread is laying flat under the fabric. I tried to adjust the tension, but it isn't fixing the problem and I'm out of ideas. The machine is only 6 months old and was working fine before. Can someone help me?
Laurie
User: Noodles
Member since: 03-14-2004
Total posts: 6
From: sewnew2
Date: 05-30-2004, 07:30 AM (2 of 5)
Hi Laurie;

I am new to sewing, and had a new machine with what I thought was a tension problem, was sewing fine, then "nested", then the tension was off, with the bottom thread lying loose on the underside of the fabric.

Here is a list of things I did to 'fix' the tension, I am not sure exactly what was wrong to begin with:

1. change the needle to a new one
2. change the bobbin to a new one with the same thread as the needle
3. rethread the machine, more than once if this step doesn't work
4. if frustrated, turn the machine off and walk away
5. put all settings to the usual, recommended settings, and after doing all the above try again.

I thought about adjusting the bobbin tension as a last resort, but found out I didn't need to.

I hope this helps!
Heather
User: sewnew2
Member since: 03-31-2004
Total posts: 70
From: paroper
Date: 05-30-2004, 09:05 AM (3 of 5)
and make sure that the needle is all the way "in" with the flat part of the needle facing the back of your machine (there are just a few machines where the flat part faces a different direction...not common.)
pam

Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch)
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004
Total posts: 3775
From: Londa
Date: 06-03-2004, 11:14 AM (4 of 5)
Having been a machine dealer in the past.... I offer the following insight that I hope will prove helpful:

whenever having tension problems, I always put a different color thread in the top and the bobbin - that way you can identify which one is which.....

VERY often - if you have nesting (bunch of loose threads on the bottom), 99.9% of the time it is the TOP thread, not the bobbin thread.... and what has happened is that the top thread is not being 'squeezed' by those tension discs.
Why?
Most of the time it is because one threaded the top with the presser foot down - instead of up. When the presser foot is down, the tension discs are closed and the thread can't get inbetween the discs to get 'squeezed'. Make sense? Sew.... always, always, always thread your machine with the presser foot UP.

For the problem cited at teh beginning of the thread, where (if i remember correctly) the bobbin thread is laying straight - that means it is too tight. #1: Make sure you have the bobbin in correctly - rotatling the correct way, clockwise or counter clockwise (I just posted a lengthy thing about that under another thread - 'Can't get bobbin thread up" or similar). rather than adjust the bobbin tension - which can be done, but not my first recommendation - what you need to do is balance it by tightening (going to a higher number) with the upper tension. "Hi is tight, Lo is Loose." helpful to remember regarding tension numbers.


Hoping this is helpful...
Londa:bluesmile
Londa
www.londas-sewing.com
www.alondaoriginal.com
User: Londa
Member since: 05-26-2004
Total posts: 39
From: Noodles
Date: 06-03-2004, 03:37 PM (5 of 5)
Thank you everyone for all the help. I'll print it all out and give everything a try, something should work. And I didn't know that about not threading the machine with the pressure foot down. That's good information to know. Thank you.
Laurie
User: Noodles
Member since: 03-14-2004
Total posts: 6
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