Sew What’s Up Presents
The Sew What’s New Archive
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: e50e
Date: 08-28-2004, 07:24 PM (1 of 6)
| I have minimal sewing experience and have finally purchased my own machine and would like to finish a project today but I can not even complete a single stitch! I continuously create "thread nests" no matter how I hold the thread to the back of the machine when I begin sewing. Earlier today an experienced friend of mine tested out the machine and said it worked perfectly but I can't get past this first major obstacle. What should I be doing??? I have read other posts regarding this problem but I've done those things recommended already! thanks! |
User: e50e
Member since: 08-28-2004 Total posts: 21 |
From: paroper
Date: 08-28-2004, 09:39 PM (2 of 6)
|
1. Don't start at the very edge of your fabric, move in just a very tiny little bit. 2. When you thread your machine, make sure that your presser foot is in the up position, otherwise the thread may not go into the tension disks. 3. Have you changed your needle since your friend used your machine? If so, make sure that your needle is all the way in and that the flat side of the needle is where it should be. On most machines that means that the flat side is to the back of the machine, but check your manual and make sure that is true of your machine, it may need to be to the right or left or even in front, depending on the brand of your machine. 4. Is your bobbin wound evenly and tightly. Sometimes the bobbin has loops in it or is wound more to the bottom than the top...that can cause problems. If it has loops, make sure that you took the thread through the tension disk at the top properly when your wound your bobbin. 5. When you wound your bobbin, did you pull the thread through a hole on the top and hold it until it broke completely off, or is there a tail of the winding thread sticking out. Any stray loops or ends in the bobbin can cause your machine to try to catch the wrong thread and make nests. If there is a tail out the side of the bobbin, trim it just as close to your bobbin as possible. If it is sticking out of the thread of the bobbin itself, use that bobbin as your thread and run it back into a new bobbin, pulling the end of the thread through a hole at the top and holding it until it twists off. 6. Did you pull your bobbin thread through and pull it back out of the way...it is related to #5 and # 4. If you did not do this, you thread your machine and hold the thread out of the way to the left side. Then turn your fly wheel toward you with your hand just one rotation. Your needle will go down and pick up a loop of bobbin thread. When your needle returns to its highest position, let go of the hand wheel and take something like a pair of scissors and run it between your plate and your presser foot, while holding your top thread (still). Your bobbin thread and your top thread will then be out from under the presser foot and you can pull them to the back left side of your machine. You are now ready to sew. One of these things should take care of your nesting problems. Even experienced seamstresses have problems with these things from time to time. I hope this works for you! 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: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 08-29-2004, 08:25 PM (3 of 6)
|
One more thing,,... The post that goes up and down should ALWAYS be at the highest point when you start to sew. If it is not, you can get thread nests or you can get an un-threaded needle.. In my old singer instruction book, that point was made in heavy print when it was teaching you how to thread the machine.. Get into the habit of checking that before you lower the presser foot even..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
|
From: blackie
Date: 08-29-2004, 11:20 PM (4 of 6)
|
the most common cause for thread nests that i have seen is related to starting to sew while slightly off the fabric (paroper's #1 item). try starting in the middle of a scrap piece and see if you have success. here are my tips for this annoying problem: 1. after threading your machine and pulling the bobbin thread out, my sewing guru recommends i "see saw" the main thread through the threading path, to make sure it has engaged in all the places it needs to. not sure why but this seems to help. 2. if you have tried all the suggestions and are still having the same problem, maybe your bobbin tension needs to be adjusted. you may have to take your machine into a repair shop for this. the guy who works on my machine has done this for free, as it only involves adjusting a screw and is easy for him to do. good luck, and i hope you can overcome this pesky problem! see the mundane life of a housewife.
|
User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: GreenDragonLady
Date: 08-30-2004, 07:37 AM (5 of 6)
|
Also, I know this sounds like an obvious thing, but make sure that the presser foot is down. My new machine won't run without it down, but all of my older machines would (or try to, anyway!) I had a friend who was learning to sew, and she used to forget all the time. With some machines it's hard to tell if it's down or not because there's not much difference in the height of the foot. Good luck and let us know how you're making out!  Jessica
photos.yahoo.com/greendragondesigns
|
User: GreenDragonLady
Member since: 07-29-2004 Total posts: 495 
|
From: e50e
Date: 08-31-2004, 01:53 AM (6 of 6)
| Ok, thanks a lot--those are all great tips. I found for me that if I move the needle down to the point where it is just to the fabric before I hit the pedal that this eliminates the problem 90% of the time-----ha, I'm new and therefore even if I'm careful things still go wrong! You are all great for addressing my problem. |
User: e50e
Member since: 08-28-2004 Total posts: 21 |
Visit Sew What’s Up for the latest sewing and quilting tips and discussions.
This page was originally located on Sew What’s New (www.sew-whats-new.com) at http://www.sew-whats-new.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-13469.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft