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: ittycritters
Date: 05-28-2005, 11:23 AM (1 of 20)
|
I was just about to start on a crib bumper for my little girl, and I had two panels done when my machine seemed like it was siezing up. So I started to look around, it is not actually making any stitches, and it just breaking my thread. I got down into the bobbin casing and i noticed that the thread was getting caught on it! So when it does the half turn, it gets stuck on a "hook" on the casing and doesn't pull the lower thread up to stitch. Why is it doing that? I checked the thread tension, I just don't get it... please tell me that this is just another one of my "lame "over sights. I have a Dressmaker machine. ~Desparately seeking sewing in Texas (krys) Just when I thought it was over....
|
User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50 
|
From: Hogmami
Date: 05-28-2005, 11:30 AM (2 of 20)
|
I don't know anything about your machine but the first things I would check is, is it threader right and is the bobbin in right. You might try changing the needle too.
Carolyn
Michigan |
User: Hogmami
Member since: 09-30-2004 Total posts: 800 
|
From: ittycritters
Date: 05-28-2005, 11:41 AM (3 of 20)
When this started it was thread as always, it just started doing it all of a sudden... It does this regaurdless of the bobbin, in or out... I have been told these machines are a lot like singers... that's what my mother said when she gave it to me. I had just done about two squares of sewing, and POOF! it just started this...  ~krys Just when I thought it was over....
|
User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50
|
From: meowmummy
Date: 05-28-2005, 11:45 AM (4 of 20)
|
I should know, I grew up using the washboards of sewing machines. I"ll offr a few tips, I'm not sure what you have or haven't tried, and none of it has anything to do with your sewing skills, so if the tips seem silly, please don't take it as I think you don't know what your doing okay.... 1) Oil your machine if you haven't in awhile, especially in the bobbin case area if it has pistons that wind together, or go up and down 2) Really make sure you are using both the correct needle size, and needle end, some of the needles are the correct size, but the sharpness of the tip is too much for some threads. 3) Of course double check you have threaded the bobbin in the bobbin case so it unwinds towards you, and make sure the tension on the bobbin case adjusts accordingly, as well as the top part of the machine. The bobbin case thread should pull out comfortably, but not too fast, or too tight. Good luck, I really hope this helps, I know how frustrating it can be |
User: meowmummy
Member since: 05-27-2005 Total posts: 5 
|
From: ittycritters
Date: 05-28-2005, 02:17 PM (5 of 20)
 Ok, I cleaned the machine up, and all, got the tiny bit of fuzz out of it, and checked my bobbin, and my thread tension, I made sure that the needle was the right size, I knew it was, it had been working fine, then I made sure that it was tight enough... it was.... NOW, it's not picking up the botton thread in the stitch... the bottom thread is already up and out the top, but the machine is now not picking it up to make a stitch. I called my mom, and she said that it had done that once before, but it was so long ago, and she had no idea what it was. I know that this is something that is just staring me right in the face, but i can't seem to figure it out, this is going to dirve me crazy...~Still sourly missing sewing in Texas (Krys) Just when I thought it was over....
|
User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50
|
From: paroper
Date: 05-28-2005, 04:50 PM (6 of 20)
|
Rethread the top thread while your presser foot is up, just to make sure that isn't the problem. It really sounds like your thread isn't in the right place when it meets the looper. Check and make sure that your needle is in with the flat part the going the right direction. On most machines, that is with the flat part to the back of the machine. On some, the flat part is turned sideways. You probably have it in correctly, but if it isn't it will drive you CRAZY! The other easy thing is if the bobbin is in the wrong direction, something else that I am sure you have already checked. Once in a while I have things like this happen to me and when I check, everything looks right, but if I take the thread off the spool and start over and take the bobbin out of the bobbin case and start over, it is just fine. (I't's almost like the machine telling me who's boss.)
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: DorothyL
Date: 05-28-2005, 05:26 PM (7 of 20)
|
Rethread the top thread while your presser foot is up, just to make sure that isn't the problem. Pam, that's exactly what I was thinking! I had the same problem and had to call the shop. I had even changed the needle. And I (apparently only almost) always make sure the presser foot is up when I thread the machine. But the repair person at the shop suggested rethreading. I did. It worked. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: Sancin
Date: 05-28-2005, 06:30 PM (8 of 20)
|
When rethreading ensure thread is coming off spool correctly. Check previous discussion on horizontal and vertical thread types. That was my problem when exactly the same thing happened. I did have to take in to repair shop as all that thread in the bobbin had displaced the bobbin somewhat.
*~*~*~* Nancy*~*~*~* " I try to take one day at a time - but sometimes several days attack me at once."
|
User: Sancin
Member since: 02-13-2005 Total posts: 895 
|
From: ittycritters
Date: 05-28-2005, 07:00 PM (9 of 20)
|
hi, well it is still not working, i have rethreaded the bobbin, removed it from the case, rethreaded the upper thread, and even changed out the needle...i have also cursed at it called it names and otherwise embarrased myself...i have even taken the bobbin case out of the machine and looked at it really hard... yet to no avail... it still eludes me. maybe that new machine will come just in time...~sigh~ anything else i can do short of throwing it in the river? like i said my mom had it happen to her, but has no idea what it was.... i guess it just sort of fixed itself...*crosses fingers* maybe it'll do that again!~refraining from throwing it into the colorado river -Krys Just when I thought it was over....
|
User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50
|
From: paroper
Date: 05-28-2005, 07:33 PM (10 of 20)
|
One other idea, for what it is worth....did you change brands of needles? Some needles are longer than others and depending upon the type of machine you have, you could have the wrong length needle. I don't think I saw what type of machine you have, but the Singer needle in particular is a different size than most Schmetz and some needles have a different scarf (I think that slit is called in the back) and for some machines that is a problem. It is also possible that when you had your thread nest you just flat knocked the machine out of time a little bit and it may need a trip to the your local repair shop (fortunately, it isn't very often that this happens.) 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: ittycritters
Date: 05-28-2005, 07:48 PM (11 of 20)
|
well, I would have thought that it was the needle too if i hadn't been using and then two seconds later it decided to quit, how could it get knocked out of time?? I mean this is an older $150 machine, is it going to be worth it to take it in and have it worked on? ~Krys 
Just when I thought it was over....
|
User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50
|
From: paroper
Date: 05-28-2005, 07:55 PM (12 of 20)
|
It may have been a little out of adjustment to begin with and the nest just made it worse, I don't know. Sometimes it just happens after a nest. Fortunately, it doesn't happen often. I don't know what it would run to have it timed. Just about any dealer could probably do it. Why not just call and ask someone what it would cost to time a machine. I think (not sure) it is a simple adjustment.
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: plrlegal
Date: 05-28-2005, 08:25 PM (13 of 20)
|
Krys I have a couple (in fact 3) Singer sewing machines and a Singer serger I don't have a problem with any of them so I don't know what your mother was referring to in her statement that a Dressmake is a lot like a Singer. I'm not familiar with your machine but I did do a "google" for dressmaker machines and found a site that has several older ones and they have the threading diagram and everything. I noticed that it said that the needle in a Dressmaker machine should be inserted with the flat side facing to the right. Also, do you you have your bobbin thread winding off in the right direction for your machine. That makes a huge difference in whether they will sew or not and whether they make the bird nests or not. In fact, my Singer machines have to have the bobbin thread winding off in a counterclockwise direction or they will jam and make a bird nest everytime. Patsy Patsy
|
User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: joni lowe
Date: 05-28-2005, 09:15 PM (14 of 20)
| What do you mean by "bird nest"? Is that when the material jams up and the thread bundles up beneath the needle plate? |
User: joni lowe
Member since: 03-29-2005 Total posts: 75 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 05-28-2005, 09:18 PM (15 of 20)
|
Yes, joni, that's a bird nest! Patsy Patsy
|
User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: ittycritters
Date: 05-28-2005, 10:48 PM (16 of 20)
|
Thank you everyone so much for your help... i guess that i'm off to a dealer for some help, then i'm off for a new machine!!! ~krys 
Just when I thought it was over....
|
User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50
|
From: ittycritters
Date: 05-29-2005, 11:18 PM (17 of 20)
|
Hello all, I am a very lucky little girl... I have found and bought a new machine, it was at a garage sale, and believe it or not, only two years old!! It was the ladies mothers machine, and her daughter had no use for it. A Janome RX18s, does smocking and all... now i guess i have to start doing some smocking!!  As for the Dressmaker, she is still not working, i am STILL going to take her in to the doc! You can never have too many machines!~Krys Just when I thought it was over....
|
User: ittycritters
Member since: 05-03-2005 Total posts: 50
|
From: paroper
Date: 05-29-2005, 11:34 PM (18 of 20)
|
Congratulations! Some of the best buys can be found at thrift stores and garage sales! Glad you found an exciting new machine for a reasonable price! Have fun!!!!!
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: MaryW
Date: 05-30-2005, 12:25 PM (19 of 20)
Ittycritters, I betcha your newest machine will work like a charm for you. By the way, I LOVE your avatar. 
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
|
From: westbrook
Date: 05-30-2005, 06:51 PM (20 of 20)
|
have you removed the hook assembly and to see if there is any thread pieces caught in or around it. The hook assembly is what the bobbin case fits into. I am assuming there is a bobbin case the bobbin fits into. There are two fingers... located at 10 and 2 o'clock, you move those up and the assembly comes out. Be sure to see how it goes back in. If it is a top loading bobbin, slide the plate forward, on the front right side there is a little metal piece .. looks like a half moon.. gently lift it up and it slides to the right. The hook assembley lifts out. Refer to your manual ...... often times lint, small pieces of thread get caught in there and causes the machine to feel like it has siezed up or won't pick up the bobbin thread. This is a quick look to see if it fixes your problem before you take it to be looked at. Some times there is a timing line marked on the presser foot shaft. Now if you are interested in learning how to repair your machine.. There is a yahoo group of people that will help you... wefixit good luck. |
User: westbrook
Member since: 12-13-2004 Total posts: 35 |
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-16097.html
Sew What’s Up is hosted by ZenSoft