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From: joni lowe
Date: 03-26-2007, 09:30 AM (1 of 11)
| that when I am sewing a straight stitch on knit fabric, the top thread looks nice and even, but the bobbin thread looks almost like a zig-zag? TIA, Joni |
User: joni lowe
Member since: 03-29-2005 Total posts: 75 |
From: PaulineG
Date: 03-26-2007, 04:45 PM (2 of 11)
|
Could be your tension is wrong. Try adjusting your needle tension - it might be too loose. Have a look in the manual or if you don't have one come back here - somebody else is sure to have the same or similar machine and can help you find it.
Pauline
|
User: PaulineG
Member since: 09-08-2006 Total posts: 901 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-26-2007, 09:37 PM (3 of 11)
|
The tension should be adjusted from fabric to fabric and likely that is the problem, however, the overall look of the bobbin thread in your machine is a product of the type of hook system you have. If your thread is looser on the knit, that is tension, but if the overall look of the bobbin thread is not straight, it is probably not straight on any fabric, you just notice it on the knit because of the tension being loose.
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: bridesmom
Date: 03-27-2007, 12:46 AM (4 of 11)
|
I remember taking home ec in school and being told to NEVER ADJUST the tension dial on the sewing machine. Now that I am older and wiser I have learned that you adjust the tension quite frequently, even on the serger! It's quite freeing to be able to play with your machines, and learning how they work. No advice here, just a thought.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: dmoses
Date: 03-27-2007, 07:21 AM (5 of 11)
|
This is just a guess, but maybe the fabric is feeding slightly unevenly. The bottom layer may be stretching slightly under the foot and then relaxing as it leaves the feed dog area, causing the bobbin thread to look zigzaggy. If tension adjustment doesn't work, I would try loosening the presser foot pressure, or try using a walking foot to see if it makes a difference. Laura, my home ec teacher was adamant about us not touching the tension dial...and we were all too afraid to find out what would happen if we did. I think it was just because she didn't want anyone messing up the tensions on the old school machines. Take care,
Donna |
User: dmoses
Member since: 02-22-2002 Total posts: 964 
|
From: paroper
Date: 03-27-2007, 08:17 AM (6 of 11)
|
You've got to understand that you may have 15-20 machines in a room with 6 classes of curious high school girls who already are having problems. You don't want every girl messing with the macines every time they sit down because then you are tied up just getting the machines to sew. The machines already have problems from time to time. Teaching sewing in a large classroom can be a huge task. Not only did we have about 25 girls taking sewing and some swapping machines every day, we were spread out in 3 rooms with one teacher (oh, the joys of country schools). My high school teacher did demonstrate and explain the tension but requested that if we were having problems to talk to her. We were forbidden to EVER touch the bobbin tension for ANY reason! 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: 03-27-2007, 10:47 AM (7 of 11)
|
I think maybe the tension may have been more difficult to get and keep right on older machines too. On my treadle it is just a screw and really a pain to get right. My mother had a machine made the 40s and she never touched the tension. Actually I rarely have to change the tension on my Pfaff and have never had to change the bobbin tension. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-27-2007, 10:52 AM (8 of 11)
|
Dorothy, I'm not quite that old, I learned to sew and started teaching on the Touch and Sew Machines, which were a couple of years after the invention of the treddle.
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: 03-27-2007, 10:54 AM (9 of 11)
|
Pam -- You can't fool me. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: paroper
Date: 03-27-2007, 10:59 AM (10 of 11)
|
Dorothy, you make me laugh, thank 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: joni lowe
Date: 03-28-2007, 09:18 AM (11 of 11)
| You gals were all right. I played with the tension and solved my dilemma. Just a tad too loose. Sometimes I'm such a knucklehead. . . Joni |
User: joni lowe
Member since: 03-29-2005 Total posts: 75 |
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