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I hate when this happens! When the bobbin thread is bunching up it typically means there is a problem with the needle thread. I know that seems backwards, but as long as the bobbin is wound nice and smooth and inserted into the bobbin case correctly, there isn’t much that can go wrong there.
The first thing I would do is re-thread the machine. Make sure you do this with the presser foot raised. Raising the presser foot releases the machine tension on the thread and allows you to easily pull the thread through the machine.Doing this also allows you to feel how much tension is on the thread. If the thread is bunching up on the underside of the fabric it usually means that there isn’t enough tension on the top thread. Try adjusting the needle tension and running a few more test stitches.
Good luck!
Ashley
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My Singer is dropping a stitch several times during my test stitches. What could be the problem?
Hello Gloria,
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Sincerely,
Sarah
National Sewing Circle Video Membership
Hello Gloria,
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Thanks!
Trying to fix tension on 4 needle white serger. Any ideas?
Grandchildren move tension, having problems now.
Hi Joanne,
Thank you for contacting us. I hope this helps you:
Adjust your top tension if it’s too loose.
To increase your top tension if it’s too loose, turn your knob so that the numbers are increasing. Try ½ to 1 number lower, then test the stitches on a piece of scrap fabric. Continue until it looks even on both sides and you can no longer see the bottom thread on the top.
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Sincerely,
Joan
National Sewing Circle Video Membership
Hi Joanne,
Thank you for contacting us. I hope this helps you:
Adjust your top tension if it’s too loose.
To increase your top tension if it’s too loose, turn your knob so that the numbers are increasing. Try ½ to 1 number lower, then test the stitches on a piece of scrap fabric. Continue until it looks even on both sides and you can no longer see the bottom thread on the top.
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-208-7187, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Joan
National Sewing Circle Video Membership
All Singer machine users. I haven’t sewed in years and wonder what Singer machine is best just for hemming and straight sewing that is good but not too expensive. Thank you!
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I need a instruction manual for machine singer model 63
I have a singer featherweight which has the needle caught down in the bobbin case and it will not budge no matter what I’ve tried. Any suggestions on how to get it to release?
Dear Rhonda,
Thank you for your patience. In response to your question-
Unfortunately I do not have any suggestions for this and I recommend that you take your machine in to a professional to have it serviced.
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Cheers,
Ashley
National Sewing Circle
Just had that problem solved by singer service on line. Open your bobbin case, remove bobbin, undo wing clips, remove round part, remove spindle. This took some doing as it was really stuck. Lay the machine on its back to put it all together. Then, since I have a dial for my stitches I had to turn it totally right then totally left. Wella! But I suggest you call singer
Also, Check to see what size needle you are using for the fabric choice. That too can cause the bobbin thread to bunch up, good luck
I work with vintage Singer machines and encounter this problem constantly. Many of the older machines were made when thread came on spools wound similar to the way the thread is wound on a bobbin. Cross wound spools can create a problem with these machines because the thread doesn’t feed through the tension discs properly. Try using a net on cross wound spools and that can make the difference. Also put the spool on a vertical spool pin and that can help also. One other tip: when you start lower your needle into the fabric before you drop the presser foot. once it is secure, lower your presser foot and slowly start your sewing. In some cases that will help the problem. One last thing, double check your threading and make sure you are following all parts of your thread path. Missing one thread guide can change how the thread comes through the tension discs or even the needle. Happy sewing.
When i sew two pieces of cloth together.. The upper part will be fine but the lower cloth will wrinked up. As a result the lower will end up shorter by 1/2 an inch. And when you turn it over the result will look not nice to ne worn
It may be that your presser foot pressure is too high. Most machines had a little knob or dial on top somewhere to allow you to adjust this. Worth a try.
My problem is the reverse; I can’t get the upper tension loose enough to balance upper and lower threads.
I have a Singer sewingmachine and a Singer overlock. Can I use the same needles for each other?
Hello Monique,
Generally you can use the same brand of machine needles on each machine- however I would consult your machine manuals to be sure.
Cheers,
Ashley NSC Video Membership
It might be a problem with your actual bobbin tension – there is usually a little screw on your bobbin case that you can adjust in small increments to see if this helps.
I have a viking machine and it needs some tuning up. Can I do it myself or should I take it to a dealer?
Hello Glenda,
I always recommend taking your machine to a dealer when it needs tuning up or serviced in any way.
Cheers,
Ashley NSC Video Membership
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Is it a month payment are a year payment
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Hi when I re fill my bobbin it doesn’t go smoothly. It fill at bottom the goes up down a bit then then fills top middle top all giggle de piglet. Can’t seem to get it to fill smoothly so know it affects the sewing I am doing as tension I know not right . Any help will be very gratefully accepted. T.I.A. Alley.
Hello Ale,
Your machine should automatically fill a bobbin evenly, so if it is not doing that you may want to consult your manual to see if there is anything in there that tells you how to fix that issue on your specific brand or model of machine. In the mean time, you can use your finger to slightly move the thread up or down while the bobbin is winding to ‘help’ make sure it is wound evenly on the bobbin.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Ashley NSC Video Membership
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It’s probably your needle. Few people realize that a new needle should be used each time you start a new project or have trouble with thread tangling in the bobbin case.
When you start to sew, hold the thread tails for the first few stitches. It will help anchor the thread in the fabric and not allow the top thread to get pulled down into the machine too much, which also will cause thread bunching.
Mine did the same thing. Found out the culprit was the needle was in backwards therefore it wasn’t picking up the bobbin thread correctly.
I had the same issue with a singer sewing machine. I was using the wrong bobbin. Try using a metal bobbin and then re threading the machine. Seems these singer machines don’t work well with plastic bobbins. Hope this helps.
My Singer Futuro (approx. 40 yrs. old) gets tempermental and tangles the thread under the presser foot plate if the top and bobbin thread is not from the same spool.
Not sure what model singer you have but I had one from 1975. Constantly had a similar problem. Singer repair would get it working for a week or so and then same problem. Finally traded it as I could never get it fixed. The company quit making the model only six months after they began making it… Can’t recall model number but it was a new machine that year..if yours is an older machine you might research to see if it is one of those defective designs.
I had the same problem and couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I used two different colours of thread; one in the bobbin and one in the needle. Sewed a test piece and found the problem wasn’t the bobbin as I thought but the needle thread. Adjusted the tension as suggested and voila problem solved. Good luck.
It sounds like a tension problem. My mom taught me years ago that after rethreading, make sure that you put the presser foot down; then turn your tension to zero and then put it back up again to your desired tension. It is a trick that has saved me a lot of money on repairs over the years.
I am so happy I found your post. I have been having trouble with tension. I can’t wait to give a try.
I had this problem with my sewing machine and it turned to be the bobbin size, when I put in a smaller bobbin problem was solved.
If you put one color thread on top and a different color in your bobbin, you are very likely to see the top thread. Just like she said. The thread goes down with the needle. If there is no tension, it doesn’t come back up. Each stitch puts more thread down in the bobbin case.
My bobbin thread on my sewing machine keeps getting jamed on the fabric and makes it hard to take out.I don’t know how to fix it beacuse I’m a newbie in sewing.I nedd help to fix the jammed thread that keeps getting underneath the fabric
My Singer heavy duty will no pickup bobbin thread and if it does there’s a tangled mess.
I just had this happen with my Singer and it turn out to be the bobbin thread wasn’t feeding smoothly, so every time it tugged it had extra thread. I took out my bobbin and adjusted the thread, rethreaded and pulled to check tension and it worked fine.