My sewing machine is being weird!?

Question

Ok, so..I think I'm ready to sew (i know how to sew) -- I'm trying to patch my old jeans and the top of the fabric looks like it's sewing but the bottom is just a big messy clump of thread..it's like it's not getting tight underneath!! I've taken all the thread out of the machine at least 10 times and tried to start over but it doesn't work! Help!

Answer 1

Many of the above are true, heres one more.

Its possible you put the bobbin in the bobbin case upside down. Try flipping it over and give it a go.

Or you have the wrong size bobbin. The bobbin should never sit higher than the case when its in.

Answer 2

Clean out the area under the stitch plate (metal plate under the foot with a hole that the needle goes through) -- especially looking for loose threads that may be caught.  Many times "thread nests," as the glops of thread you are getting on the bottom are called, result from old pieces of thread tangled in the machinery.

Also, rewind your bobbin thread - either starting over going from spool to a new bobbin or winding the current bobbin on to a new bobbin.

Test on scraps as indicated in an earlier answer.  Adjust the tension as a last resort, and do so cautiously, using your user's manual as a guide.

Answer 3

I am a mere man ,and not even g*y, but I use a sewing machine to do all sorts of things such as making shirts and alterations. You have probably threaded the bobbin wrongly , as if it was just the tension it would still sew after a fashion . When all else fails read the instructions !

Answer 4

The thread sewing on the top of the fabric is from the bobbin, the thread underneath is from the spool.  Your tension is way off.

Good luck and it may take a few tries to get it adjusted right!

Answer 5

hehehihihuhu

Answer 6

the problem is in the bobbin -- re-fill a bobbin with thread. And don't test on your actual pants, use a scrap of denim to test the machine, the same thickness as what you're sewing. I think the tension is off, too. do you have the manual for your machine?

Answer 7

Dollars to donut holes, you threaded the top with the presser foot down, so the thread didn't enter the upper tension.  Because there's no tension on the top thread, the needle shoves it through the fabric but it doesn't get picked back up, making loops on the bottom.

So, take all the thread off the machine, give it a basic cleaning and oiling for luck, and rethread, making sure the presser foot is up until it's time to thread the needle.

Chances are that's all it needs.

Remember that when you cross a thick seam (e.g. in jeans

hemming), you'll break needles or skip stitches unless you

shim the presser foot so it stays flat while you're going over the seams.  A hump jumper, button reed, or just a fold or three  of fabric will work.

And imho, if you've got a lot of mending to do, it's easier

to take out the non-flatfelled seam in the leg (typically the inseam), mend, and then resew the inseam.