Sewing machine help, please!!!?

Question

I bought an old Montgomery Ward sewing machine at a garage sale. It has no instructions. Anyway, my Mom fixed it up and said it works fine. So I'm trying to sew, and the thread will not stay in the top needle. As soon as I hit the pedal it goes back up into the machine. What am I doing wrong? Any ideas?

Answer 1

Hold on to the tail of the thread while you turn the wheel, until the needle is in the "down" position.  This will prevent it from sliding back out of the hole.  Slowly press the pedal to get the machine going, once you feel the machine pick up a good seam, pick up on the speed.  Remember to snip the long threads after you finish each seam, so you don't end up with any loose threads hanging from your finished garment.

Answer 2

Ooh Ooh Ooh! I know! I know! Pick me! Pick me!

Ok. So this is how it works.  Pull the thread through the needle and get a long tail on it (you can cut it off later), then before you start sewing, hold onto the tail while you are holding the fabric in place.  Once you've started sewing, you can let go of it, but that will keep it from yanking back up on you.

Answer 3

You might be going too fast.  Those oldies need a slow start, then when it "takes" start to speed up a bit. Use the wheel to get started, then pick up speed with the pedal.  Mine always did that when I started up too fast.

Also, you might want to lightly hold on to the end of the top  thread and (before you have the fabric in place) turn the wheel once slowly with your hand.  The needle with the thread will go down into the machine and pick up the bobbin thread.  After they are both thru and pulling smoothly, then start to sew.  Make sure you have plenty extra of the top thread pulled out of the needle - at least 4-5 inches.

Answer 4

check the plate that the needle goes through when it is at it;s lowest....and see if you can slide that plate out of the way...there may be a place for a second smaller spool of thread good luck

Answer 5

Youve got the tension on the upper thread set too high. Try bringing it down so that when you pull on the thread that is coming out of the needle, there is not so much resistance. You still want some resistance but you should be able to pull on it with out the thread breaking. Good Luck.

Answer 6

When in doubt, throw it out the window lol...good luck :P