Sewing machine problem - help!?

Question

i'm sewing a smocked top right now and the thread is just normal cotton thread and it keeps getting yanked and spins alot of extra thread thus making a ball of thread underneath my fabric. it happens even when i'm not doing a smocked top. it happens all the time but randomly. the tension is set fine. i would say that i sew for a day and then it messes up for a whole day. help me please!

Answer 1

1) Carefully clean and oil, following the instructions in the manual.  Use a vacuum cleaner NOT CANNED AIR.

Also clean the upper tension.

2) Unthread the machine completely.  Replace the needle using the correct size for the fabric.  Make sure the needle is correctly oriented.  If you're sewing a smocked top, you may well need a larger needle size.  

3) Rethread, following the manual, and making sure the presser foot is up so the thread can enter the upper tension.

4) Make sure you sew with the presser foot down.

Your machine is acting like there's little or no tension on the upper thread, which is usually a misthreading issue.  It can also be caused by a dirty upper tension (lint and fluff), a tension disk that's been grooved, by a tension k**b that's been bumped ("4" is normal tension), or a poorly started seam.  It can also be caused by sewing with a needle too small for the thread to sit in the groove of the needle properly.

Operator error and lint are the most common causes.

Answer 2

Without knowing what type of machine you have, the best answer I can give, other than that given by Kay (excellent answer, by the way), is to check your "hook" for burrs or rough spots, nicks, etc., as this seems to be an intermittent problem.

Answer 3

Have you tried cleaning the lint from behind your bobbin case?  Otherwise make sure your needle is correct for your fabric.  Probably should be using sz14 for normal cotton fabric.  If double knit make sure is ballpoint with probably blue stripe.  Also double check your threading, you may have thrown a loop somewhere.  I sympathize with you!

Answer 4

change your needles frequently, try a new spool of thread.

all the other suggestions will help