Many people are pulling out their sewing machine to make masks or do repairs and are flummoxed by the wad of thread that shows up when they try to sew a simple line of stitching.
Machine won’t sew? Here are the three main reasons:
- There’s a threading problem.
- There’s a tension issue.
- There’s a blockage of lint or other debris.
Here are some tips for when your machine won’t make a nice row of stitches.
- Stay calm and stay positive. Your machine isn’t out to get you, I promise. 🙂
- Rethread your machine, top, and bobbin. Removing both completely and starting fresh solves a lot of problems. Make sure the bobbin is seated correctly and that the thread is going through all the guides.
- Change your needle if you can, and make sure it’s secure.
- Use the right needle for the weight of fabric you are sewing.
- Use the right type of thread. Make sure you aren’t inadvertently using topstitching thread.
- Adjust the tension and use scrap fabric to test your changes. Start in the mid-range of your tension dial and adjust up or down in small increments until the stitch improves.
Check out this short video from Professor Pincushion for more tips. - Can’t find your manual? Search on the internet for your model or a similar model.
- Make sure you are using the right presser foot for the stitch you are trying to use.
- Tighten the screw on your presser foot.
- Clean under the throat plate and around the feed dogs and bobbin casing.
- Refer to the maintenance section of your manual and do what you can.
Still not working? Walk away for a bit and do something else. This often provides a clear mind to start again, allowing you to diagnose the problem more easily.
Or: Get on FaceTime with a fellow sewer. They might see something you’ve missed, and if nothing else, you’ll get some much needed human attention. You can also contact me. I love to talk about sewing.
Photo by J Williams on Unsplash