Need help asap. My sewing machine won't work and I have to make a dozen bags by the weekend!

[jazzharmony]

I have a wonderful metal Singer sewing machine in a table - circa 1960s, I believe. It was fully serviced (at a cost of about $120) before I put it in storage, 2 years ago. I got it back a few months ago and it hasn't worked properly since. I need to sew goodie bags for my daughter's party this weekend. What happens is, as I sew, the needle stops and I have bunched up thread. Does that make sense? I am not new to sewing but have never made more than very simple things. I don't know the mechanics of the machine beyond being able to thread it.

Can someone help??

[candipooh]

Ah man that sucks. Have you tried to re-thread it? Take out bot top and bottom thread and re-thread it. I have had this problem when the machine was not threaded correctly.

[honeybunmom]

What she said. I can't remember what I was doing wrong with the threading, but I did it wrong about 15 times before I figured out the problem! I either wasn't bringing up the thread from the bobbin, or not putting the thread through the holder in front of the needle before it goes through the needle.

[texmati]

ditto on rethreading. I also have to wind my bobbin in the right way-- clockwise or counter clockwise. I also have to say a small 'sewing machine prayer' while I'm rethreading. I have got to get a new machine!

[sunnysandiegan]

Rethreading is always my first step.
Make sure you are using the correct size needle for the fabric/thread is another one.
Change the needle.

[jazzharmony]

Thanks everyone.

I did rethread several times, fiddled with tension, and poked around under the metal plate (don't know the technical name)

So let me explain further, what is happening, in the desperate hopes that someone can help

The stitches are very loose and odd looking and then things get tangled quickly and become one big mass on the bottom of the fabric. Does that makes sense? It is one of the issues that existed a few years ago when I took the machine in for a tune up and paid $$$.

I hope I can get this thing working enough to make these bags happen by the weekend. I do have another, ancient, machine in my basement that I will try but I don't have much hope.

I wonder if it's time to just get a cheap machine. For less than the cost of a tune up on my antique, I could have a new machine. But I like to be able to sew through layers and do jeans, etc. Things that require heavy duty old school machines. Sigh.

[honeybunmom]

When you say that you rethreaded, do you also mean that you checked the bobbin? You can get a mass of threads when the machine is not properly threaded. On mine, after the bobbin is put in the bobbin case, I have to pull the thread through a little slit. Then, I have to make sure the bobbin case is actualy engaged into its holder. Then, bring the bobbin thread up through the metal plate.

HTH

[jazzharmony]

Originally Posted by honeybunmom

When you say that you rethreaded, do you also mean that you checked the bobbin? You can get a mass of threads when the machine is not properly threaded. On mine, after the bobbin is put in the bobbin case, I have to pull the thread through a little slit. Then, I have to make sure the bobbin case is actualy engaged into its holder. Then, bring the bobbin thread up through the metal plate.

HTH

Yup, I did all that. Maybe it's just not in the cards for me to have an antique machine

Also, worth noting. The first bag I made came out perfectly. Half way through the second bag is when things when awry...

[sunnysandiegan]

It sounds like you have done all the usual fixes. There is one thing that has happened to me like you are describing, so let's see if I can explain it in hopes it may help...

I have a Singer, but not quite as old as yours (about 13 years old IIRC). About halfway through the threading process, there is this thin wire that the thread gets caught in IF you thread it correctly and you don't actually see that part of the process unless you are specifically looking for it. Missing that happens once in awhile and I end up with the thread tangled mess you are describing. It happens as you pass the tension dial. If I look at that thin wire (by cocking my head at a 45 degree angle to the machine) and gently pull on the thread, the wire should move. Sometimes I have missed the correct spot somehow and the wire does NOT move. That's when the tangled mess occurs, but I figure it out the opposite, of course....tangled mess, then check wire and see I missed it. It is very subtle.

I'm guessing you have done the following, but thought I would throw it out there....

Try turning your tension all the way down and stitch a bit. Then turn it all the way up and stitch a bit. Check your stitches. There should be a big difference. If not, the tension is your problem. What the exact problem is, is hard to diagnose online.

[Think of Winter]

If your machine was serviced, I'm assuming it's clean and the timing doesn't need adjusting. But small amounts of lint in and around the bobbin assembly can cause all kinds of problems. Same goes for the tension disks.

Have you read your manual lately? If you don't have one, get one. It'll show you how and where to oil/lubricate, and basic maintenance. If you have a vintage singer, you should be able to all this yourself with a manual (I have a 457 stylist and a 500A, myself.)

So, basic troubleshooting:
new, appropriate needle (bp for knits, sharp for woven, right weight)
good-quality thread (not too old), appropriate for the fabric
upper tension set at a moderate number (start with 4-5)
machine threaded correctly
Bobbin threaded correctly

Is it your fabric, or does the machine behave the same on something like canvas? Some fabrics take a lot of fiddling on my 500 to get the tension right.

What machine do you have?