why is my sewing machine doing this?

[youngnhappymamma]

I have sewn a few diapers for my baby on the way and have had MANY problems with the thread glomming up and stuff...but the machine would still sew just fine, etc....but now the top thread is doing weird things that are making it impossible for me to sew! It's like it's too tight or something (even though I have not changed the tension setting) and then all of a sudden it will be too loose and just be all weird. It's hard to explain and I lost my manual.....does this sound like a problem any of you know how to remedy?

[SunnyRose]

maybe its time for a new needle? I know my machine acts funky like that,and a new needle normally remedies it. do you oil/clean your machine often?

[allformyboys]

is it a brother? my brother had that issue with the tension dial, it was a royal PITA! At times it would grip like no tomorrow and then others it wouldn't grip at all, all with the tension being at 4-5! I had it serviced and tuned up and it has worked fine ever sense, they said the dial wasn't lined up even, and when I would lay the thread in there you either get it out or in the dial, if it was out of the dial it would be totally lose and then GRAB all of a sudden. Mega PITA. Anyway if it isn't a brother, it could still be the same problem, that or the bobbin is messed up and grabbing the top thread (Pulling it into the tension dial more). I would take it in for a tune up and have it oiled, change the needle and I bet it fixes right up!

[youngnhappymamma]

thank you for your suggestions. The bad news is that it was just tuned up a few months ago and I just put a new needle in it last week. I just do not get along well with sewing machines. It's a Jean's Machine....a really great machine....for everyone who uses it except me!

[Kari_mom]

Even a needle that was new last week can cause problems. Change the needle, rethread the machine, clean out the lint, try again. Sometimes cheap thread can do this too, and that includes Coats and Clark. Is the thread pulling evenly off the spool? Is there thread stuck in the tension plates? Are you using the right size needle for the thread?

Did it act like this after the tuneup? Or did it work well for a little while? If it was tempermental after the tuneup, it might be the machine and you could take it back and have them look at it again.

It is probably some little annoying thing, don't give up yet!

[kerc]

my kenmore does this sometimes.
my routine is:
unthread, vacuum the lint out, rethread
curse
unthread, vaccum, new needle, rethread
usually it works by then.

is the needle in the correct way?
is the bobbin in the right way?
is the thread on the spool the correct way?
did you hit all the loops on the way to the needle? - there's one on my machine the thread slips out of if I am in a hurry.
are you using the right kind of needle/bobbin?

[youngnhappymamma]

wow ladies...I obviously have no clue about sewing....where would I find the lint? I got a size 14 needle since I am sewing thicknesses. Before I put the new needle in I had just gotten the bobbin figured out and put in right when it started showing signs of needing a new needle (the signs for which my mother helped me dicipher) so it's only been doing this new problem since I did the needle change....so maybe it does have something to do with that. I will change the needle again and re-thread it all (which way is the top thread spool supposed to be facing, by the way?) I really appreciate your help.....I really need to order a new instruction manual!

[Hibou]

Sometimes on my old, temperamental machine, the tension seems to 'undo' itself, without me touching it. You might try double checking.

[kerc]

what kind of machine do you have? the three machines i have used in my life each threaded differently. Honestly, getting the manual is a great thing. It probably has directions on how to maintain the machine too -- oiling, dusting, etc.

on finding lint (especially when making diapers):
I take my vacuum, take out the bobbin and stick the hose of the vacuum in there. then i put the little brush on and just trace the path that the thread takes. using good thread (and all poly) thread seriously cuts down on the amount of lint. the stuff that's like 30% cotton or all cotton is very linty.