It is very annoying when your sewing machine don’t cooperate properly. Suppose you want to start a project with full enthusiasm but your sewing machine don’t work properly. I think it will be very frustrating experience for a sewer. But in maximum case troubles of sewing machine are not major. If you know few tips for troubleshooting of sewing machine then you can easily handle it. In this article I will list out of tables for sewing machine problems, causes and remedies.
Fig: Troubleshooting for sewing machine
Problem, Causes and Remedies of Sewing Machine: Sewing machine problems Possible causes Remedies Skipping stitches, shredding and breaking thread Bent needle When to change needles Needle in backward When to change needles Wrong needle for fabric Relationship 2: Needle style and fabric Damaged needle tip When to change needles Needle not pushed all the way up into needle clamp Push needle all the way to stop Needle too fine for thread thicknessRelationship 1: Needle size and thread Too much basting spray Switch to a different basting spray Glue too sticky in fusible stabilizer Switch to a different stabilizer Not enough presser-foot pressure Presser-foot pressure adjustment Thread getting caught somewhere in thread path Wrong size of thread stopper Incorrect threading Correct threading Old thread Change thread Damaged needle plate Needle plate damage Tarnished or damaged bobbin case Damage to the bobbin case Burr on hook Smoothing burrs on the hook Timing not set right Take your machine in for servicing Hook to needle distance off Take your machine in for servicing
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Loops on back of fabric Machine threaded with presser foot in down position How the presser foot is involved Take-up lever not threaded Missing the take-up lever Thread not in tension discs Presser foot up Thread or lint caught in tension discs Clean the tension discs Burr on hook Smoothing burrs on the hook Damage on bobbin case Damage to the bobbin case Top tension set too low Making top tension adjustments Thread too thick for needle Relationship 1: Needle size and thread Metallic thread too stiff Try a softer thread Tarnished metal bobbin case Damage to the bobbin case Thread is not supply enough May be designed for hand stitching Thread too thick for sewing machine Relationship 1: Needle size and thread Knee resting on knee-lift lever when sewing Reposition so you are not resting on the knee-lift lever
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Inconsistent tension Thread and needle mismatched Relationship 1: Needle size and thread Damaged bobbin case Damage to the bobbin case Burr on hook Smoothing burrs on the hook Tarnished bobbin case Damage to the bobbin case Wrong thread stopper Wrong size of thread stopper Catch on outside edge of thread stopper Wrong size of thread stopper Burr on hook Smoothing burrs on the hook Damaged needle plate Needle plate damage Damaged needle When to change needles Low quality thread Use good quality thread Thread too stiff Try a softer thread High contrast in color between thread and fabric What could go wrong?
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Fabric won’t feed Not enough presser-foot pressure Presser-foot pressure adjustment Lint buildup in feed dogs Clean out lint and felt by using a fine screwdriver, tweezers or any other object that will fit. Damaged needle plate Needle plate damage Thread caught somewhere Remove thread Stitch length set too short Increase stitch length Walking foot lever not on needle clamp Remove and reattach the walking foot on the needle clamp. Presser foot damaged on underside Replace the presser foot Knee resting against knee-lift lever Reposition so you are not resting on the knee-lift lever Rubber feed dogs may be distintegrating Take your machine in for servicing Feed dogs down Raise the feed dogs
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Uneven stitch length Incorrect pressure on presser foot Presser-foot pressure adjustment Presser foot worn underneath Replace the presser foot Wrong foot for job Change presser foot Lint buildup between feed dogs Clean out lint and felt by using a fine screwdriver, tweezers or any other object that will fit. Heavy fabric needs more support Help fabric to feed Pulling fabric Guide fabric without pulling Pushing fabric Guide fabric without pushing Rubber feed dogs may be disintegrating Take your machine in for servicing Walking foot lever not correctly mounted on needle clamp Remove and reattach the walking foot on the needle clamp
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Won’t climb seams Too much presser-foot pressure Presser-foot pressure adjustment Wrong foot Refer to your machine’s manual to select the correct foot. Seam needs to be flattened Flatten the seam with a wooden clapper or rubber mallet before stitching. Feed dogs not all the way up (some older machines) Raise the feed dogs. Lint buildup in feed dogs Clean out lint and felt by using a fine screwdriver, tweezers or any other object that will fit. Stitch length set too short Adjust length
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Fabric puckering Tension too tight Tension in the relationship Stabilizer required Fabric puckering Wrong needle plate Refer to your machine’s manual to select the correct needle plate. Needle plate damage. Needle point damaged When to change needles Wrong needle for fabric Relationship 2: Needle style and fabric Top thread hung up somewhere in thread path Rethread machine Not enough presser-foot pressure Presser-foot pressure adjustment Thread too heavy for fabric Change thread.
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Needle hitting Bent needle Change needle Pulling fabric Guide fabric without pulling Pushing fabric Guide fabric without pushing Wrong presser foot Refer to your machine’s manual to select the correct foot. Wrong needle plate Refer to your machine’s manual to select the correct needle plate. Top thread caught Wrong size of thread stopper Drop-in bobbin case has spun around Missing the take-up lever Timing out Take your machine in for servicing
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Noise in bobbin area Hook needs lubrication Refer to the manual for your machine and oil hook Damaged plastic drop-in bobbin case Drop-in bobbin case Bent needle hitting hook Change needle Tarnished metal bobbin case Damage to the bobbin case
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Machine jammed Thread caught in hook Thread lock Lack of lubrication Refer to your machine’s manual and lubricate as directed. Use of inappropriate lubricant Refer to your machine’s manual and lubricate as directed. Thread cutter jammed Automatic thread cutters Thread caught and wrapped around handwheel Unravel thread Thread caught in take-up mechanism Using gentle force, try to remove the threads. If this doesn’t work, let your sewing machine technician do this at the next service.
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Machine won’t turn on Cord not properly plugged in Check cord placement Fuse blown after needle hitting Take your machine in for servicing Fuse blown after thread jam Take your machine in for servicing. Damaged power cord Replace cord Surge protector turned off Turn on surge protector Problem with power print Take your machine in for servicing
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Erratic on high speed only Burned contacts in rheostat Take your machine in for servicing or replace with an electronic foot control. Grease or debris on resistor of electronic foot control Unplug the control and press it up and down through its entire range of motion for a minute. Blown capacitor in foot control Take your machine in for servicing.
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Low bobbin sensor not working Lint in sensor area Remove loose thread, debris and lint. Damaged bobbin Damaged bobbins Wrong type of bobbin Using the right bobbin Using prewound bobbins Prewound bobbins Bobbin door open while sewing Close bobbin door Malfunctioning sensor Take your machine in for servicing.
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Upper thread warning comes on Lint or thread in sensor Clean thread path Incorrect threading Rethread machine Sensor activator has jumped out of check spring Take your machine in for servicing. Sensor malfunctioning Take your machine in for servicing.
Sewing machine problems Causes Remedies Machine is on and makes buzzing noise but won’t sew Bobbin-winder activating lever may be engaged Disengage bobbin winder mechanism. Thread nest after using cutter Pulling extra top thread after using cutter Thread cutter Buttonholes won’t feed properly May need compensation plate Troubleshooting buttonholes Stitch length may be set too short Making great-looking buttonholes.
References:
Sewing Machine Reference Tool by Bernie Tobisch The Sewing Machine Master Guide: From Basic to Expert by Clifford L. Blodget Understanding and Using A Sewing Machine by Nicola Corrigan The Sewing Book by Alison Smith
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