Last year MN helped me put up a tent. This year I need you to help me thread my sewing machine. Please.

[PippiLongBottom]

Right, so last year, the fabulous population of mumsnet helped me put up my tent singlehandedly. The thread is here and is relatively amusing. (I was suwoo then)

This year my chosen summer hobby is sewing. I have a 2nd hand Janome shitty thing which I think I have thread correctly by following the instructions BUT this is what is happening...

The bobbin casing is not one that drops in, it faces me IYKWIM. When the needle goes down into the machine it catches on the bobbin casing, which moves around with the thread caught on it and then causes a jam.

I have threaded it numerous times and this happens every time. I have taken the plastic housing off so that I can watch what is going on and every time I turn the handle to lower the needle the thread catches on the bobbin.

So A) Does that make any sense?

B) Can anyone help me?

Thank you.

[PippiLongBottom]

2nd paragraph. *Threaded.

[TrinIsASadSpottyFatRhino]

sorry but if they manage to help you they need a medal, it sounds very complicated

[PippiLongBottom]

Thanks Trinity. Yeah, it is. Mumsnet will prevail!!!

[PippiLongBottom]

Come on sewing people...I need you.

[KatyMac]

Things like:

Is the bobbin the right way round?
Is the bobbin the right size?
Is the needle completely straight?

Spring to mind; but I'm not expert

[KatyMac]

Mine has a little bar which catches the thread & takes it round & I do it slowly by hand

[HippyHippopotamus]

i'll try but no guarantees!

is the bobbin and bobbin case definitely correct for your machine?

[HippyHippopotamus]

ooh look, we're like buses!

[pantshavenames]

Are you making sure the bobbin is all the way in? sometimes there's a second click iykwim when the bobbins in. otherwise check all of the above

[TrinIsASadSpottyFatRhino]

yeah hippy, cept she doesn't need a bus lol

[follyfoot]

Do you have to wind the thread in the bobbin through a little slot and pull it? So hard to describe in writing! Also yes, mine has a second click.

[HippyHippopotamus]

pippi just a thought but my janome will only be happy if i thread it whilst a certain light is lit (a light on the machine, not a random one in the room before we get any more smart comments from Trinity!)

what model is it?

this would be so much easier in RL, whereabouts are you? you can pop round here if you're close enough!

[TrinIsASadSpottyFatRhino]

lol hippy

[PippiLongBottom]

I'm in Manchester, but have machine, can travel

I think I am doing it right. The bobbin bits all came with it (second hand).

I could take a photo?

[ChippyMinton]

Anything useful on you tube

[GeneralissimoVonBobbington]

Right. Hold the bobbin case in your left hand and the bobbin in your right, with the thread coming off the bobbin clockwise i.e. left to right. Put the bobbin in the bobbin case the same way, thread clockwise. On top of the bobbin case, there should be a sort of lslightly curved hook thing and a bit of the bobbin case that folds over the rest of the side of the case. Slide the thread under this clip thing and it should catch on the little hooks. You will know that you have done this right, because if you hold up the bobbin case by the thread, it will slide down the thread or hold fast. If the bobin falls out, you've done it wrong.

Next, turn the bobbin case round and hold on to the sprung clip on the other side of the bobbin case. Put it into the machine at the front, so that the hook thing is at the top and jiggle until it clicks into place.

Thread the top of the machine and the needle. On the right hand side of the machine is a round wheel that you turn to make the needle go up and down. DON'T USE THE FOOT PEDAL YET. Turn the wheel and the bobbin thread should eventually pop up from below the needle. Use a pair of scissors or something to grab hold of it and pull it through and take this and the top thread to the back of the machine.

Now, try sewing. Is it working?

[PippiLongBottom]

Just from that first bit, I may have sussed the problem, Generalissimo. When I put the bobbin in the case, it does fall out. I will go and try to rectify that now.

Thanks.

[GeneralissimoVonBobbington]

Hurrah! Success?

[PippiLongBottom]

Right, I have messed with it again and I'm fairly confident that I have done it all correctly.

Every time the needle lowers, it gets looped around the pointy bits around the outside of the bobbin case.

Where should the cotton go? Into the bobbin?

There must be a simple reason why it's looping round the casing? Is it fecked?

[GeneralissimoVonBobbington]

Patience! That is what's supposed to happen. Keep turning and thread should pop up eventually, then you can hook it up like I described.

[PippiLongBottom]

generalissimo it's sorted! It really wasn't supposed to happen like that. It was looping and jamming.

It was because the bobbin casing thingy was in upside down!

Yay me. All sorted. Thanks for everyone's help.

[HippyHippopotamus]

upside down? you twit!

[GeneralissimoVonBobbington]

You loony

How did you manage to even get the bobbin case in there?! That's the trouble with sewing, is always something embarrassingly simple

[PippiLongBottom]

Update: it's still fecking doing it!!!!! It worked with the black, so I wound White on to a new bobbin, cut my pattern out and lo and behold it's catching again.

It is catching in the internal mechanism. I'm going to take it out and put it back in again.

Wtf is going on. I am going mad here.

[GeneralissimoVonBobbington]

Ok, here is my final suggestion and then I'm out of answers. Try taking the bit that holds the bobbin case out (there should be two little catches holding it in) and clean out any fluff.