Help, I'm going to kill my sewing machine

[Confuzzeled]

I can't believe this is in the Fun & Games topic, there is nothing fun about my sewing machine.

Okay, sewing ds's curtains, half way through, needle breaks, so change needle, follow cleaning instructions as per manual and now machine munches thread like it's very hungry.

I have taken all the bits off again and put them back, I have changed all the tensions etc... I have changed needle again.

When I take the cover off the bottom bit so I can see the bobbin and the shuttle, the thread seems to get munched up on the bobbin as it passes.

I hope this makes sense to somebody and they can help me.....please.

is it dusty where the bobbin reel goes? Perhaps you needto adjust the bobblin tension?

Know what you mean, sewing machine gets on my nerves too if I ever use it

Have you definitely got the right sized bobbin in there?

I had this problem once and I'd somehow got the wrong sized one in there -TBH I didn't even realise they came in different sizes, the ones I had were all clear plastic with no codes on

This may seem obvious but are you using the same thread on the top and on the bobbin? If not this can sometimes cause a problem.

Is your bobbin wound evenly - try winding another bobbin and see how you get on.

Thoroughly clean / defluff the bobbin case and if all else fails try another thread.

Good luck.... I know how frustrating it can be!

It's not dusty, I thought I was doing it a favour by cleaning it I did try the bobbin tension but I agree that is the most likely thing I can think of.

It's the bobbin that came with the machine, I've never bought any so assume it's the right size.

It is the same thread top and bottom, I'm off to re-thread a different bobbin and try that.

Thanks

Confuzzled I am having exactly the same problem with my machine at the moment, I am about ready to hurl it out the window.

I have tried everything, absolutely everything, and am now going to let my boyfriend open it up and have a look at the gears...

Oiling it worked nithe past for me, but no nothing is working, I creid at the weekend asI have so many projects to get done

Have you tried oiling your machine, sometimes just rethreading it works. sometimes turning it off going to look at new machines with intent and then coming back to give it one last try works. Have yuo changed thread types. I have found that some threads stretch and warp when they are used on a machine and can cause this problem.

I have sewnig machine to go out of the window if someone wants to borrow for specific throwing purposes. It no longer reverses, regularly gets a lose screw mid seam. Needless to say i no longer use it but have saved it as it still sometimes goes forward to let ds muck about on it. however might donate to machine throwing championships.

These are the things I check when this happens to me:

check that your bobbin is winding in an anti clockwise direction when you pull the lower thread. If clockwise, then your bobbin is upside down! Check its threaded into the bobbin case correctly too.

Check that the top thread is over the thread take up (that silver thing that pops up and down as you sew). If not, it can cause major problems with tension, which can lead to needle breakage.

Check if there is a loose thread end from the bobbin - once bobbin is wound, the starter thread (that you thread through the hole in the bobbin) should be trimmed right back.

Check that the thread is pulling smoothly from the cotton reel. For some reason, mine can get tangled around the stick the cotton reel is on, and can suddenly get itself in a big tight hissy fit, followed by a great explosion of excess cotton.

If you have taken out the bobbin, check its back in fully. You may have the bobbin case slighly protruding, which could cause needle breakage and excess cotton munching.

If you havent taken it out, check if the broken needle top is lodged in the mechanism somewhere

Now you have a nice new needle, check that it isnt bent, and that you inserted it fully in the foot.

hope this helps. Mine is most frequently caused by the top two issues!

Hi, I would second what shongololo says about checking for any broken needle bits lodged around the bobbin area. I always check that the broken bits make up a whole needle before throwing it away.

Also check that there are no rough bits to snag your thread after a needle break. Either on the surface plate or the bobbin area.

The other possibility could be that the timing has been thrown out of sync when the needle broke. The moving parts have to be inthe correct position to work.

I would recommend getting a proper repair man in to fix it and watch everything he does. You can always ask them lots of questions about your machine and they are generally happy to pass on what they know. I think its worth every penny and a lot less than a new machine.

Thanks I think I've tried almost everything now. I guess I should go to a repair man but I'm skint, thats why I'm making these curtains.

I have noticed that it's making giant stitches, if the fabric was an inch think it would be perfect

look here for a variety of problems and solutions.

Right I changed the type of thread I was using and it seems okay. Not been on it much but it's not munching thread.

Whooooooooooooop

Thanks for all your advice

I'm so pleased you got it sorted.

I was ready to kill my machine too on Saturday. All I wanted to do was some simple seam repairs to DS1's school trousers to last him this week out at school and I got so angry with the machine I could have literally hurled it out of the window.

On the underside of the seam there was so much excess cotton it was unreal and because of this the machine kept getting stuck. The top bobbin kept flying of the machine - so I guess then that I need a small one?

I kept having trouble when winding the needle down to catch the under bobbin thread - it kept getting all tangled.

I have used the machine many times before - admittedly not to do anything at all fancy - just repairs but I thought I was sort of confident that I could thread a machine and at least do straight stitching obviously not

Next week, I will nip into town, buy some new bobbins and a bottle of oil in the hope that I can rescue my machine.

Thanks for starting this thread

P.S. thanks to DEM for txting and pointing me to this thread

Have you lovely ladies seen this guide to cleaning your sewing machine? It's the first step I'd take with any sewing problems which aren't resolved by rethreading.

Thank you Blotted.