What is this sewing issue?

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Total sewing beginner. Turned on the machine for the first time ever an hour ago.

I have followed all the set up instructions in the manual and am ready to go. But it isn’t sewing. The needle thread (blue) is coming out of the needle. (Bobbin thread is yellow) I’ve adjusted the tension up and down. Ive changed the needle for a (nother) new one. I’ve increased the stitch length. I’m giving loads of length on the threads before I put the needle through the fabric. I’m getting variations on what’s in these photos. Sometimes it’s doing no stitches at all. Every time the needle thread is coming out.

Have you drawn the bobbin thread up first? (Put bobbin in, do a few turns of the wheel while holding needle thread to get needle to draw bobbin thread up, then pass both threads to the back behind the needle)

Also check whether you’ve put the bobbin in the right way (I have made this mistake before, in my machine the bobbin has to be in so the thread is going anti clockwise)

Does the bobbin thread look normal on the bobbin. I once had one that I had wound wrong and it looked kind of loose on the bobbin.

Good luck!

If its your first time, i would guess it's the bobbin. Have a look on youtube for your specific machine - someone may have done a video about how to wind it.

Also worth trying is slightly holding onto both threads when you first start to sew.

General rule is not to touch the tension. Most machines need to be at 4.

Yes bobbin is in. I put it in with the thread going in the direction it said on the instructions and it is drawn up.

I will try you tube and holding the threads!

Thank you both.

Did you remember to lower the foot? My daughter often forgets and it looks like this too

Once had a similar problem with an elderly machine. I assumed it was knackered and took it to a repairer. Turned out I ad put the needle in backwards! Could that be the problem?

Yes foot lowered every time. I put the needle in with the flat side towards the back/facing away from me.

I’m going to read my instructions again and make sure I’ve understood it all properly.

Check that the machine is threaded up correctly and that the needle is threaded correctly as well.

There is a bobbin tension adjustment (probably a screw near the bobbin itself, may have to take that out) but I'd adjust that with caution.

If the stitches are coming apart that probably is something to do with the bobbin.

Could be that the bobbin has not been wound properly for some reason. I would try winding another one.

My machine did that when I accidentally threaded the needle back to front. No idea how I've managed to do it, but it's happened a couple of times.

Have you got the upper thread threaded properly? Sometimes if mine has slipped out of the arm that moves up and down it loooks like that.

Can you post a few pictures of the machine set up?

Is your machine a brother? The bobbin sometimes looks like it’s picked up but it isn’t under a tiny silver bit in the bobbin part. Reload again and again until it’s right!
Don’t adjust bobbin tension.

Tension problem?

Watch a you tube of how to thread your (or similar) machine and double check it's right.

Then watch one about tension and double check that?

Sorry just read OP again and seen you've tried tension.

As you've adjusted it before it may now be out of whack, it can very finicky!

Thanks everyone, I’m going to start again with it this evening after watching a few YouTube’s. I think the tension on the bobbin case might be too tight so I ordered a little screwdriver to try that. It’s a Janome machine.

If you've got any friends who sew, ask them to take a look as it's probably something very basic with regards to threading or tension that they will spot instantly. Also, are there any sewing classes you could join? It's fun sewing in a group and there's always someone more experienced who can help advise you if you're struggling.
Hope you get it sorted soon and enjoy your sewing projects.

Hi corcai, I don’t think I know anyone who sees but will put an SOS out and see who surfaces.

I’ve been looking for a local sewing group but there’s nothing other than a one day workshop in August. I might book into that.

When I was a beginner I had not wound the bobbin correctly. It should look completely smooth, no bumps in the thread.

Good luck

A local haberdashery and a dry cleaner both run courses in our area. Are the threads the same type? Is there are dial for different thread settings such as normal or embroidery? What type of needle are you using?

I've had the same thing when I've tried to sew with an inappropriate thread for the fabric. What fabric are you sewing, and what thread is in the machine? You can sew cotton fabric with polyester thread, but if you try to sew fabric with a synthetic content with pure cotton thread, it will sometimes result in a mess. Another thing that can cause problems is using one type of thread in the bobbin and threading the machine with a different type. Sometimes polyester thread doesn't work with cotton thread. (I have also, once, had a mess like this which I sorted out by changing to a different brand of the same type of thread - that was a weird one.)

Ah yes I forgot machines can be picky! Mine machine is a Janome 525s and won’t tolerate cheap thread - makes a mess! So I have to use gutterman. Worth trying a different brand.

Also yes check which needle you’ve got in. It might be too heavyweight for your fabric for instance.

Where are you based? One of us may be near by or know if classes in your area.

Which thread is top and which is bottom?

Thanks everyone. RL crisis got in the way this evening so I haven’t had a chance to get it out and start over.

The top thread is blue and the bottom is yellow. I think i’ll Change them for one of the threads that came in the set with the machine. The needle is one that came in the little box with the machine too. I can’t remember what the numbers on the box were. Organ brand.

The fabric is a cotton/poly mix.

We have a little craft shop in town so I will call in and ask them if they know of any classes locally. I’m in NI.