please help me - sewing machine problem, don’t want to ask my mum!

[basketcase]

Ok - my mum and mil are fantastic sewers - mil even runs classes. I am useless - famously bad.
I have got out my old Singer Sewing machine (1979 model - 609) and have threaded it up properly, oiled it etc. and have done quite well for a bit. Changed the bobbin thingie in the bottom, threaded ok and started again. The topside of the stitiching looks great but underneath it is all little loops as if the tension is all wrong. I have twiddled the knob on the front with numbers 0-9 on it and am stuck. If anyone knows how to sort out this uneven stitching so I can make my DD her promised bag and save me having to admit to these capable women that I am trying to sew I would be forever grateful! Thanks...

You might have your bobbin in the wrong way round.

Oh and the dial that says 1 - 9 is stitch length. You might also need to fiddle with the small dial that controls tension - it should have thread wrapped round it as part of the threading.

take it all out, unthread it all, go away for five mins and start again! it's probably one little stupid catch not going the right way or something! Have fun!!!!!1111

thanks guys - anorak, I didin?t knwo the bobbin could be upside down , I just dropped it into the hole. Please could you tell me how to identify the right side? Not sure about the small dial that controls tension, eek, where is that normally found?
God, I feel so useless but have got the material, pattern all pinned and cut out, now just need to crack this machine bit

When you drop the bobbin in, take hold of the loose thread and pull it round the bobbin. When you close the bobbin cover make sure you still have the end. Pull it out a bit and when you place your fabric under the foot make sure the bobbin thread is pulled out straight back under it and the upper thread pulled out on the same way on top. I can never remember which way round the bobbin goes but it doesn't feed out correctly if you get it wrong. Trial and error on a scrap of waste material (doubled so it's the same as what you're going to sew).

thanks anorak, I am going to print this out and have a go step by step. Wish I had a manual for this old machine, would make life easier than having to second guess each time. Armed with your good advice, I am determined to crack it .

fio2 is the one who really knows about sewing machines.

does the top thread go through a couple of discs on the front of the machine - -just after you have threaded it through a hook at the top of the machine?

The thread should pass between these two, and then go through a wire hook on the side which will tension the thread. It then goes back up to the top of the machine and through the arm which goes up and down as you sew.

This must be done correctly or the thread won't be tensioned properly and may produce the loops you describe

Yipee - I have done exactly as you told me and I also found another dial that must the be tension dial you talked about and put that on -1. Success! Wow - I feel so stupidly happy about solving this one, I am determined to make this little bag for DD1 and now it might just be possible.
I am so daft - "of course I will make you a proper bag with sewing and not cellotape..." I told DD1 in my typical open mouth think later approach to parenting skills. She has spent the last hour anxiously watching me and looking more and more doubtful. She even told me that we should "wait until nanny come over so we don?t get hurt on the needle..".For once I would like to make something worthwhile for my DDs all by myself - well, with a little help from my mumsnet buddies. Thanks - will let you know how I get on