Help.... Sewing advice please...

[dipsymummy]

I recently started using a sewing machine and have been doing very basic things with it.

Yesterday I tried to hem some denim jeans- changed needle and used heavier thread.

Top stitching is fine but bottom or under stitch is loose ie with loops if that makes sense?

Have tried everything, rethreaded, redid bobbin thread, changed tension but am stuck!
It looks like a bobbin issue but I'm too much of a newbie to this to know what to do next.

Am attaching pics if it helps.

Can anyone help?

I think it's a tension issue. I'm not an expert, but this article might help?
www.threadsmagazine.com/item/4302/understanding-thread-tension/page/all

Are you using a jeans needle? You need a thicker one than normal, and a slightly longer stitch length. You also really want to sew through all 3 layers anyway...but I admit that I would hem jeans by hand for a better finish.

Thicker, top-stitching thread can be a bit of a pain to get right. There are two approaches:

1. Try winding the thicker thread onto a bobbin, then sew the hem "upside down" or rather "outside down", if you see what I mean, with regular thread on top.

1. Get some needles with bigger eyes to let the thicker thread pass freely through, and adjust the top thread tension down a notch. As a rule of thumb, where you get loopy bottom threads, the bottom tension might be too low or the top tension too high, but it's usually easier to tinker with the top tension.

Either way, practise on some off cuts of the same fabric until you're happy with the result.

Thank you all!
Looks like I need to get the tension right. I'm going to try again tomorrow and hopefully have a positive update!

Yes tension. Ideally have you got spare denim to practice adjusting everything until it comes out right? saves unpicking & frustration.

Yes, been practising on an old pair so far. Hopefully I'll get there now:)

Well ladies- I finally did it- thankyou

I'm late to this but there's another way of turning up jeans which keeps the original hem so saves you the bother of thread matching.

There's a tutorial here which has some good photos -
www.sewmuchado.com/2011/06/tutorial-how-to-hem-jeans-and-keep-the-original-hem.html