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Checklist of Common Sewing Machine Problems

This document provides a checklist of common sewing machine problems and their potential causes, aimed at helping users troubleshoot issues independently. It covers various issues such as needle breaking, thread breaking, skipping stitches, and improper feeding, along with suggested corrections. The guide emphasizes the importance of using the correct needle size, maintaining proper tension, and ensuring the machine is clean and well-threaded.

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Nowshin Alam
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
1 views

Checklist of Common Sewing Machine Problems

This document provides a checklist of common sewing machine problems and their potential causes, aimed at helping users troubleshoot issues independently. It covers various issues such as needle breaking, thread breaking, skipping stitches, and improper feeding, along with suggested corrections. The guide emphasizes the importance of using the correct needle size, maintaining proper tension, and ensuring the machine is clean and well-threaded.

Uploaded by

Nowshin Alam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Checklist of Common Sewing

Machine Problems
Guide C-202
Reviewed by Wendy Hamilton1

Introduction
Little problems with your sewing machine can be very ir-
ritating and time consuming. They can happen to even the
most experienced sewer. The next time you have machine
troubles, look through your sewing machine manual for
troubleshooting tips and check the lists below to see if you
can determine the cause of the difficulty to correct it your-
self. It may save you a service call and time. If you can’t
correct the trouble, it is wise to seek professional help.

To Avoid Breaking Needles


• Use the proper needle size for the weight of thread
and fabric to be sewn.
• See that the presser foot or attachment is securely fas-
tened to the bar and that the needle goes through the
center of the hole. (FreeImage.com / Martin Boose)
• Avoid pulling fabric when sewing. The needle may
become bent and strike the back of the needle hole. • There may be lint, dirt, or thread between tension discs.
• Use a needle that is the correct length. If it is too long, Check your machine’s manual for ways to carefully
it will come in contact with the bobbin case and break. remove it.
If it is too short, stitches cannot interlock.
• Be sure the needle is securely fastened in the needle bar. Causes of Upper Thread Breaking
• When sewing over pins, be sure they are perpendicular • Needle is in backwards.
to the seam, keeping the heads of pins away from the • Machine is improperly threaded.
stitching line. • Tension is too tight.
• Needle is bent or has a blunt point.
Causes of Stitches Looping • Thread is too coarse for the size needle.
• Looped stitches are usually caused by improper tension. • There is a burr on the needle hole of the presser foot
If the loop is on the upper side, it may be corrected by (caused by breaking the needle when pulling fabric from
loosening the top tension or by tightening the lower the machine).
tension. If the loop is on the under side, it is usually • Needle is too long for machine, or not inserted all the
best corrected by adjusting the upper tension. (Note: way into the needle bar.
• Take-up spring is bent or broken (have a professional
Some new model machines have factory set bobbins
replace the spring).
that should not be tampered with. Check your • Tension discs are worn so that thread works in
machine’s manual). a groove.
• Be sure that the upper and lower threading is correct • Needle is too fine for size of thread and fabric to
and that the needle is of good quality and the correct be sewn.
size for the thread. • Threads are not properly pulled back under presser
• Looping of stitches is sometimes caused by placing the foot when starting to sew.
bobbin in the bobbin case the wrong way. Check your
machine’s manual for directions on inserting the bobbin.

1
Professor and CES Grants and Contracts Development Specialist, Media Productions Department, New Mexico State University.

To find more resources for your business, home, or family, visit the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental
Sciences on the World Wide Web at aces.nmsu.edu
• Lint or dirt has accumulated in or around bobbin Causes of Machine Working Heavily
case holder. • If the machine sounds or feels like it is working too
• Irregular sewing speed creates uneven thread tension. hard after inactivity, it may be gummed up with oil and
be in need of a general cleaning. For more information
Causes of Lower Thread Breaking on cleaning your machine, see NMSU Extension Guide
• The bobbin is improperly threaded in the C-102, Sewing Machine Maintenance (http://aces.nmsu.
bobbin case. edu/pubs/_c/C102.pdf ).
• Thread tension is too tight. • The belt may be too tight and therefore puts excessive
• Thread is wound unevenly on bobbin and/or the pressure on the bearings.
bobbin is wound too full. • If the belt is too loose, it slips on the balance wheel.
• Spring on bobbin case is worn to a sharp groove. • Thread is jammed in the bobbin case.
• There is a burr on the underside of the throat plate (some-
times caused by sewing over pins or breaking needle). Causes of Skipping Stitches
• There is a knot in the bobbin thread. • Needle is not correctly inserted in the needle bar.
• Lint, dirt, or thread has accumulated under the • Needle is too small for the thread being used.
tension spring of the bobbin case. • Needle is too short for the machine.
• Needle is blunt or bent.
Causes of Puckered Seams • If a zipper foot is being used, the edge of the foot is too
• Tension is too tight. far away from the needle.
• Stitches are too long for fabric being sewn, especially • Needle is threaded incorrectly.
on fine fabric. • Needle hole in throat plate is too large.
• Wrong presser foot is being used for the weight of • Pressure is too light.
the fabric. • Upper tension is too tight.
• Puckered threads across seams are due to a blunt • Upper thread and bobbin thread are of different sizes
needle or too large a needle. and/or types.
• Stitches are too short for synthetic and easy
care fabrics. Causes of Stitch Length Variation
• Using a plate with a wide needle hole may cause • Stitch regulator is incorrectly adjusted.
straight seams to pucker. • Feed dogs are clogged with lint.
• Upper thread and bobbin threads are of a different • Pressure is incorrect for fabric.
size and/or type. • Tension is incorrect for fabric.
• Pressure foot is too heavy for the fabric being sewn. • Throat plate is adjusted incorrectly.
• Fabric is pushed or pulled while stitching. • Presser foot is loose or not suited for fabric being sewn.

Causes of Machine Not Feeding Properly


Original author: Susan Wright, Extension Consumer
• Pressure is incorrect for the fabric being sewn.
Education and Health Specialist.
• The feed dogs are worn smooth. This can be deter-
mined by running your finger over the teeth. If they
are not sharp, the feed dog should be replaced.
• The feed dogs are clogged with lint. Wendy Hamilton is an Extension Grants
• The stitch regulator may have been turned back so and Contracts Development Specialist at
far that the feed is entirely out of action. NMSU, providing expertise and guidance in
• The needle may be bent. writing program grants and project contracts
for the College of Agricultural, Consumer and
• Spool of thread may jerk and catch if machine is
Environmental Sciences. She has worked at
operated too rapidly or at an uneven speed. four land-grant universities, and has a diverse
• Stitch regulator is incorrectly adjusted. background in textiles and clothing, adult
• The throat plate is incorrectly positioned. education, 4-H youth-at-risk, horticulture,
evaluation, and grant writing.

Contents of publications may be freely reproduced for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. For permission to use publications for
other purposes, contact [email protected] or the authors listed on the publication.
New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. NMSU and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture cooperating.

Reprinted December 2016 Las Cruces, NM


Guide C-202 • Page 2

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