Thread: Have you had this problem?

Several months ago I bought an inexpensive Brother machine to replace my dying old Pfaff. It took me a while to like the new one at all, but it turned out the upper tension inside the machine is off, so compensating for that helped. The only problem I cannot seem to get over is the bobbin take-up.

A technician at my LQS showed me what the bobbin area should look like, how the thread end should cross over the inserted bobbin and then come up thru the plate. (Please forgive if these are not the right words.) When I need to insert a new bobbin I often have to take it back out and try over and over again, sometimes a dozen times, before it [the thread end] stays in the right place long enough to sew. And then it sometimes slips "out" in the middle of a seam, at which point it begins that looping nonsense on the underside.

Long, long story to this point, but the question is: Have you had this problem, and have you found a "cure"?

Where did you purchase the machine? If you got it from Walmart's, I'd say take it back and get a new one. Tell them that this one does not stitch correctly and the bobbin thread does not work properly. Do you have your receipt? Take it back to where ever you got it and exchange it for another. Sounds like you got a lemon!

Originally Posted by eastermarie

Where did you purchase the machine? If you got it from Walmart's, I'd say take it back and get a new one. Tell them that this one does not stitch correctly and the bobbin thread does not work properly. Do you have your receipt? Take it back to where ever you got it and exchange it for another. Sounds like you got a lemon!

I bought it reconditioned off the internet. It is one of those Project Runway machines with 80 built-in stitches. I haven't given up on it yet; it may still be one underlying problem in the machine and massive user ignorance.

I don't know if I can explain this.Do you have the bobbin in with the thread comming off in the right direction?On my machines it should unwind clockwise.Is that true on your machine?It makes a huge difference.My old singers would still sew if it was wrong,but not for a real long time.When it starts acting up,flip the bobbin over and see if that makes a difference.

Originally Posted by sherryl1

I don't know if I can explain this.Do you have the bobbin in with the thread comming off in the right direction?On my machines it should unwind clockwise.Is that true on your machine?It makes a huge difference.My old singers would still sew if it was wrong,but not for a real long time.When it starts acting up,flip the bobbin over and see if that makes a difference.

My bobbin was inserted correctly; my problem was that I didn't know there was a tiny hook hiding inside, and because I wasn't putting tension on the thread as I curved around toward the cutter, it wasn't catching on that hook. She said to hold down the bobbin and pull the thread a bit, and that seems to have cured the whole issue (at least in the hour I've gotten to sew since then). It even seems to have solved what I thought was an upper tension problem, too!

Unfortunately, the inexpensive Brother/Singer machines that you can buy off the shelf at a store like Walmart are not designed to last long, nor will they tolerate what an avid quilter will ask of them. I've had two Brothers, both purchased from Walmart and neither lasted long - the most recent was a cs600i and it only took two years of sewing before it crashed with the repairs costing more than the original purchase price. The more expensive Brothers are said to be of better quality, I myself can't say as my current machine is a Janome 6600. I am not sure of the warranty, but try to take the machine back and get a refund. You will be much happier with a better quality machine.

I have a ULT Brother with the Disney caratures built in, a 9000 Janome and a SQ=9000 I got at Walmart. Have had no problems with any of them. The SQ-9000 I've had for 2 years and can't believe for the price how well it sews. I've made about 6 or 7 quilts with it and it sews like the bigger ones do. Guess it depends on if you get a good one or a lemon. With the price I paid for the SQ I could afford to buy another one if it gives out. It is lots easier to take to classes. That 's why I have it.

[QUOTE=Buckeye Rose;5421743]Unfortunately, the inexpensive Brother/Singer machines that you can buy off the shelf at a store like Walmart are not designed to last long,

I have a Brothers Project Runway CE-5000PRW that I paid around $160 for and use it for piecing all my quilts. I purchased it because I needed something portable to take to classes as my Babylock Ellegante embroidery machine was tooooo heavy. This little machine is a work horse. I've had it about 2 yrs and sew just about every day. I doubt I'll ever buy another $7,000 embroidery machine (cheap by todays new machines), but I'd sure not hesitate to buy another Brothers off the shelf at Walmart. Just MHO.

Viv

I guess it depends on what you mean by inexpensive. I have never had this trouble with my Brothers. Is there a diagram showing you which way to load in the bobbin? That should be a two second job. Something doesn't sound right there. Just drop it in - let the 4" piece of thread lay aside... bring down your upper thread by rolling the hand wheel enough that it takes up the bobbin thread. Run your pencil, ripper, anything front to back through those threads and that should send both thread ends to the back of the machine. You should be ready to sew. Or maybe I just can't understand what the trouble is with the thread/bobbin. Can you take a picture of the problem and post that here?