Originally Posted by
thepolyparrot
Anne, if the tension disks are clean and the machine is threaded properly and you're still getting loops on the underside even with the tension set as high as it will go, there are two main things to check:
1. The tension on the bobbin thread may be too tight. When you draw on it, it should unwind smoothly and easily, but it does require some pull. If it feels tight, turn the bobbin tension screw a quarter or half-turn at a time and test the appearance of the seam.
2. The needle thread tensioner may need to be re-set. There are instructions in the little green manual for taking the tensioner apart and re-assembling it correctly.
The thread should draw through the needle almost effortlessly when the presser foot is up. After you lower the presser foot, the thread will be noticeably more difficult to draw through the needle. It should pull the needle to the side.
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Thankyou so much - this is exactly what I was looking for! Your points:
1. It's quite difficult to pull the bobbin thread through, so maybe the bobbin tension does need to be adjusted.
2. I can't find instructions for taking the needle tensioner apart. The booklet (which I had to download from the Internet and is for a model with slight differences to mine) has the usual general guidance on higher and lower tension, but doesn't seem to have this more technical information.
Yes, I love all that space under the arm!
What about stitch length? Do you push the lever down to the bottom, opposite the figure 6? That's what I've done, though I wondered about pushing it right up, beyond the high numbers - it goes some way beyond them. I'm getting very small stitches, even if I sew slowly. I know a lot of it is a matter of finding the right rhythm - got to get used to not having a speed control! - but I was struggling to get my stitches to a nice length.