I bought my Brother's sewing machine from Hancock Fabric store for less than $100. I have been using it for over two years now and have sewn almost 20 quilts in the last 9 months. I use it every day and only have a couple of minor problems. I found that unless I use the automatic buttonholer for making my GD clothes that the zigzag does not work properly. I can sew a zigzag stich but not the fine one required for a buttonhole. The other problem I have is if I accidently bump the tension knob it will gather for hours even after I have moved it back to the orginal position. My bobbin drops into the foot plate and threads aroung the hook located in the front. I currently have a small burr on the metal plate that the top thread hangs on if I use heavier thread. I love my Brother and would buy another for the price I paid for it. If it dies or needs expensive repairs then I will get another similar. I would suggest that you try to stop winding the bobbin just before it is full. I found mine does better if the bobbin is not over full but I often forget and fill mine full. Have you thought about finding a shop that deals in Brother machines or call a tech that works with Brother. You might try to contact Brother Sewing machine Manufacturer at this number and address
7777 North Brother Blvd.
Bartlett, Tennessee 38133
1-877-BROTHER (877-276-8437)
901-379-1210 (fax)
M-F, 9:00am to 5:45pm Eastern Time
Good Luck.
Originally Posted by
Lee in Richmond
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"?