Latrinka

I never fool with it on either of my machines, too scared I'll mess sumpin up!

Connie1948

Ok here are my thoughts....l have a spare bobbin case that I use when I want to or need to mess with my tension due to threads, yarns or ribbon going through it. I never touch my "main" case. Most of the newer machines have "self" adjusting tensions. If I was using an older machine I would let a pro get it perfect for everyday sewing and write down all the settings and then go back to those after doing adjustments for a special project. In home-ec in my day we would get our hands smacked with a ruler if we touched the tension disk knob!

CAS49OR

My bobbin screw has no settings, so I like the idea of marking the starting point with a Sharpie if I mess around with it. Hubby did the same on the timing belt. He marked the shaft and the pulley so he could tell if it shifted.

mjhaess

If my tension needs to be adjusted on my old machines I just do it by sewing a little and adjust and try it again...This is what my repairman told me to do and it seems to work for me...I just adjusted an old machine I bought at a thrift store..It took a lot of trying to get it right but finally I did....

Reb

Thanks I appreciate the reply.

Rose_P

This is about longarm tension, but I found some of it helpful even though I don't have a longarm. However, prodding around in the tension mechanism with a pin seems risky to me. You don't need a scratch or burr there! A lot of machines don't have the separate bobbin case, but still the ideas about how to tell if the tension is balanced and not too tight seems useful. Your manual should have specific information for your machine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1mRhcquZTM

FroggyinTexas, your comment reminds me of something my DH mentioned from his childhood in the 1950's in the Panama Canal Zone. A man with a push cart would walk through their neighborhood shouting "Fix! Sawn Msheens!", and it was a long time before he figured out what the man was saying. Where's the "Fix Sewing Machines" guy when we need him around here!

fireworkslover

This is kind of funny. I just brought my machine into the dealer to get checked out again. I've been having issues with the tension. The last time I brought it in, one of their instructors told me to never adjust the tension, just use the built in preset buttons and the tension would be set automatically. However, I told her if I do that I don't get a nice stitch. But don't change the tension, she said, "You'll just get yourself into trouble and make it worse!" When I spoke with the repair fellow, he told me, "She's just a teacher, don't listen to that. Sometimes you have to change the tension with different threads and fabrics you're using." I do keep a written record of what settings I have the machine at for each kind of thread and fabric. I also did purchase a different bobbin case for use with thicker threads.

Nammie to 7

My machine is so easy to adjust - and then it adjusts back when it is turned off. I've been experimenting with some embroidery quilting designs and didn't like the way the back looked - adjusted the tension and it worked great - so glad I don't have to remember to change it back!

Pepita

My Mother wasn't a sewer. There is a lot of fear about changing tension because it seemed to be a mystery as to how to get it back on track. Mechanical machines must have the presser foot down when you change the top tension. Don't ask me why, I really don't know, I just know it works. If you move the tension on top with the presser foot up, you basically have changed the numbers of your tension. You can change the tension to make it tighter or looser. The bottom tension, has 1 little screw that can become stripped. So if you want to change your tension with the bobbin screw, be sure you have access to another bobbin case. The recommendation for bobbin cases is have 1 you change the tension on, and mark it. Generally a little mark with some fingernail polish where the screw slit starts and ends. That way you can change it back to factory setting. I have found that in addition to your tension knob your tension may be having problems because of the thread--bottom weight thread and thicker thread in the top, needle problems, quilting for a while always seem to make the tension go wonky too.

sewmerry

I learned to sew on an old Nicchi in the early 60s and often heard "leave the tension alone. The machine I have been sewing on for the last 30+ years is the New Home Combi . It served me with excellence until a small child played with the 'knobs' . The old repairman that got it straightened out said Never adjust the tension without the foot in down position. Has any one else ever heard this? Since practicing this I have been able to keep the tension right on track.