Getting ''perfect'' tensions
07-12-2012, 02:35 PM
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Washington state
Posts: 820
Great advice on adjusting the tension. Thank you. I wanted to encourage everyone to really get to know your machine manual. It is a wonderful friend. I've been sewing since the late 60's and I make sure that I have a manual for each of my machines. (Last count I had about 15 or 16 vintage machines. My favorite machines to sew with are the Singers 401, 403, featherweights, and the 15-91 treadle.) I also have the Viking Mega Quilter on my quilting frame.
I refer to my manuals a lot. Most of my machines thread front to back but there is one that threads left to right and a few that threads right to left. Some of my machines have horizontal bobbins and some have the removable bobbin case. When I pull out a machine to use to sew a quilt, I always check my manual to see which way the thread is suppose to unwind on the horizontal bobbins or if it has a removable bobbin case, I check my manual to make sure I latch the removable bobbin case in at the right position.
I just wanted to add that if it is at all possible, a person should try to use the same machine for all of their blocks. If we switch machines frequently in a project, we will find that the blocks don't always match up.
I refer to my manuals a lot. Most of my machines thread front to back but there is one that threads left to right and a few that threads right to left. Some of my machines have horizontal bobbins and some have the removable bobbin case. When I pull out a machine to use to sew a quilt, I always check my manual to see which way the thread is suppose to unwind on the horizontal bobbins or if it has a removable bobbin case, I check my manual to make sure I latch the removable bobbin case in at the right position.
I just wanted to add that if it is at all possible, a person should try to use the same machine for all of their blocks. If we switch machines frequently in a project, we will find that the blocks don't always match up.
Last edited by kapatt; 07-12-2012 at 02:37 PM.
07-12-2012, 03:51 PM
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Oregon
Posts: 384
Thank you. I sure have lots of trouble with this. I don't like my bobbin set up in my 1680 Bernina. And I have been told, "Don't ever touch the bobbin" so I have been afraid. My tension sure is off though. Guess I need to study your guide and try it. Right now my brain can't absorb all of this info so I will come back to it. Thank you again.
07-12-2012, 04:56 PM
#26
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,194
Great information. thanks for posting. What do you think would cause a vintage singer 66 to go in and out of tension? It will sew for a period of time fine, and then I have to adjust the needle tension, sometimes all the way to the higher numbers. then other times I have to push it back. I always use the same thread in needle and bobbin. thanks.
I am saving this thread for reference, this is very helpful - thank you!
07-12-2012, 06:54 PM
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Washington state
Posts: 820
"What do you think would cause a vintage singer 66 to go in and out of tension? "
There could be different reasons...one thought that came to my mind was that maybe something got caught between the tension disks. Another thought is ...you have make sure that you have the presser foot "up" when you are threading your the top part of the machine. Don't put the presser foot down until you have done everything but put the thread through the needle. If the presser foot is down when you put the thread through the tension disks, then the thread does not go into the tension disks correctly.
I would also check the bobbin case to make sure that there weren't any burrs on it and that the bobbin tension was okay.
There could be different reasons...one thought that came to my mind was that maybe something got caught between the tension disks. Another thought is ...you have make sure that you have the presser foot "up" when you are threading your the top part of the machine. Don't put the presser foot down until you have done everything but put the thread through the needle. If the presser foot is down when you put the thread through the tension disks, then the thread does not go into the tension disks correctly.
I would also check the bobbin case to make sure that there weren't any burrs on it and that the bobbin tension was okay.
07-13-2012, 04:02 AM
#29
Power Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Mableton, GA
Posts: 11,194
Originally Posted by kapatt
"What do you think would cause a vintage singer 66 to go in and out of tension? "
There could be different reasons...one thought that came to my mind was that maybe something got caught between the tension disks. Another thought is ...you have make sure that you have the presser foot "up" when you are threading your the top part of the machine. Don't put the presser foot down until you have done everything but put the thread through the needle. If the presser foot is down when you put the thread through the tension disks, then the thread does not go into the tension disks correctly.
I would also check the bobbin case to make sure that there weren't any burrs on it and that the bobbin tension was okay.
There could be different reasons...one thought that came to my mind was that maybe something got caught between the tension disks. Another thought is ...you have make sure that you have the presser foot "up" when you are threading your the top part of the machine. Don't put the presser foot down until you have done everything but put the thread through the needle. If the presser foot is down when you put the thread through the tension disks, then the thread does not go into the tension disks correctly.
I would also check the bobbin case to make sure that there weren't any burrs on it and that the bobbin tension was okay.
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