Adjusting Thread Tension
 

I've recently read some Internet postings stating that the presser foot should be down when adjusting tension. I've always adjusted tension with the presser foot up.

Is the presser foot down method correct or hogwash?

It depends on the machine, some will certainly let you move levers but won't actually move the settings.

My old vintage machine was definitely a foot down machine.

The Bernina is too darn smart and argues with me or just refuses to cooperate if I don't follow it's directions exactly.

I'm confused. Because I've never read in either vintage Singer or modern computerized machine manuals that the presser foot should be down when adjusting pressure.

Does your Bernina manual state the foot should be down?

No, it was my vintage machine that mentioned it in its book (it had belonged to a friend's grandmother before me).

There was a latch/spot in the internal bar that had to be in place in order for you to actually change anything other than stitch length. That included going into zigzag mode and most adjustments and it said to have the foot down to change the tension as well.

The Bernina and I are learning to work together... I think it is very fussy but I will say that in a year I haven't broken a needle or had other problems while sewing -- sometimes it is just getting the sewing going is the hard part.

Very interesting. Thanks.

Thank you for the reminder. I couldn't find that in an early 27 or Improved Family manual, but it is in the 127/128, 221, 301, 15-91 and in "A Manual of Family Sewing Machines" which covers 15K, 66K, 201K, 99K, 185K, 327K, 328K,329K, and 404K. I thought it might be for the numbered tension dials, but upon further review, I see that even those say that the needle tension should only be adjusted when the foot is down.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Oh, yes, yes, yes. I see it in the 15-91 manual! Thank you.

My machine is a Remington, now there were Remington sewing machines in the early days, but this is a post-war Japanese badged machine very much like a Morse and I think the name was just "American" and not following trademark stuff so closely.

I just adjust the tension if I need to. Haven't noticed it in my manuals.

I haven't adjusted tension on any of my machines in "ever since I started sewing with them, haven't needed to". My electronic machines are self-adjusting according to thread size, according to the manual. And my old Singers work beautifully without needing tension adjustments. But I will ask how you could adjust the tension with the presser foot up, since there would be no tension on the thread passing through the discs.

The majority of my vintage machines require the presser foot to be in the 'down' position before adjusting because the tension disc are pressed up against each other when the pressure foot is down providing for ture tension. The dial is 'not' the indicator. Less attention is paid to the number adjustment as they can be off easily. On some of my newer machines it is in the up position especially if the machine has an 'auto tension'.

I really wonder if the newer machine manuals just forgot about this issue. I'm using a Babylock Jane which is mechanical and leaving the foot down to adjust now. Not a word in their manual about keeping the foot down. The other machine I use is a computerized Brother. I'm going to give them a call and see what they say about the up/down issue because there's nothing in the manual.

You change the tension setting with the presser foot up, then you put fabric under the foot and test what you did.