Baby Lock thread cutter button
 

I'm having a tension issue with starting a new seam, after using the thread cutter button on a (new) Presto 2 machine. I get a small thread nest (under the fabric) at the beginning, and I can see the lost tension as the thread sort of billows out above the needle bar thread guide for a few stitches before it settles down. It doesn't happen if I don't use the cutter button. Has anyone experienced this? Am I doing something wrong?

I've been told by a local dealer that all machines will do this if the cutter is used, and the only way to avoid it is to either chain piece or leave a long thread to hold when you begin the new seam. I have the same issue.

I have a Babylock Jane with thread cutter it never acts up. I try to always start sewing where the needle can go into the fabric.

I don't use the thread cutter on my BabyLock for this reason. I'd rather use scissors to cut the thread. That way I have enough thread to hold onto for a new seam.

I have a Babylock and like Jingle, I don't have any problem with the thread cutter. Be sure you use the cutter before you go off the fabric. My manual said to do it that way. I find I can be one stitch off the fabric without problem. I've never tried any further off the fabric but could see how it might cause a birds nest.

It sounds to me like the thread cutter leaves too short a thread, and that's why this happens. On some machines the length can be adjusted by the dealer, I don't know if this is true for your machine.
I always start by pulling my bottom thread up to the top, and then putting the tails under the presser foot, directing them to the back of my work. I find this stops any thread messes/tangles on the back of my work when starting up.

If I'm understanding you correctly, the first "down" of the needle is right into the fabric, not before the fabric, which is what I've been doing. It sort of works... I don't get a nest, so much as a small loop of thread.

Have you done all the updates for your machine? Many times the updates take care of the issue. These are free downloads from the BL web site and specific to your machine. These are not "upgrades" which have fees. It is easy to send to the usb and then load into machine. Just follow the steps as directed in specific order.

Does your machine have preference pages where you can change settings?

There should be no issues with using the thread cutter. I have used them all 3 machines and no problems. I don't use if using the monopoly threads.

Look at the manual --Page B-33. There are a couple of hints about the thread cutter. Hope that helps!

I did see that, but nothing seemed to pertain to my problem. Did I miss something?

Are you starting with the needle up or down? I sometimes start with the needle down, then lower presser foot and start stitching.

I have a Babylock and have never had a problem. Have you taken it in to be serviced?

I don't have Babylock but all my machines that have the thread cutter has never made a bird's nest. The cutters can be adjusted to leave long or short tails. I like the short tails the best. Saves more thread.

I don't use the thread cutter often, because usually I make leader and ender pieces when I stop at the end of chain piecing. When I do use the thread cutter, I find the tails are too short to hold by hand and too long not to make a loop or two underneath, so I begin the next stitching on my "spider" (scrap piece sewn over a gazillion times). The spider doesn't have to be large to work. The one I'm using now is a strip only about a half inch wide, I think it was the "binding" around the armhole of a sleeveless top or something, lol. That's enough width to contain that little problem.

Have you tried holding a couple of inches of thread in the back, needle down in the fabrics, then start sewing?

How does the thread look when using the needle threader? Is is smooth into the eye of the needle? Sometimes I tug the little bit of loop out and straighten the thread first. Then start the machine sewing.

Is your dealer aware of the issue?

i have the same problem on my Janome when i use the cutter button. i just quit using it

I had the thread cutter adjusted to less then 1/2 tails. Works great.

My thread cutter was acting up, I took my machine in for a service, the service man called and said he had found a lot of thread around something there and replaced the gear and motor. I cost about 20 extra above the cost of service. You may want to have that checked when you next take it in for a service.

On my Brother, I don't need to have it adjusted by the dealer, I can adjust it myself by changing the number of holes the thread goes through on the three-holed thread guide. This is a bar located directly over the tension discs, it has 3 holes. If your thread is being cut too short, reduce the number of holes you're putting the thread through to two or even one hole.

Tricialt, I would hold the thread tails as you take the first 2-3 stitches, this should solve your problem. :thumbup:

I quit using the thread cutter on my Baby Lock for the same reason. If you use the cutter, the tails are too short to hold onto when you start the next seam or whatever. Since I've never been able to figure out if there was a way to adjust the length of thread tail it leaves, I go the route of enders and leaders. Mostly I chain piece anyway, so it's not a big problem for me. Baby is now my back-up machine, but my newer Brother does the same thing.

I have the Brother 1500 like Peckish. I use the middle hole of the thread bar for a guide. The thread goes straight down into the hole. I never wrap the thread through them. Tech told me it was for specialty thread and he has never found a thread that needed to use all the three holes.

I do cut after going off the fabric. I wonder why it's a problem?

Thank you everyone. I think my problem is not pulling up the thread after cutting. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to or not. (Also, I thought I posted a "thank you" earlier today, but now it's not here?)

If all you typed was "Thank you" it won't post because you have to type something at least 10 characters long. It's a goofy software thing.