bad stitches
 

Hi Quilters......my DSM is being nasty. The top thread is leaving random tiny loops on the back of my fabric. I tried going slow, not changing the speed, or stopping part way through. I checked that everything was threaded ok........what is happening with my little old Kenmore???????

Have you checked the thread tension? I was at a quilting workshop on Friday and was having kittens. After about an hour of sewing my tension went completely out of whack. I rethreaded 6 times, before I thought to check my thread tension. Adjusted the tension and I was back in business.

It was a worry as I was an hour from home and a back up machine.

Old Kenmores are some of my favorite machines. Had to leave my cabinet one back in Fl when I moved sadly. When loopy stitches on underside I believe its a top thread tension problem. Try increasing tension some. Also take a pipe cleaner fuzzy strip and clean between the tension sides. I love playing w/these oldies. Also the thread on " Vintage Machines " may have great probkem solving tips.

If your top thread is making tiny loops on the underside, the top thread is too loose. Tighten the top thread tension bit by bit until there are no more loops.

Also, have you replaced the needle?

Yes, there are a lot of experts that can be found in the Vintage section. I too think it is your top tension.

I have a sticky note on my machine to Check the tension. When I was trying to quilt, just the turning and twisting of the quilt would "adjust" the tension, and I would have problems like you are having.
Darn machines, when they get a mind of their own, they cause SO MUCH frustration...

Happy Day!
Susan

Besides thread tension make sure that your bobbin is wound correctly

If I understand your definition of looping and it is not truly eye lashing (which would be a result of tension) - things that I would try would be changing to a fresh needle or possibly changing to a different size (up or down one size from whatever it is you're currently using) and or trying a thread net over the spool/cone you're using. Another thing to check is for a teensy tiny bit of lint in the bobbin area, or a nick on the needle plate. These are all things that have caused looping for me! :) Good luck!

If after trying all of that and none of it works your machine may have gone out of time. That happened with my first singer I cleaned it rethreaded it, changed the bobbin cleaned the heck out of it replaced needles then repeated it all again and again. Finally took it in. Showed the people at the repair shop and they instantly said it was out of time.

You may want to check to be sure your thread and bobbin thread are the same weight. Sometimes that can cause the top tension to be a little loose. When you are sure that the tensions are correct try removing the thread and bobbin, turn off the machine and start all over after a good cleaning. Hope you can figure it out

when was the last time you changed your needle? Your top tension needs adjusting.

My daughter and I were teaching a class and her machine was acting up. She tried everything, and I kept saying "here's a NEW needle, try it" After a LOT of fiddling she finally changed needle - problem solved. She was amazed that it was actually the needle giving her problems. NOTE: I had read that tip right here on the Board. Thanks ladies/gents!

Actually this happened to me when I had a badly wou d bobbin in too. Huge loops. !