I am brand new at sewing and have been working on my first quilt but am now having a very hard time with my machine. I ran out of my bobbin and switched to a new one but for some reason I cannot get the bobbin thread to catch to make a "good tight stitch" for lack of better explanation. I have a Janome Memorycraft 9700..any ideas...PLEASE :(

Did you check the tension?? Rethread the upper thread?? Try taking the bobbin out and see if there is something stuck in the casing.

I don't mess with tension until I check EVERYthing else out. I've NEVER, in 5 yrs, changed the tension on my bobbin thread. My guess -- did you put the bobbin thread in backwards???

That would be my guess also.

Start with the basics- rethread the top of the machine - take out the bobbin - clean out the bobbin area well - put the bobbin back in - try it again :lol: Sometimes a piece of thread drops down into the bobbin area- just last week another member had a bunch of fuzzy built up under the bobbin area :shock: LOL

Rethread the machine top and bottom first. I also have threee Janome's and have never changed the tension on any of them. Is the boobin thread not hooked into the tension disc. Good Luck

I always start with taking everything out ( top thread and bobbin ) and check the needle. Change that if needed. Then rethread and replace the bobbin. If that's not it I clean the machine and oil. By then I'm usually okay.

First rule of the sewing machine: If it isn't sewing right, rethread the machine. It is amazing how many times this solves your problem. Then try a different bobbin.

All the other ideas are great as well. I hesitate to mess with the bobbin tension especially if it was working well prior to changing to a new bobbin.

Also, check to make sure your bobbin was wound correctly. Sometimes the bobbin will be warped, the thread wound unevenly and causes warping, etc.

Ok..to be honest I wouldn'y know how to change the tension (cannot find my book) and again brand new at sewing as embarrassing as that is. Ok..I chnaged my needle and started from scratch and for some reason my top thread is tangling up. I am almost done sewing my last set of strips and am dang near in tears....and Thanks sooooo much by the way.

You didn't say what kind of machine you have but many manuals are available on-line as well. When my daughter has a question about her Janome, I look up her manual, read it and call her with an answer.

Your problem may be as simple as putting your bobbin in where it is unwinding backwards or you missed a step threading.

I truly understand the new to sewing thing. I was there myself once. My mother did not sew, still doesn't. If something loses a button, she takes it to a tailor or dry cleaners to repair. :roll:

Hang in there. Sometimes, taking a deep breath, walking away, reading a book, watching a little TV and sleeping does wonders. What isn't obvious today will be tomorrow.