I have wasted over 2 hrs trying to figure this out !!
My machine is sewing a great stitch on the bottom but the top is ALMOST straight !! like its not going down in the material.
I have changed bobbin thread.....top thread.....new needle...adjusted tension ... and still nothing has fixed this !!
But the first 4 stitches are right then it goes almost straight.
Any advice?? I now have a headache lol :?: :?:

I am trying to piece a quilt so, 2 layers of cotton fabric.
I have rethreaded 3 times.
I have cleaned bobbin shaft free of lint.
Its got to be in the tension but I cant figure it out, I have adjusted alittle here and there but nothing is helping.
# 11 needle since I'm only doing 2 layers. (new)

What type of fabric are you sewing? How many layers? What size needle are you using?

Clean the path of the thread. You may have adjusted the tension, but if there is a small piece of thread stuck somewhere along the path, adjusting it will not help much.

Maybe clean any lint in the bobbin casing?

Check your bobbin to makes sure it is in correctly,Threaded correctly. But it seems like to me it is a tension problem. Good luck..I get what I call railroad tracks and that is tension. It has a bumpy feel and the top thread can be pulled out very easy as it is almost straight. BillsBonBon

Could your thread be catching on the little notch on the spool, thus not flowing freely? Try turning the spool around.

Need a new needle?

I would think that if the bottom is catching, the top would be right.
Have you checked the BOBBIN tension? That is on the bobbin case (where you put the bobbin).

Yes I have checked it to everything I know to do I have done lol ty :D

Check out your owner's manual, or go online to download it.
I never can find my manual, no matter which safe place I put it and have to look online. So far that's all the help I needed.

lol I have mine sitting here looking at it now and still cant fix it :oops:

There are only two possibilities: the top tension is too tight, or the bottom is too loose.

I'd try first setting the upper tension to some point that you think is ridiculously too loose, to see if that changes anything at all. If it doesn't, then go to the bobbin tension and try to tighten that.

Once upon a time I had a new (three-week-old) machine that I had to return for a fix in the bobbin tension mechanism. (That was before I realized that you can actually tweak that yourself.) And I've also had a serger that had problems with the upper tension that also had to go in for repairs. I was told there was a "weld" somewhere that had let go. (That I would not have been able to fix myself).

Good luck. It's so frustrating!

Have you rethreaded the machine (top spool)

threads not catching either...ty tho :D

I would put in a larger needle and see if that helps--like a 14.....I got a batch of bad needles once that about drove me to drink!

Couple things... what machine are you using?

Is the bobbin in the case so the thread comes off spinning clock wise? Check under the throat plate, some times I have a lint build up, and miss a piece of felt, LOL.
I run a Q tip with machine oil on it, to catch any missing lint...

I think if the top thread is loose you have to adjust the small screw on the bobbin case, screw it in a little, see if that helps.

I got it OKIEPASTOR told me to try another new needle cause sometimes even the new ones are bad and BINGO guess thats what it was so ty all for your help !! :thumbup:

That's what I love about this board!! Everyone is soooo helpful!

Wow, glad I clicked on this. Learned too. Thx!

maybe it is the thread ?????? let us know when you do figure it out !

Why did you wait almost 2 years? Why not just take it in for service?

I had the same problem on my Viking Diamond. The repairman did a little tweaking and it works much better. He said it had to do with the thread "catching" properly. You might take it in for a little service. I don't think you can solve the problem yourself.

Two Hours! (g)

I've had this problem. It turned out my bobbin was in wrong. It has to be with the thread coming out counter-clockwise, not clockwise. Such a small thing that made a big problem.

I got it !! I guess it was a bad needle cause I had already put in 1 new needle and it didnt help ....I put in another new needle and it fixed the problem !! Cause it was fine 4 days ago when I used it last ....and I am starting a new quilt so thought I would put in a new needle and changed thread of course and when I got ready to sew it was messed up lol but all fixed now !! :thumbup:

right 2 hours not 2 years !!!! I wouldnt have any hair left if I had waited that long !!!! lol

So glad my tip worked----I wasted 2 DAYS learning that once!:>)

Yea !!! so happy for you !!!!

Our local quilt shop had a class on how to take you machine apart and clean everything inside of it. Your problem is not the upper thread, its that the bobbin thread is to loose. You will need to tighten your bobbin tension just a tweek and try it on a scrap. If it's not correct tweek a little more. Hope this helps.

Make sure you put the needle in correctly, the flat side to the back, it makes a world of difference and is so simple to take care of in most cases.

Carol J.

Some things to consider if this happens again- test tension due to straight stitching on top ususally means top tension is too tight. Change needle,check needle to make sure inserted correctly, lower pressure foot and gently pull thread- needle should bend stightly which means top thread is correct in tension guide, check threading on both bobbin and top, make sure bobbin thread and top thread are same or compatible by testing on different material, change all thread and test to see if thread is issue. Lastly take break.

Did you adjust the pressure tension? Put more pressure on the needle when only stitching the 2 layers. That's if you have a knob or lever for the pressure. I release that tension for free motion quilting then put it back for piecing.

good Luck

Suzy

Do you have a fabric type adjustment on your machine? ie, light, medium heavy? Sometimes if I am sewing with heavy fabric and I have it on lightweight fabric I have that same problem.

lol gotcha bigsister :thumbup:

Do you have a fabric type adjustment on your machine? ie, light, medium heavy? Sometimes if I am sewing with heavy fabric and I have it on lightweight fabric I have that same problem.

I have had this problem on my Bernina, but only after breaking a needle.(became loose/fell out during sewing - ouch!) When the needle broke, it messed up the timing and according to the tech, I can't fix it. It needs to be taken in for repair. Thankfully, I have another machine. If yours is newer and 'something' happened, this might be the reason.

I would call my sewing machine shop and get tech support. I don't know the type of machine you have, but if is not tension, not needing cleaning and you have rethreaded and put in a new needle, then CALL the pros!!

Pat in Colorado

This happens to me sometimes when I use my older machines. It's always the bobbin thread has slipped out of the bobbin casing threading hole. The top thread will look like one long line of thread laying on the stitch. I was told a new bobbin case would correct the thread from slipping out if it became a constant frustration.

SOmetimes the thread is not the right thread for your machine...