I've never felt like they were sluggish...only like they needed a 'front end alignment'....you know ... kinda pulling the fabric to one side...is this what you mean?

Any suggestions for out of alignment issues?

A drop of oil wouldn't hurt either.. :)

Well, it is pulling straight, just not hardly moving at all, the stitches are so tiny (becuase the fabric isn't moving), that there would be no way to tear them out if needed. It is as though the feed dogs are DOWN - but they are not, and they do stick up, just seems like not enough to really grab.

I did oil it, as well as clean it. I will take off the face plate tonight, see if that helps.

Are you sure they are all the way UP? Perhaps you set them down for FMQ or sewing on a button and didn't get them back where they belong.
Lower them and bring them up again and see what happens.
Could be the fabric you were using was too smooth and the feed dogs are worn out, how old is your machine?

Carol J.

I did lower and raise the feed dogs, as I had thought maybe they just appeared UP, it didn't seem to help much.

My machine is probably 10 years old.

I know this is a silly question....what stitch setting do you have the machine on?

What machine do you have this problem on?

Put in a different bobbin, sounds a bit like a thread lock if it sews in the same place all the time. Rethread your machine even if it sounds stupid and check for lint in your thread tension area, something is jammed. Checking the stitch length could be a problem too,like the precious quilter mentioned. Another thing, is the bobbin set in properly?
We are full of suggestions today, aren't we? Too bad one of us can't run over to your house and help you.

Carol J.

I tried varying the stitch setting, cranked it really high to get fairly normal length stitches.

I have a Janome Harmony.

Last night I tore it apart to see if there was a big ball of fuzz under the plate. No.

But, I did notice that the plate holding the feed dogs was wiggly. I tighted that, and now it seems to be fine.

I had never thought about the feed dogs having something which might need tightened. A new learning experience.

My Pfaff is starting to do this. :(
She is getting old.

I was thinking, "maybe they need more fiber"
When husband sluggish, he eats more fiber. . . . .