I don't know what its called or why it is happening, but tonight I was sewing strips for a quilt and I was just zooming along minding my own business when all of a sudden my thread decided to go stupid on me.
I don't know how to fix it so I thought I would ask you all for help.
I dont know if its my top or bottom tension, or if its my bobbin thread but when I sew, the fabric gathers up and I am able to hold onto the thread and straighten the fabric out. If you know what I mean. Its almost as if I was "gathering" it (like you do when you make yoyo's). But I am not making yoyo's, I am making strips for a Fabric fling. So I got aggravated and put a smile on my face which wasnt easy since my machine has been acting up lately and I don't have the money to purchase another one. So I nicely set the strips aside, turned off the machine, stood up, walked over to the door turned off the light and shut the door. Went into my bedroom, turned on the TV, fell asleep which wasn't the plan because now I am up again at 3:00am. Went back into my sewing room, turned on the light, turned on the machine, attempted to sew the strips again...same problem!!! Now I am getting aggravated because I don't know what to do to fix it. So....once again I am sitting here in the middle of the night reading posts. :)

What kind of machine do you have? have you rethreaded the whole thing. Are you using the same thread on top and bottom, and have you changed the needle lately. Also have you taken the bobbin case out and checked for any loose threads that may be in there causing a problem. It could be a simple fix or it may need to go to the shop.

Its a brother XL2600. I am actually thinking that it is my bobbin. It is almost out of thread and it doesn't look like it is evenly wound. So after while I will go up and take off all the thread that is left on the bobbin, and rewind it. I know its gotta be an easy fix. I just get frustrated easily when I sew and it doesn't go the way I want it to go. Especially when I am not really wanting to sew at the moment. :) Luckily that doesn't happen very often. Thanks for responding. I appreciate it alot.

Try all of the above and then if it is not better try a different spool of thread or it could be a tension problem. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

It sounds like you have found your answer.

Clean the bobbin area there may be some lint lerking around.

Thank you everyone I will try again later this morning. I appreciate the help. :)

Sounds like what happens when the top thread catches on the little notch on the thread spool. Try turning the thread spool around.

Was the bobbin put back 'in the correct direction'?

That happens to me sometimes.

Take your bobbin area apart as much as you can and check for lint and thread scraps. I was having a little trouble last night. The culprit was a piece of red thread no more than 3/16ths of an inch long. I haven't sewn with red in quite a while. A drop of oil while you're in there won't hurt.

it sounds as if you need to clean the machine...you would be surprised what a difference it makes to take the time to clean it all out, under the bobbin area, new needle, re=thread and replace bobbin, probably be good as new. :thumbup:

for what ever reason, mine dones this on occassion ( brother se-350) I have found for what ever reason, If I rethread it and some times take the bobbin out and start over,,,,, it fixes it's self.... dont know why.. but it seems to work...
Not sure how threads can get off threaded.. but thats what seems to happen...

I am happy to say, today my brother is being a good little fella. I was kind to him and took out his bobbin and cleaned in there really good, took off the face plate and REALLY cleaned in there even though it was pretty clean since I cleaned it about a month or so ago. Then I took off all his thread and rethreaded him, even the bobbin got unclothed and reclothed. Gave him his rub down across his back side, gave him a little kiss and said HONEY....IF YOU LOVE ME you know what you better do and if you don't, you will be headed to the graveyard of all of the other Brothers that made their owners unhappy....and tada....I inserted 2 pieces of fabric under its little ole presser foot and he worked like a charm!!

It's amazing what a bit of TLC can do :-D

My quilting tutor always says T.N.T, Thread; Needle and if desperate Tension. When any of my Ladies machine has a fit at class the first thing I do it to turn the machine off and tell them to go and make a cup of tea and calm down. Then I completely re-thread the machine, after checking that they have the same thread top n bottom. If that doesn't work I clean it and put in a new needle, that normally sorts it.

Tension is the last thing I touch on any of MY machines but for some reason or other the Ladies feel that fiddling about with THAT will cure all, which of course it doesn't, they will learn one day, hopefully [img]http://bestsmileys.com/fingers/1.gif[/img]

glad all of your frustration is over! I had a brother as my first machine and although I surely had some fits with it, I always remember him fondly. I still have his pieces in my cedar chest. (i used him until he LITTERALY fell apart!)

I was having this problem on Friday. I changed my needle it was better. Hope you find an easy fix.

Clean under the bobbin area and put a new needle in and rethread machine and change thread completely in top and bottom. I did this awile back and everything worked ok then. i put that thread aside and won't use it again. I was about ready to take my machine 200 miles rd trip to the guidance clinic.

There could possibly be a piece of thread lint cought in the top tension disks. Take a piece of dental floss long enough to get from the spool pin to the needle and pull it gently back and forth a couple of times. If there is thread
lint in the disks this will clean it out. Change your needle and rewind your bobbin with the thread you are using on the top. This has always worked for me.

The other thing to check is that the spool on the cone of thread is not damaged in any way. If the spool doesn't run freely and smoothly all sort of 'orrible things can happen :evil: