Poltergeist?
 

Hello Quilters, Has anyone ever had a machine sew by itself? My computerized machine (I don't know if it's against the QB rules to name the brand) occasionally sews by itself after hours of use. With no pressure on the foot pedal, the presser foot and needle just start going up and down until I shut the machine off. If it was turning out quilts I wouldn't complain, but it just knots up thread under the throat plate. The machine is just over a year old and the problem started a few months ago. It doesn't happen every time and, of course, didn't happen in the repair shop so they couldn't diagnose or repair the machine.

Hmmm, I have several different brands of machines and not had any of them do this. When it does it again maybe disconnect the foot pedal from the machine and see if it stops it or keeps going just to try to diagnose where the problem is occurring.

Excellent suggestion Sandra. Keep us posted on your ghost hunting, Mitch.

I did try unplugging the machine and restarting it, cleaning it, detaching the foot cord, cleaning the foot pedal, ect, ect, ect Nothing ever helped.

I had a Pfaff passport 2.0 that did that. It sometimes would not sew. Lights would come on, just would not sew. Sometimes it worked fine. Yes, one time it just took off while I was staring at and then went full speed and it would not shut off until I pulled the plug. Brought it in a couple of times. It never did that at the dealer. The tech thought it might be just the tiniest speck of dust or static that would trigger it. I still have that machine, but should probably just bring it to the recycling center as I can't sell it anyone and I sure don't want to use it. It is a boat anchor. Let me know if it is the same machine

What a fascinating issue to be having!

First thing I would rule out is your home electricity. Do you have any other problems with flicking lights or power surges? Is your electrical panel equal to the modern demands?? If you still have fuses are they all secure and in good condition??

Do you use a surge protector? While I'm pretty confident in my power and such any thing over $100 and/or computerized is plugged into a surge protector first. I would first try that at the outlet you use. Then you can leave set up and just use an extension cord to try a different outlet. Then I would try physical placement to see if it does the same thing in a different corner of the room or house.

My Janome MC11000 does that from time to time. I haven't tested my theory, but I think it may be the foot pedal. It has not had the easiest life. For now though, I just let it go on as it is only for an inch or so and very seldom. Maybe once or twice during a long sewing session. It also never does it during a embroidery session, so I' sticking to the foot pedal theory.

Poltergeist redux
 

Thank you Detectives! It's a Bernette b79. I have tried unplugging it and rebooting, unplugging the foot pedal and rebooting, sweet talking, and cursing. I do suspect it might be the foot pedal. And I think it's the only thing left to try. The store just sent me a different pedal so that is my next trick. Also, if it happens again, I will pull the foot pedal cord out while it's stitching. I do use a surge protector snd tried a different outlet. My lights never flicker (including the one that is plugged into the same surge protector), nor do I have trouble with any other appliance, including my computer that is plugged into the same outlet but a different surge protector. It was just cleaned and serviced and it was perfectly well behaved in the repair shop. ::Sigh::

I was having that problem with my Singer, but finally figured out that I was the culprit. Many times during sewing, I will get up to do something. Often, as I walked away, I would hear/see the machine stitching away. Took me awhile to figure out that when I stood up, I would unconsciously move the foot pedal barely under the platform base of the table I sew at, which is elevated 3 inches off the floor. Walking and moving around would vibrate the floor/table and since the pedal was wedged under the base, it would sew on its own.

Thanks. Checked that. I even tried moving the foot pedal while it's happening and it doesn't stop. This didn't even start until just over a year of using the machine and I'm up and down constantly.

Remembering from way back on the QB ... same thing happened to someone else.

It turned out, it was lint, dust and gunk that had got into the foot pedal.
A good cleaning made the difference.
Depending on the style of yours, you may be able to clean it yourself. Maybe not.

Regardless, you have a new foot pedal which will answer the foot pedal question!

Good Luck!

Yes, my Berninas have done that. I figure it's a software glitch, so I just unplug it for a minute of so.

I would suggest unplugging it when not in use too! Electrical items are too touchy at times for me. Good luck.

Thanks everyone. I may just drag the Pfaff out and try her again. I haven't had problems with any other of my computerized machines and they have been plugged into my outlets and surge protectors. My house is older but I had some new grounded wiring installed and also use those outlets for my machines. I haven't thought of the foot pedal. Will try checking that out. I do believe this machine has a start stop button but I think I tried using that but did not unplug the foot pedal when I had the problem. A think to try if it does that again. I would like to be able to gift this machine to somebody as I don't need it as I now have three others.

I had one machine that would sew by itself, it too was a computerized machine. I found it was long over due for a tune up. I spent the money and now it doesn't do that.

I think that was my friend Cindi. She took her foot apart and cleaned out all the gunk. A lot of it was hair. After that, her machine worked perfectly.

Peckish ... aaah yes, indeed, it could have been Cindi!
Hair and I think fuzz from a carpet too? Made us all think!
Hope Cindi is well ... please tell her she is missed, here and in your joint blog.

When a sewing machine starts sewing by itself, the culprit is usually a small lever inside the foot control that needs to be bent just a little.

I would think that your machine should still be covered by the warranty, so I'd keep asking to have it corrected or replaced. Many years ago, I had an HP computer that would turn itself on and off and currently have a Kitchen Aid dishwasher that does the same thing, and both techs found the same cause--it comes from the circuit board. The authorized dealer for the dishwasher has replaced the circuit board twice under warranty and fully acknowledge there is a problem, but until the manufacturer officially issues a recall, even if every unit sold has the same problem, you're on your own if it's out of warranty.

My Janome did this very thing. Fortunately, when I took it to the repair shop & was telling them about it, it actually started sewing on it's own. It was a faulty foot pedal & a new one solved the problem.

Awww that's nice of you! I will definitely tell her. She still pops in to the board every now and then.

Yes, the foot pedal is most likely the culprit. Borrow a foot pedal from your machine store or friend and see if you machine does this.
do you have pets, if yes, I'm sure this is you pproblem. Fuzz and pet hair gets inside your pedal and causes this problem.
You can have a technician take it apart,, but you can do it.,look on the internet for how to.. just make sure you hang onto the spring that is in the pedal.
it will go flying, ask me how I know. My Machine was a Janome.

I am here! Yep, it was me. DH unscrewed my foot and it literally barfed up a hair ball, lol! It was totally filled with hair, lint and carpet fuzz!

It was sweet of you to say you miss me - Peggi and I were just talking about the blog and how much fun we had doing it!!

My embroidery machine kept sewing once. Turned out to be electrical interference from a fuse ready to blow in the house powerbox.

unplug cord from foot pedal to machine, and then try it.

*waves back* to Cindi and Peckish!!
Now you have me laughing at the foot peddle barfing up that fuzz ball!

.............But, you do know,
you could get right back on that blog and have a bunch more fun, again!! :)

If you have a Start/Stop button, unplug the foot feed and try using the Start/Stop button instead of the petal. If it works by not using the foot feed pedal, that would pretty well tell you it is the foot pedal that is not working.

Mitch, when you said "if it churned out quilts I wouldn't complain" made me laugh out loud!!! :D
Hope you get it resolved. I don't have any advice, sorry.