I'm trying to make my first quilt ever. I'm looking at buying a new machine but thought I'd be able to at least start learning on my Singer. The tension was all wonky and I finally got it set right and starting sewing blocks. Then the bobbin ran out of thread so I rewound it and then the tension was off again. I didn't touch any of the tension settings. The part of the machine that holds the bobbin acts like it is loose and while it is supposed to be an easy drop in bobbin, I am having a great deal of trouble getting the bobbin in and out. It is like it is catching on something.

Argh, maybe I should just go pick up a new machine and see how far I can throw this one!

Do you have a manual for your machine? When you drop your bobbin , there is also a little hook on the bobbin case , to hook your thread around.

what is the type machine? what does the manual say about the bobbin? sometimes it is as easy as re-threading.

I have a "basic" singer too -- and man is it tempermental!


I was having the same issue - having to adjust the tension every few inches of sewing.

3 Things have helped:
1) unthread the entire "beast" and drag out the manual and rethread - i was doing two things wrong, and had been doing them wrong from 2+ years!
2)make sure the bobbins are wound TIGHT -- there were a couple that wound loose on the "automatic" thingamajig - and those bobbins would fight me the entire time
3)change the needle (found out from the boards) -- it sounds crazy, but it really does help.

I'm saving up to get a machine I can do free-motion with...

I have rethreaded it several times. It is a Singer 2662. It is like the bobbin case is moving around when it shouldn't be. I had my dh come and look at it and he popped it back into place and get started and the tension is off again. I get it fixed, start sewing and then I hear a thunk and it is off again. Then I look and I cannot get the bobbin out. I keep having to get my dh to get it out with a screwdriver.

I'll try changing the needle. At this point I'll try anything.

I'll try another bobbin too.

It can be so frustrating I know :( But Jetnica gave good advice. Get the manual out, change the needle, make sure bobbin is wound good (tight), re-thread. Lots of times those things "fix" whatever was causing the problem. My machine sometimes will keep telling me to check my top thread. I have found out it is nothing to do with top thread but if I just take my bobbin out and drop it back in it will finish sewing just fine. Some machines are more tempermental than others, true, but you can have problems with any type machine. So if you learn to fix the one you have you will be "king".

are you taking the whole bobbin casing out or just the bobbin? You mentioned DH using a screwdriver.

I am just trying to take the bobbin out. But the casing is not allowing that. Dh has been using the screwdriver to pry the bobbin out of the casing because it keeps getting stuck.

Sumpin' don't sound quite right...and the manual is going to be really important, I'm thinkin'. Sorry, I don't have this machine model... did you get the machine new or acquire it used...and has it been okay up till now?

I have the machine manual but it sucks to be honest. Not getting a whole lot of info out of it. I bought the machine new but it is has been sitting unused for a while.

Berries, I PM'd you

I think I would clean and oil/lubricate the machine since it has been sitting for awhile. In addition changing the needle, rewinding bobbins tightly and rethreading with the thread coming off the spool in the correct direction according to the manual.

When I have problems with my singer, I unthread everything,and start over. It seems to help.

It's amazing how much difference a really good machine can make. I went from a 1958 Montgomery Wards mechanical machine to a 2000 Pfaff computerized machine. Amazing! I could sew a straight seam afterall! Go buy a decent machine. It doesn't have to be an expenisve machine, there are plenty of reasonably priced, good machines out there.

You may consider the thread you are using - some machines are partial to what kind you use.

My "basic" Singer machine hates 100% cotton thread. I used a full bobbin and 1/2 of another wound with cotton thread - then my machine locked up several times - I rewound bobbins - rethreaded machine - changed needle - then I switched back to polyester thread and it works just fine. I don't know why I could sew with the cotton thread for that long before the machine threw a hissy fit. I was just happy to figure out it was thread causing the problem.

Go buy you a new machine. After you decide on the one that you will buy, don't buy it. Buy the machine that is one upgrade model from it. Settle up not down and you will have a better value over time and will thank yourself every time you use it.

If your machine has been setting for sometime, it most likely needs to be cleaned. My type of mechincial object
gets gunky when left unused. My grandfather clock was left unwound for several months while we did some remodeling
when I got it back place it would no work. After a good cleaning it works fine now.
Anyting man made needs a good cleaning once in a while.

I know this is going to sound dumb... but are you putting the bobbin in the wrong way? one way it unrolls against and the other way it unrolls with.

my friend very frusterated with her machine, about ready to chuck it in the garbage was putting the bobbin in wrong.

sheesh! crazy I know... but it can be something so minor that throws off the tension

My neighbor had a problem and it turns out that he wasn't holding on to the threads for the first few stitches, Ive also had problems when I forget to put the presser foot down. Grrr. How old is the machine? IMHO Singers of today are not anything like the work horses of yesteryear. You can usually find good deals on trade-ins at machine dealers.

piney

I don't know what is wrong with the machine but I got tired of fighting with it. I went to Sears this morning and got the Kenmore 19110. The quilt is going together well now and my new machine runs like buttah.

Sounds like your Singer was out of time.

Kenmores are made by the same company that makes Janome. They are great machines. My next new machine will be the top of the line Kenmore. I've tested sewn on all the brands and the Kenmore is the better value for a brand new machine.

That thunking sound makes me think you need to take it in to have the timing looked at.

Thanks so much for everyone for trying to help me with that Singer. It was just never a very good machine, I think I had blamed more on user error than was actually true cause
I am having NO trouble with my Kenmore. At least I am finally getting to sew!!

The funny part is, I went Friday and was looking really hard at the Janome 3050 DC for $500. I decided that I was going to sell some stuff and go back on Monday morning and buy it. By last night I had raised the $500 I needed to buy the machine and did some searching on it just to make sure it was what I wanted. When I found out that the Kenmore 19110 is the EXACT SAME machine, I almost fell over. I was at Sears when they opened at noon and grabbed that sucker for $254. I used the extra money I saved to buy some exra feet and needles and then headed to Hancock's to let my 7 year old pick out some fabric for her dress. Fabric is being washed now and I'm hoping to get it started tomorrow.

I have had a Kenmore Sensor Sew for the last 20 yrs......it has 'Jamome' on the plug, so I always assumed that they made the Kenmores. I bought it because in the demo, they sewed through a wooden ruler and I was impressed because I needed a machine to repair horse blankets and I figured that it would work; it has and still does. It also came with several feet and does some applique stitches and a few embroidery stitches including alphabet.....never had any problems with it......have made clothes, drapes, upholstered, etc., never quilted on it 'cause I didn't do quilting until recently and I have a Viking Designer LE now in addition. You can't go wrong if they are still making them like they use to. I also have a 1955 Singer Slant-o-Matic that still runs that I bought for my Mother then and paid $50.00 for it new. BTW, Viking bought Singer a year or two ago. Good luck with your quilting.

I sew on a 1951 featherweight and love it. The tension may have some lint in it, I use a good stiff brush. Then I retread the machine. Take the throat plate off and get the lint from it too.

So often these problems have to do with the threading of the machine, needle and correct placement of the bobbin. Even things like threading the needle in the wrong direction can make a problem. So I would suggest a good quality machine piecing thread like Mettler, a new needle for stitching, re-winding a bobbin with the same thread as you have in the needle, and really make sure it is according to the manual. When you go to remove the bobbin, make sure your take up lever is in the full upright position, and the presser foot is up. Be sure the presser foot is up when you are threading the machine as well. When you start to stitch, make sure you are stitching into fabric on the first stitch, as singers (IMO) are notorious for going wonky if you don't sew into the fabric, rather than catching some air on the first stitches. Hope this helps!

Oooh! My granddaughter inherited a Singer from her other gma and I am going to try it out for her. She uses my Baby Lock, but is unsure about other machines. Hope I don't run into the trouble with tension or bobbins. There is no manual with it!

Enjoy your new machine :D

I have to clean my bobbin area out periodically when that starts happening to me. I take the face plate off and just take a toothbrush and really try to wipe all the dust and threads out.Good luck.

My last Singer was such a pain in the a,,,,,,, that I went out and bought my first computer machine, donated the Singer to good will and never looked back. I am now a happy camper.

There were lots of good ideas here to get your machine to work well. And if all else fails, get another machine! I hope you will enjoy your new machine and have many happy years of sewing. I own an older Janome, and love it!

I am enjoying my new machine. It actually makes me WANT to sew, instead of dreading it. My 16 year old is now learning to sew whereas with the other machine she just got frustrated. I Freecycled my old machine and now it is gone, hope the new owner can get more out of it than I did.

It's possible that the bobbin casing has somehow come loose and would need to be adjusted by a repair person - just a thought. I own a Brother PC-6500, which I've had for four years and it has never given me a bit of trouble. It's also an embroidery machine. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued, but if you are having that much trouble and frustration with a machine, you could have it looked at - or - but a new one!! :)

try taking your bobin case out and turn it and around put it back in with the bobin put in the oppaset way some times this works.

Sorry about your problems. I was ready to take my machine in for repair when I started on a different project and changed the thread. Found out there's nothing wrong with the machine at all. That old thread went into the trash.

I have to do the same thing; I'm amazed at how much fuzz gets in there. I use an unused eyeshadow brush - works for me :-D

Are you sure the bobbin size is correct for your machine? Is your bobbin suppossed to be flat or have a concave to top and bottom? Not alll bobbins are alike nor can one that says Universal fit all machines.

All it takes to mess up is a small stray thread somewhere in the bobbin housing.

Take a breather, walk away, and after a bit with no interuptions, get out your manual and follow it step by step from the beginning. Sometimes we can forget one little step or we get careless and think we have something threaded right and really we don't. Good luck.

I had a basic Janome when I started. It frustrated me so much that I replaced it with a Bernina. I've never looked back. A good machine has made me a better quilter. I'm fortunate to be able to afford it; but truly, I think I would have given up quilting had I not made the switch. That would have been a shame because I love it so much.