doing just fine sewing on my first quilt and then all of sudden my top thread is making raised wierd lines on the back of my quilt.....sticking up and not even laying flat.......haven't touched anything on machine......can someone help me with this please.

Clean your bobbin area well, completely rethread your machine, check that your bobbin is in correctly, and if that doesn't do it, try changing your needle too :D:D:D

Excellent advice from amma - changing the needle does wonders - also besure you somehow did not move the tension part or thread not running smoothly from the spool.

will do thank you

I agree with what has been said!

okay did what you said......needle thread seems to get stuck inside the machine and there was a lot of dust in there.....is there a proper way to clean it out beside blow on it..

I bet your thread "jumped" out of a tension disc or take-up lever somewhere. I would start by rethreading, cleaning the lint out of the bobbin area and giving it another go.

thank you all so much it's back to working.......again thank you

You should have a soft little brush - similar to a small pastry brush to work all that lint out of the bobbin area. My Singer 401A sits in a cabinet made for me and the area is open from the bottom. I can even get my Singer brush up from that way. I'm so glad things worked out. - We all knew what you were feeling!

And make sure the thread is in the take up arm up there at the top of the machine. Sometimes it pops out and causes your problem. The best way is to just rethread it, like someone else said.

When my thread looks like that it's always the bobbin thread has come out of the guide in the bobbin case. It happens more on my Featherweight and 301. Seems if I pull the thread toward me to cut after sewing it pulls the bobbin thread out of the little hole in the bobbin case. When I remember to pull the thread behind the needle it never happens.

Use good thread like Sulky. And also agree with all comments above.

I bought a vacuum attachment set that is made for vacuuming sewing machines, sergers, etc from my local sewing machine dealer. Works great for cleaning my machine. Much better than using an air hose or blowing on it. I think that just spreads the lint around.

I have one of those too. Never use it anymore; have to get that thing AND the vacuum out. Little brushes take up less room and time to put them away.

Was in a workshop that the instructor not only had us use the little brush, she said to put a few drops of sewing machine oil on the end of a Qtip and wipe that around in the bobbin case and areas that you can't reach with the brush. You'd be surprised how much that will pick up for you. Do NOT blow into the machine--it pushes all of that deeper inside where it can't be removed at home! Remember to clean the grooves on the feed dogs, too, especially if you've sewn nappy fabric like flannels or fleece.

Hi I had a similar problem recently and I changed thread and cleaned everything and rethreaded and it stopped. Change needle also. i was about to take mine in for work and it stopped. Good Luck

You might also check to make sure that your thread is coming off your spool the correct way and also that your bobbin is coming off the right direction. I have put a new bobbin in and realized later that I put it in the wrong way. Look at your manual if your not sure. Jan

I had a quilting instructor tell us never to blow into your machine but to either use a vacuum or a pipe cleaner to remove the dust and lint. The pipe cleaner works wonderful and it bends just enough to get down into the small areas. They are cheap and reuseable.

And never use the Air in a can !!!!!!


I have a Janome that lets me know when its not happy lol. I never had any problems until I started this quilt as you go quilt. Ya know ... the stitching is fine on the top but loops on the back. I will rethread everything and clean up and normally it will be fine. lol
Anyone have problems with the Coats and Clark threads?

I Agree with you.

i agree with all of the above !

Unthread everything, brush out lint, rethread and try again!

My Bernina and Janome dealers both said not to use Coats & Clarks thread - those are the thread that cause the most trouble.

I haven't had any problems until I started this quilt. I have learned to listen to my machine. I know when the bobbin is just about empty as it makes a certain sound . Course that doesn't stop me from trying to get that last inch of fabric sewed lol I guess after I finish this quilt I will have to try a different brand. I have plenty in my thread box just sort of used to the Coats and Clark. Guess I am a diehard as I have used it for many many years.

My sewing machine mechanic told me to use a chenille pipe cleane, you know the ones we played with when we were kids. They work really well, btw never blow, or use canned air on your machine.I clean my machine every third-fifth bobbin, mor if I'm using a real linty fabric.

glad you got your machine working again

I use alot of flannel so I clean the bobbin area with each change. Just a habit now.

I keep a clean mascara brush next to my machine. It works great to reach in and grab the lint. The lint stays on the mascara brush until I pull it off. Super simple to clean around the feed dogs too.

Good advice nothing to add except to reiterate that you must not blow into your machine and to give the two reasons that I know of why you mustn't ( If you're anything like me, you want REASONS before blindly obeying advice! LOL) Number one - your breath is moist and moisture is not good for the moving parts of your machine and number two, when you blow you are much more likely to blow the fluff further in where you can't get it anymore and where it will stay until you take it to be serviced. I have two different sizes of artist's paint brushes that I gently but thoroughly clean around the whole area everytime I change my bobbin. Rather than poking at the fluff, just put the brush near it and it stacks to the bristles then you can extract it. The bobbin race I wipe gently on a piece of scrap cotton. I stopped using the short handled brush that came with my machine when my friend dropped her's into the workings and couldn't get it out! Had to take it in to the shop!

Thank you so much .......makes sense too......again thank you

My dealer told me that blowing to get the dust and lint out would just be adding humidity to the machine. Not a good idea. I am prone to give a little puff of my "hot air" sometimes. :oops:

A breath of air would not hurt a sewing machine. The machine is not air tight, so any breath moisture will evaporate. When the machine runs, any rotating or moving part produces heat so no moist breath would stay in the machine. I don't think I'd accept that being the cause of any damage.