Try putting in a new needle. I was having trouble the other day and changing the needle fixed my problem.

I would rethread again and check the tension and the bobbin area for threads or lint.

Who knew?!! This is a real eye-opener for me. Thanks.

purplefiend, I have to have my presser foot down when I thread everything or it won't stitch correctely.

A rule of thumb that works "sometimes" is that if the thread is loopy on the bobbin side it's the fault of the top thread, how it's threaded, etc.

Here's what I've done so far:

I changed the needle, changed the thread, re-thread the bobbin with the new thread, and thoroughly cleaned the bobbin case. While it's better, I think it could be better yet.

Question now...where is the bobbin tension screw. Is this it, where I'm pointing in the picture?

No the bobbin tension screw will be on a small flat metal piece that is curved around the bobbin and which the thread goes through. In your pix it looks like it would be in the vicinity of the semi circular piece of metal just to the left of where you are pointing. Check your owners manual to see exact area, and which way to turn the screw. It is usually a very small screw and should only be turned 1/8 of a turn at a time. I think you should check to make sure that there is no lint or loose thread in between the upper tension discs. Sometimes you can run a piece of dental floss between the discs to clean them, or a pipe cleaner. Always do all you can with the top tension before touching the bottom tension setting as that one ususally doesn't need adjustment all that often. :)

Yes, exactly. Then completely rethread everything and that usually solves the problem.

Sounds so complicated. I think I found the screw, it is green and very very tiny. I think I'll leave that alone for now. My owners doesn't mention a thing about the bobbin tension. :(

If your owners manual doesn't mention bobbin tension adjustments, I would leave them ALONE. Most problems can be resolved from the top tension anyway, and if it' s the botton tension it may need a shop visit. EVEN though the loose threads are on the bottom, it means that the top tension is too loose, try tightening that one until the stitch locks in the center of the two layers of the fabric. If your machine has auto tension controls it is a little harder to correct tension problems, but try making sure there are no pieces of thread stuck in the top tension discs, since that will hold the discs further apart which would tend to make the top tension too loose. I have a Brother Embroidery machine that does this and after a shop visit when the repairman showed me what the problem was, I just take mine apart and clean out the discs, and the problem disappears. The good news was that the dealer serviced it for free since the machine was only 6 months old the first time it happened. :D

What is the auto tension control?

Are you using the same type of thread in the bobbin as in the top? could be that or could be the bobbin is in backwards?

Both threads are the same. I've double checked my bobbin direction and rethreaded it about 10 times. Thanks!!

My two Vikings have not had a bobbin tension adjustment screw....has to be adjusted at the shop by a technician. Perhaps your machine is made the same since there is no mention of a bobbin adjustment in your manual.

I just looked at the picture again....it does not appear to me the thread has been threaded through the bobbin take-up. Looks to me like it is just winding off the bobbin and coming up through the needle plate. I don't know what brand machine you have and I may not be seeing this correctly so I may be way off base.

Bobbin take up? I'm still learning all the parts to my machine and my manual is absolutely NO help. I have a Brother CS-6000i

A lot of machines adjust the tension automatically according to the weight thickness of the fabric being fed through the presser foot. Others ( a lot of the new ones) have the actual tension discs hidden behind white plastic and you just guide the thread through the slots and it automatically puts the thread in the right place. However sometimes when the thread breaks or if it is rough it deposits lint or tiny bits of thread in these discs that do not pass through. Thes little pieces of lint although they look insignificant, are enough to adjust the tension to a looser tension and that can cause problems such as you are experiencing. I had an old Singer 6268(1980's) that had an auto tension control, but still had some plus and minus settings that I could intervene to further adjust but otherwise it just automatically set the tension as I sewed. Boy do I wish I hadn't sold that machine! Any way I hope this helps explain. Don't remember did you mention the make and model fo your machine? :-)

I just did in my last post. It's a Brother CS-6000i

The bobbin rests in a well, thre is usually a slot that guides the thread into a little groove that causes the thread to pull against a flat piece of metal that tends to be like a spring, that creates the bobbin tension. A lot of those Brothers have little plastic plates on top that you just guide the threads through and it automatically sets the bobbin up to feed the thread properly. I am curious it sounds as if this is a new machine, have you contacted the dealer to help you with these issues that you don't see in the manual? Usually dealers include some helpful instruction on the parts and use of the sewing machine as part of the purchase. :)

Of course, I can't take it back to the dealer. I bought it from Wal-Mart about 4 years ago.

Bummer. Of course that is why Walmarts prices are so good, no service. I am not familiar with this particular machine, but I have owned a number of Brother machines, most of the time all the info you need to know is in the manual, it is just not easy to find and not couched in terms that some of us may be using. I bought a packet of page flags and flagged the pages that I had to keep referring to on my embroidery machine. Most of the time I can figure out things by looking at the machine. I teach sewing lessons and my students bring their own machine. Most have been Brothers bought from Walmart, so I have asked them to start bringing their manuals. Nearly all machines work on the same basic principles, then you get to the unique features to that machine. Tensions are something basic to all machines and pretty much the same just presented differently according to manufacturer. :)

That's what mine has too.

I just looked up a pix of your machine on line, and the specs say there is a dial on the machine to control tension. This dial will control the top tension. To make the top tension tighter, turn the dial to a higher setting about 1/2 a setting at a time and stitch about 2 or 3 inches, look at the stitches to see if the same thing is happening; If it seems improved try the next half number and check again, that way you will not overcompensate. I still think it could be the problem I had with mine, in which case you might try un threading the machine and taking some dental floss through the slots and then moving back and forth to see if it will clear anything that might be stuck in the tension disc. Other issues could be a needle inserted backwards or different weight threads between to an bottom, sometimes it is a process of elimination, but I always start with the tension discs first. :-)

Please don't touch your tension screw. Just a little to your left where the bobbin is sitting down in the case bring that bobbin thread back to your left while holding the bobbin down with your right hand, with the thread in your left hand bring it back close to the edge of the bobbin case make it go into a little metal groove and then possibly into another little slit farther left then bring it forward on the top so when you bring the thread up with the top thread it is caught in those little slits on the edge of the bobbin case which is your tension for the bobbin. It is your bobbin tension which is on the edge of the case. I hope you can see where I am talking about. will make 100% difference in your stitches.

Good Luck

Suzy

I was experiencing this with my Juki and I did all the above and then changed needles. I hope you get it going again

I discoved that this looping out of the thread like this can be caused if the needle is slightly bent and also if the needle is dull.