Adjustment on Singer 401a
 

I wasn't sure if I should post this thread in in this forum or in the embroidery forum,, so if I chose incorrectly, oops. My question is about adjusting the tension when using the machine for free motion embroidery. Form what I gather, the ideal setting reveals the center 1/3 of the stitch exposes the bobbing thread, and the top thread shows on the outer thirds (looking from the bottom). My issue is that the stitches are not 1/3 equally, but one side barely shows any top thread, and the other side show more that 1/3 top thread. Is there an adjustment that I can make to even out the stitch? Thanks in advance for you input. Chip

I use a 401A but not for much embroidery so i may be the wrong here. From my understanding the correct tension will show when your top thread is "just" visible on the bottom side https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/thumbup.png
I'll use this to sew on badges, etc.
ps: the owners manual explains setting up the tension i believe.

Thanks for the reply. I've looked through the manual, but haven't yet found what I'm looking for. I think I'll go with your supposition and just roll with it. Thanks again!

If you make a lot of buttonholes or are really picky about your work, I would suggest you buy the professional buttonhole attachment. It is discussed here. It's unlikely you will get great buttonholes from the zig-zag cam.

bkay

My bad for missing the buttonhole https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/redface.png lol Agree with BK about the use of a button hole attachment but a good looking buttonhole can be achieved with the zig-zag stitch with a little practice. Depends on the look your after https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/thumbup.png

Actually, you didn't miss the buttonhole, I was using the zigzag pattern for creating patches with letters and words. It just seemed that one side of the zigzag was pulling more than the other side. I think my thumbnail image was confusing.....

It sounds like a case of simply tweaking the top tension as i would imagine the bottom tension is good to go as it rarely needs adjusting itself https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/thumbup.png
ps: i'll set my tension correctly for a straight stitch then make fine adjustments when doing stitch patterns