dpendleton

A needle broke while I was sewing some curtain hems on my Baby Lock Soprano, I picked the needle tip out of the fabric. When I went to sew again it made a racket.

So I took out the upper thread and bobbin thread, removed the entire face place and bobbin case, and I cleaned all areas carefully. I used a soft brush to remove all lint (no needle parts found), shook the machine gently while holding upside down, no needle parts found.

When I reassembled, rethreaded and sewed again I got intermittent loops on the backside that run about 1 inch long with 2 inches of "normal" tension loops in between.

See pictures.

Do I need to replace the bobbin case? Should I adjust the lower tension?

GingerK

First, open it all up again and use your vacuum cleaner, which is a great way of getting rid of fuzz we cannot see or reach. There might be something tiny caught. Look at your bobbin case. Is there a ding or a gouge where the needle might have hit? Is the machine still making a noise while sewing or has that gone away? Did you try sewing with the same bobbin or a different one? I would try a different one just in case the bobbin got damaged in a way that cannot be seen easily. And if that doesn't solve the problem, then I would try adjusting the tension. If that doesn't work, well, it might be time to ask a professional.

cashs_mom

What she said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I recently cleaned my Bernina 180 before a class and put in a new needle. I did a test sew and kept getting occasional little loops on the back. Rethreaded, took the bobbin out and put it back in. Still had occasional loops. As the machine was sewing fine before the cleaning and new needle, I put another new needle in. Sewed fine. I took the class and had no problems. You just never know.

quiltingcotton

When I needed to change a needle, as I do from time to time. The new needle I put it gave me a mess, loops, noise, broken thread, you name it. After a few minutes and after checking my bobbin, and how my machine was threaded, I changed the new needle for a second new needle. Worked like a charm. No more issues!

Mary Christine

Changing the needle makes sense to me. I broke a needle while sewing, changed the needle, rethreaded, etc. and got a terrible clunking sound when I tried to sew again. Fearing I had affected the timing, I brought my machine to the repairman. He went through my machine, cleaned it, oiled it, and tested it. When I picked it up, he told me that the problem was solved when he put a new needle it. The new needle I had put in was bent!

Lena1952

I am going to assume this machine uses a drop in bobbin. After cleaning the bobbin area well, remove the bobbin case itself. There may be a small piece of needle trapped and maybe lots of lint there. You can find a tutorial on how to remove the bobbin case on the internet. Anyone who has a machine should know how to remove the bobbin case as this is an area that collects lots of lint, especially a drop in, and can change the machines performance.It’s not difficult. Trying another needle may also solve the problem.

Onebyone

A new needle is the most inexpensive solution to stitching problems. I change the needle several times and also a new bobbin. If no result then its time for a repair.

bearisgray

I also had "magic" results changing the needle.

By the way - just because a needle is "new" - it may not be perfect.

dpendleton

It works now! I fixed it! Not sure which step cured it, but...

I did all of the above.

I removed the bobbin case and assembly, cleaned all carefully (used a pin to reach into slits and crevices).

Used a magnet on a stick to check the inside of the bobbin area. Shook the machine upside down. Used a vacuum cleaner to suction fuzz out.

Changed the bobbin and the needle.

Voila! It works again. I know that I'm very lucky that I didn't damage the bobbin case or assembly breaking the needle.

I also can't help but think that having a quality Baby Lock machine could be the difference. I'm not sure my bargain Janome would come out the same.

loisf

I know on a long arm, the experts say if you're having loops on the bottom and you have rethreaded both threads, it's probably the needle. Try another. I hope that works.