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11-30-2007, 06:20 PM
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#1
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Executive Chef
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Suburb of Chicago, IL
Posts: 2,614
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Sewing Machine Question
Hi friends, I know this is a cooking forum but I know some of you sew and I'm in a bind -- big dance weekend for my daughter - I need to sew something on her costume. Everytime I stitch the thread on the bottom of the fabric (from bobbin) is all bunched up and a big mess. What the heck am I doing wrong? I searched the machine's manual and can't find one thing about this. I am using a very basic Singer. Any help would be great!
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Michele Marie
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11-30-2007, 06:26 PM
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#2
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Chef Extraordinaire
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NW PA
Posts: 18,751
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I don't sew, but I did mess around with an old Singer 3300 (?) once.... I think it has something to do with setting the tension on the bobbin. I remember adjusting something down there to stop that from happening when I was practicing to be a rigger.
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11-30-2007, 06:30 PM
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#3
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Chef Extraordinaire
Site Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: I live in the Heartland of the United States - Western Kentucky
Posts: 15,592
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Michele, the first thing I would suggest is that you remove the bobbin and clean any lint/threads from the area near the bobbin case and under the thread dogs (those are the parts of the machine that move the fabric under the presser foot). Check the bobbin to see if it's wound correctly. Maybe even try a new rewound bobbin. Next, check to see if your tension is correct.
Is the machine threaded correctly? Sometimes if a machine is not threaded correctly, that will throw off the stitches.
Although, it sounds as though you are having a tension problem.
FYI, I've been sewing for nearly 40 years so I have a little experience.
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11-30-2007, 06:32 PM
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#4
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Executive Chef
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Suburb of Chicago, IL
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Thank you! I just read something online about the tension - I have no idea what it is supposed to be set at? Does anyone know?
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Michele Marie
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11-30-2007, 06:33 PM
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#5
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Chef Extraordinaire
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: MN
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I would guess tention too, I had a similar problem when I got my new machine, but luckily my MIL had the same machine and helped me thru it. I would look in the manual about tention and see what you can find.
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Not that there's anything wrong with that.....
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11-30-2007, 06:34 PM
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#6
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Executive Chef
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Suburb of Chicago, IL
Posts: 2,614
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Thanks Katie - I checked everything. I just increased the tension and it did stop the underneath looping but the top thread was real tight - so I lowered the tension this time. For right now it is okay but I just put a quick stitch in for the coach to check tomorrow. If it gets her approval I will sew it permanently. Thank you so much!
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Michele Marie
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11-30-2007, 06:34 PM
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#7
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Chef Extraordinaire
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: I live in the Heartland of the United States - Western Kentucky
Posts: 15,592
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Michele, look in your manual under "setting tension." It should address that question and should also provide photos/drawings of what stitches with proper tension should look like. The upper thread should drop into the fabric equal to how the lower thread goes "up" into the fabric. This is hard to explain without having you sit next to me to show you.
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"As a girl I had zero interest in the stove." - Julia Child
This is real inspiration. Look what Julia became!
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11-30-2007, 06:36 PM
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#8
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Executive Chef
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Suburb of Chicago, IL
Posts: 2,614
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Katie, no one wishes they were setting next to you right now more than me! I checked the manual and it said they loopy thread is because the tension is too low so I raised it, apparently too high. Boy, my sewing skills are rustier than I thought!
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Michele Marie
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11-30-2007, 06:37 PM
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#9
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Chef Extraordinaire
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: NW PA
Posts: 18,751
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Michelemarie
Thank you! I just read something online about the tension - I have no idea what it is supposed to be set at? Does anyone know?
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Again, from memory, though I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express the other night  I adjusted mine so the stitch on the bottom was the same length as the stitch on top.
I'm sure there's a more definitive way to do it now.
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11-30-2007, 06:37 PM
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#10
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Chef Extraordinaire
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Small Town Mississippi
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I adjust my tension with bourbon!
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