Cooking Resources

Michelemarie · 11-30-2007, 06:20 PM

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!

pacanis · 11-30-2007, 06:26 PM

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.

**Katie H** · 11-30-2007, 06:30 PM

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.

Michelemarie · 11-30-2007, 06:32 PM

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?

suziquzie · 11-30-2007, 06:33 PM

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.

Michelemarie · 11-30-2007, 06:34 PM

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!

**Katie H** · 11-30-2007, 06:34 PM

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.

Michelemarie · 11-30-2007, 06:36 PM

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!