Piece G
Fixes and care
Most stitch problems are fixed by a new needle of the right type and by rethreading the top thread with the presser foot up. Lint in the bobbin area causes most of the rest.
- First fix
- new needle, rethread with the presser foot up
- Thread nest under the fabric
- usually the upper threading
Rethread with the presser foot up. Raising the foot opens the tension discs so the thread can seat between them. Threaded with the foot down, the top thread has no tension and loops into a nest under the fabric.
Skipped stitches usually come from a dull, bent or wrong needle: change it, check the type against the fabric, and make sure it is fully inserted with the flat side of the shank facing the way your manual shows. Broken needles often come from pulling the fabric or sewing over pins.
Clean the bobbin area and feed dogs regularly with a brush, since packed lint changes tension and feed. Oil only where and how your manual says: many computerized machines need little or no oil from the owner, while many mechanical machines need a drop in set places.
Common mistakes
- Adjusting the tension dial before changing the needle and rethreading.
- Blowing canned air into the machine, which pushes lint deeper.
- Oiling a machine whose manual says not to.
Pages on this topic
- Thread bunching or looping under the fabricThread bunching or looping under the fabric is almost always an upper threading problem. Here is how to check and fix it in two minutes, plus the other causes.Fix
- Sewing machine tension problems and how to fix themFix sewing machine tension problems: read the stitch to tell top from bobbin tension, rethread correctly, and make the right dial moves for loose or tight stitches.Fix
- Why your sewing machine is skipping stitches and how to fix itSewing machine skipping stitches? Fix it in order: replace the needle, match needle type to fabric, rethread, clean the hook area, then check timing with a pro.Fix
- Why your sewing machine needles keep breakingSewing machine needles keep breaking? The usual causes are the wrong needle for the fabric, pulling the fabric and pins. Here is how to find and fix yours.Fix
- Why your sewing machine keeps jamming and how to stop itSewing machine keeps jamming? Learn how to clear a jam safely, fix bobbin and threading mistakes, clean the hook area and start seams so they do not jam again.Fix
- Serger problems: thread breaking and skipped stitchesWhy serger thread keeps breaking and stitches skip: threading order, thread path, needle type, tension and lower looper problems, with fixes in order.Fix
- Why machine embroidery puckers and how to stop itWhy machine embroidery puckers and how to stop it: the right stabilizer, hooping without stretching, design density, tension and needle checks, in order.Fix
- Janome sewing machine problems and fixesCommon Janome sewing machine problems by symptom: bobbin winding, thread nests, tension, skipped stitches, reverse not working and a machine that will not sew.Fix
- How to clean and oil a sewing machineHow to remove lint from a sewing machine, where the manual says to oil and where not to, and how often to clean. Many modern machines should not be oiled at home.How-to
- How often should a sewing machine be servicedHow often to service a sewing machine: daily home care, when to see a technician based on how much you sew, what a shop service includes and warning signs.Explainer
- How long do sewing machines lastHow long sewing machines last by build type, from vintage all-metal to computerized models, the signs it is time to replace one, and when a repair is worth it.Explainer
- Embroidery thread shredding, breaking or snapping needlesWhy embroidery thread shreds, frays or breaks and why needles snap: check the needle, the thread path, the design density and the speed, in that order.Fix
- Why your embroidery machine is bird nestingEmbroidery machine bird nesting is usually upper thread out of the take-up lever or tension. Fix threading, bobbin seating and hooping to stop the nests.Fix
- Brother embroidery machine problems and how to fix themCommon Brother embroidery machine problems on PE and SE models, by symptom: thread breaks, bird nests, tension, error messages, hoop and design size errors.Fix