Post by Honeylioness on Apr 6, 2011 9:32:27 GMT -5
Adjust the Tension on your Sewing Machine
This is in response to a query from a WIR poster -
reenee - when you say you "adjusted the tension" did you mean the dial on the face of the machine usually numbered from 0-9? If so that is probably NOT the tension you are having issues with - it''s your bobbin.
If the bobbin thread loops show on the top side of the seam and the top thread is straight, the upper tension is tighter than the lower . If spool thread loops show on the underside of the seam and the lower thread is straight, the upper tension is looser than the lower.
First thing - when was the last time you took the bobbin assembly apart and cleaned it? By removing the bobbin casing you often find mats of lint that can cause the bobbin to not move freely causing snags in the sewing. I use a stiff long bristled brush made for sewing machine maintenance AND a can of condensed air like they use to clean keyboards to really blow all the "gunk" out.
The second thing to check is the bobbin thread itself - is it wound neatly without any bunching or variations in tension when it was wound? Sometimes I have had to re-wind an entire bobbin onto a new one to correct this problem.
Once that is done - check the tension on the casing that holds your bobbin. Here is the easiest way to do this - and it should be done every time you change thread weight in the bobbin.
I am assuming your Singer has a bobbin case that looks like this:
See at the top of the picture there is a small screw holding in place the piece that allows the thread to exit - that is a tension mechanism.
If you have a bobbin case that detaches from the machine, test the tension by doing the following. Pull off about six inches of bobbin thread through the tension. Dangle the bobbin carrier with the bobbin in it while holding the thread above it. The lower tension should hold the carrier so that it does not drop. If it does, just turn the screw a quarter turn to the right. If it does not drop, try bouncing the carrier a little. If the tension is properly set, the carrier will drop a little and stop. If it does drop a couple of inches and stops, all is good. If the carrier does not drop at all even after pretty good bounce, the tension is too tight. Turn the screw a quarter turn to the left. Try again.
If you are STILL having issues then it is time to take your baby into a certified repairman and have him check all the mechanics as well as give it a good cleaning and oiling.
Good luck and let me know how it goes.
This is in response to a query from a WIR poster -
reenee - when you say you "adjusted the tension" did you mean the dial on the face of the machine usually numbered from 0-9? If so that is probably NOT the tension you are having issues with - it''s your bobbin.
If the bobbin thread loops show on the top side of the seam and the top thread is straight, the upper tension is tighter than the lower . If spool thread loops show on the underside of the seam and the lower thread is straight, the upper tension is looser than the lower.
First thing - when was the last time you took the bobbin assembly apart and cleaned it? By removing the bobbin casing you often find mats of lint that can cause the bobbin to not move freely causing snags in the sewing. I use a stiff long bristled brush made for sewing machine maintenance AND a can of condensed air like they use to clean keyboards to really blow all the "gunk" out.
The second thing to check is the bobbin thread itself - is it wound neatly without any bunching or variations in tension when it was wound? Sometimes I have had to re-wind an entire bobbin onto a new one to correct this problem.
Once that is done - check the tension on the casing that holds your bobbin. Here is the easiest way to do this - and it should be done every time you change thread weight in the bobbin.
I am assuming your Singer has a bobbin case that looks like this:
See at the top of the picture there is a small screw holding in place the piece that allows the thread to exit - that is a tension mechanism.
If you have a bobbin case that detaches from the machine, test the tension by doing the following. Pull off about six inches of bobbin thread through the tension. Dangle the bobbin carrier with the bobbin in it while holding the thread above it. The lower tension should hold the carrier so that it does not drop. If it does, just turn the screw a quarter turn to the right. If it does not drop, try bouncing the carrier a little. If the tension is properly set, the carrier will drop a little and stop. If it does drop a couple of inches and stops, all is good. If the carrier does not drop at all even after pretty good bounce, the tension is too tight. Turn the screw a quarter turn to the left. Try again.
If you are STILL having issues then it is time to take your baby into a certified repairman and have him check all the mechanics as well as give it a good cleaning and oiling.
Good luck and let me know how it goes.