Sewing/Troubleshooting - Revision history

Boredzo: /* The machine isn't making stitches at all */ Added another easy tip.

2023-07-03T02:41:02Z

The machine isn't making stitches at all: Added another easy tip.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:41, 2 July 2023
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	*Make sure the foot is down. Upper tension is not engaged (upper thread will not feed) when the foot is up. Don't be ashamed; we've all done it!		*Make sure the foot is down. Upper tension is not engaged (upper thread will not feed) when the foot is up. Don't be ashamed; we've all done it!
			*Make sure enough of the lower thread is hanging out for the upper thread to catch. If there's only an inch or less hanging out, pull out a few more inches' worth.
	*Try rethreading the upper thread.		*Try rethreading the upper thread.
	*Check the bobbin; make sure the lower section is clean and free of snarled threads.		*Check the bobbin; make sure the lower section is clean and free of snarled threads.

Boredzo: /* Common problems and things to check/try to solve them */ Clarified that these tips are for the home sewing machines only.

2023-07-03T02:38:27Z

Common problems and things to check/try to solve them: Clarified that these tips are for the home sewing machines only.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:38, 2 July 2023
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	== Common problems and things to check/try to solve them ==		== Common problems and things to check/try to solve them ==

			Note: '''These tips are for home sewing machines.''' They may not be applicable to the industrial machines or the sergers. (In particular, do not rethread the sergers unless you know what you're doing.)

	=== The machine is skipping stitches, making thread snarls below the fabric, or making grunting noises ===		=== The machine is skipping stitches, making thread snarls below the fabric, or making grunting noises ===

Boredzo: /* The machine isn't making stitches at all */

2023-07-03T02:35:25Z

The machine isn't making stitches at all

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:35, 2 July 2023
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	*Try the same thing with regular cotton or polyester thread and woven cotton fabric, if that's not what you were already using. If that works without difficulty, your project and its materials might need different settings, a different needle, or a different foot.		*Try the same thing with regular cotton or polyester thread and woven cotton fabric, if that's not what you were already using. If that works without difficulty, your project and its materials might need different settings, a different needle, or a different foot.
	*Unthread the needle, take out the bobbin, and turn the handwheel (always towards you) to check the bobbin timing. For machines with a top drop-in bobbin, the bobbin hook should pass behind the needle about when the needle is descending. (If it's not obviously wrong, it's probably right.)		*Unthread the needle, take out the bobbin, and turn the handwheel (always towards you) to check the bobbin timing. For machines with a top drop-in bobbin, the bobbin hook should pass behind the needle about when the needle is descending. (If it's not obviously wrong, it's probably right.)
	*Worst case is bobbin timing or lower tension might need to be adjusted, but those are last resorts. Don't try to do these yourself; alert a maintainer.		*Worst case is bobbin timing or lower tension might need to be adjusted, but those are last resorts. Don't try to do these yourself; alert a maintainer to the problem and go over what you've tried.

	=== The material isn't feeding through ===		=== The material isn't feeding through ===

Boredzo: /* The material isn't feeding through */ Clarified why that's bad.

2023-07-03T02:31:02Z

The material isn't feeding through: Clarified why that's bad.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:31, 2 July 2023
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	For sticky materials such as leather or (especially) vinyl, you may need a roller foot or a walking foot.		For sticky materials such as leather or (especially) vinyl, you may need a roller foot or a walking foot.

	'''DO NOT''' attempt to force material into the machine by pushing it with your hands. This is a good way to drive a sewing machine over your finger. Don't pull it from behind, either—as the needle comes down, you'll pull it into the throat plate, where it will at least make a nick (which will damage later materials) and may jam the machine or break the needle. Instead, stop, think, and fix the actual problem.		'''DO NOT''' attempt to force material into the machine by pushing it with your hands. This is a good way to drive a sewing machine over your finger and have to go to the hospital. Don't pull it from behind, either—as the needle comes down, you'll pull it into the throat plate, where it will at least make a nick (which will damage later materials) and may jam the machine or break the needle. Instead, stop, think, and fix the actual problem.

Boredzo: /* The machine isn't making stitches at all */ Clarified that this guidance is for machines with a top drop-in bobbin. (I'm not familiar enough with front-load bobbins to say what the timing on those should look like.)

2023-07-03T02:29:57Z

The machine isn't making stitches at all: Clarified that this guidance is for machines with a top drop-in bobbin. (I'm not familiar enough with front-load bobbins to say what the timing on those should look like.)

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:29, 2 July 2023
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	*With the needle threaded, bobbin installed, and foot down, turn the handwheel (always towards you) one full cycle to test whether it makes a stitch without fabric.		*With the needle threaded, bobbin installed, and foot down, turn the handwheel (always towards you) one full cycle to test whether it makes a stitch without fabric.
	*Try the same thing with regular cotton or polyester thread and woven cotton fabric, if that's not what you were already using. If that works without difficulty, your project and its materials might need different settings, a different needle, or a different foot.		*Try the same thing with regular cotton or polyester thread and woven cotton fabric, if that's not what you were already using. If that works without difficulty, your project and its materials might need different settings, a different needle, or a different foot.
	*Unthread the needle, take out the bobbin, and turn the handwheel (always towards you) to check the bobbin timing. ~~The~~ bobbin hook should pass behind the needle about when the needle is descending. (If it's not obviously wrong, it's probably right.)		*Unthread the needle, take out the bobbin, and turn the handwheel (always towards you) to check the bobbin timing. For machines with a top drop-in bobbin, the bobbin hook should pass behind the needle about when the needle is descending. (If it's not obviously wrong, it's probably right.)
	*Worst case is bobbin timing or lower tension might need to be adjusted, but those are last resorts. Don't try to do these yourself; alert a maintainer.		*Worst case is bobbin timing or lower tension might need to be adjusted, but those are last resorts. Don't try to do these yourself; alert a maintainer.

Boredzo: /* The machine isn't making stitches at all */

2023-07-03T02:28:37Z

The machine isn't making stitches at all

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:28, 2 July 2023
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	*Check the upper thread tension. For most projects it should be on one of the middle few settings.		*Check the upper thread tension. For most projects it should be on one of the middle few settings.
	*With the needle threaded, bobbin installed, and foot down, turn the handwheel (always towards you) one full cycle to test whether it makes a stitch without fabric.		*With the needle threaded, bobbin installed, and foot down, turn the handwheel (always towards you) one full cycle to test whether it makes a stitch without fabric.
	*Try the same thing with regular cotton or polyester thread and woven cotton fabric, if that's not what you were already using. ~~You~~ might need different settings, a different needle, or a different foot ~~for your project~~.		*Try the same thing with regular cotton or polyester thread and woven cotton fabric, if that's not what you were already using. If that works without difficulty, your project and its materials might need different settings, a different needle, or a different foot.
	*Unthread the needle, take out the bobbin, and turn the handwheel (always towards you) to check the bobbin timing. The bobbin hook should pass behind the needle about when the needle is descending. (If it's not obviously wrong, it's probably right.)		*Unthread the needle, take out the bobbin, and turn the handwheel (always towards you) to check the bobbin timing. The bobbin hook should pass behind the needle about when the needle is descending. (If it's not obviously wrong, it's probably right.)
	*Worst case is bobbin timing or lower tension might need to be adjusted, but those are last resorts. Don't try to do these yourself; alert a maintainer.		*Worst case is bobbin timing or lower tension might need to be adjusted, but those are last resorts. Don't try to do these yourself; alert a maintainer.

Boredzo: /* The machine isn't making stitches at all */

2023-07-03T02:28:04Z

The machine isn't making stitches at all

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:28, 2 July 2023
Line 23:		Line 23:
	*Check the upper thread tension. For most projects it should be on one of the middle few settings.		*Check the upper thread tension. For most projects it should be on one of the middle few settings.
	*With the needle threaded, bobbin installed, and foot down, turn the handwheel (always towards you) one full cycle to test whether it makes a stitch without fabric.		*With the needle threaded, bobbin installed, and foot down, turn the handwheel (always towards you) one full cycle to test whether it makes a stitch without fabric.
	Try the same thing with regular cotton or polyester thread and woven cotton fabric, if that's not what you were already using. You might need different settings, a different needle, or a different foot for your project.		*Try the same thing with regular cotton or polyester thread and woven cotton fabric, if that's not what you were already using. You might need different settings, a different needle, or a different foot for your project.
	*Unthread the needle, take out the bobbin, and turn the handwheel (always towards you) to check the bobbin timing. The bobbin hook should pass behind the needle about when the needle is descending. (If it's not obviously wrong, it's probably right.)		*Unthread the needle, take out the bobbin, and turn the handwheel (always towards you) to check the bobbin timing. The bobbin hook should pass behind the needle about when the needle is descending. (If it's not obviously wrong, it's probably right.)
	*Worst case is bobbin timing or lower tension might need to be adjusted, but those are last resorts. Don't try to do these yourself; alert a maintainer.		*Worst case is bobbin timing or lower tension might need to be adjusted, but those are last resorts. Don't try to do these yourself; alert a maintainer.

Boredzo: /* The machine isn't making stitches at all */

2023-07-03T02:27:23Z

The machine isn't making stitches at all

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:27, 2 July 2023
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	In ascending order of fix difficulty:		In ascending order of fix difficulty:

	*Make sure the foot is down. Upper tension is not engaged (upper thread will not feed) when the foot is up.		*Make sure the foot is down. Upper tension is not engaged (upper thread will not feed) when the foot is up. Don't be ashamed; we've all done it!
	*Try rethreading the upper thread.		*Try rethreading the upper thread.
	*Check the bobbin; make sure the lower section is clean and free of snarled threads.		*Check the bobbin; make sure the lower section is clean and free of snarled threads.

Boredzo: /* The material isn't feeding through */ Added a couple of do-nots.

2023-07-03T02:25:16Z

The material isn't feeding through: Added a couple of do-nots.

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:25, 2 July 2023
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	For sticky materials such as leather or (especially) vinyl, you may need a roller foot or a walking foot.		For sticky materials such as leather or (especially) vinyl, you may need a roller foot or a walking foot.

			'''DO NOT''' attempt to force material into the machine by pushing it with your hands. This is a good way to drive a sewing machine over your finger. Don't pull it from behind, either—as the needle comes down, you'll pull it into the throat plate, where it will at least make a nick (which will damage later materials) and may jam the machine or break the needle. Instead, stop, think, and fix the actual problem.

Boredzo at 02:22, 3 July 2023

2023-07-03T02:22:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:22, 2 July 2023
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	{{sewing}}		{{sewing}}

			== Common problems and things to check/try to solve them ==

	=== The machine is skipping stitches, making thread snarls below the fabric, or making grunting noises ===		=== The machine is skipping stitches, making thread snarls below the fabric, or making grunting noises ===
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	=== The machine isn't making stitches at all ===		=== The machine isn't making stitches at all ===

	~~Things to check/try in~~ ascending order of fix difficulty:		In ascending order of fix difficulty:

	*Make sure the foot is down. Upper tension is not engaged (upper thread will not feed) when the foot is up.		*Make sure the foot is down. Upper tension is not engaged (upper thread will not feed) when the foot is up.