Many of the problems that you experience when you operate a sewing machine can be prevented by properly setting up the machine and regular cleaning – but if you have developed problems that are beyond these and your sewing machine is not stitching properly, here are some solutions
Step 1. Rethread the machine
When my sewing machine begins to stitch improperly, I typically start by rethreading it.
Very important – Do not thread the machine with the presser foot down.
One little missed step in the sequence of threading and your stitching will be ruined.
Check out this post that details how to put thread in sewing machine. If you suspect a problem with the hardware causing your problem, check out this post on Best practices for sewing machine repair.
Make sure that you have selected the correct size needle appropriate for the thickness of the material you are sewing.
Step 2. Check if needle is inserted correctly
Once I changed the needle and from that moment, my thread started breaking. Apparently I inserted the needle the wrong way. The sewing machine often gives you skipped stitches, thread breaks, not taking the bobbin thread, etc. because the needle is not placed correctly. Put the needle, so the flat side is to the back or per your sewing machine manual.
Putting the flat side to the back is what mine says. Re-check this in your manual.(For an industrial machine, this is different – I had so much trouble when I first changed the needle; the seller of my sewing machine told me to put the needle in one way and I put it another way. I couldnt understand why the thread was breaking so much afterwards and kept checking everything but the needle)
Check the placement of your sewing machine Needle and if it is the currect size.
If you are not thoroughly familiar with your sewing machine – check out this post on different parts of the sewing machine
Step 3. If there are loose stitches, check tension
Check if the top thread is too loose or too tight. Check the thread tension. If it is too tight, skipped stitches could occur. Change the tension. Top stitching is loose because the bobbin tension is off, and if the backside stitching is looking off, change the top thread tension
Read more on setting the tension on a sewing machine here.
Step 4. Do a thorough cleaning
A regular sewing machine maintenance is recommended every 100 hours of your sewing machine working. Check out the post on the 3 steps to do sewing machine maintenance.
As a sewing machine vendor told me, the modern home sewing machines, which come with their inner components coated in grease ( comes with the label – do not oil), need yearly maintenance at the showroom by a professional.
So even after home maintenance, if your machine is not behaving or it is making unnatural sounds, it may be time for a visit to the nearest service center of your particular brand. It is recommended that you take it every 2 years, at a minimum for this deep cleaning. Do you do this?
My sewing machine has suddenly stopped while working – it is not stitching at all
Check if the electrical points are fine and the foot pedal is attached to the machine properly, before beginning to panic.
- Make sure the power cord is plugged into the wall and machine.
- Also, check the fuse and/or wiring in the outlet.
- Make sure the power strip is on.
Have you been sewing for a long time continuously? Your sewing machine may have stopped itself to prevent overheating of the motor. In this case, turn off the power and wait for 20 minutes before using it again
So what if the sewing machine will not form stitches ?
The needle may have come un-threaded. You may also have threaded the machine wrongly. When threading the machine, keep the presser foot up to release the tension. Check out this post on correctly threading the machine.
The needle may be inserted wrong or not all the way; Make sure that the needle is fully inserted and facing the correct directions as specified in the sewing machine manual. Blunt or bent needles also will result in stitches coming undone. Push the needle all the way up the clamp.
The needle may be wrong for the machine. Check out the different types of sewing machine needles you may need and the different needle sizes.
The bobbin may have run out or not been inserted correctly.
If the spool cap is the wrong size for the thread spool, this problem can occur. Replace the cap with the correct size in this case.
If the thread is not properly and fully pulled into the thread sensor guide also this problem can occur.
The motor/light is working but the machine not sewing
Check to see if there is a bobbin on the bobbin winder. Suppose the bobbin winder shaft is pressed to the right ( or however it is in your machine), it is in bobbin winding mode, and the machine will not work.
Check to see if foot control is plugged in properly; make sure foot control can be depressed completely and is free from obstruction.
Replace the presser foot if the needle hits the presser foot.
Ensure that needle is correctly inserted.
Stitching is not done properly – I am getting unattractive/uneven stitches
Check thread tension and presser foot placement and stitch regulator.
If the top stitches are looking alright but the bottom stitches look loose, either the machine is not threaded rightly or there is not enough tension on the top portion.
If the stitches are loose on the bottom of the material, change the top tension to a higher number. If the stitches are loose on the top, change to a lower number. Do not adjust anything on the bobbin case of modern home sewing machines – they are maintained as a constant, and should not be touched.
Make sure the thread has not come out of the bobbin case.
Lack of stabilizer, inferior thread, and lint build-up, incorrect needle placement also can result in unattractive stitches.
Try vertical instead of horizontal spool pin.
The fabric will not feed as you stitch
This may be due to many possibilities.
- The presser foot is not down.
- You may be using the incorrect foot.
- The feed teeth could be down or accidentally lowered; Ensure that the feed dog is raised when sewing. On most machines, you should see the teeth rise about 2mm above the needle plate on forward movement.
- Feel the teeth; do they feel sharp? If they are worn, the fabric will slip. Are they even? Examine the teeth when they are at their highest point and see if they are level; if not, replace them.
- Presser foot presser may have to be adjusted. If it is set too low, the fabric will not feed. If the material is too heavy, the presser may not be enough. Refer to your instruction manual on how to increase the pressure. Most machines have a dial or knob above the foot on top or to the side of the machine for this purpose.
- The stitch length may be too short, like near zero.
- Check for dust under the needle plate – dust-lint build-up could jam due to debris inside the sewing machine. Remove the needle plate and clean out the grooves between the teeth. If these are full of lint/fluff, they will stop the teeth from rising to the proper height.
- Make sure the needle plate is firmly seated. Another reason may be the needle plate hole is too big for the particular type of fabric.
- Check that thread is not knotted under the fabric.
The stitches fail to “grab” at the seam beginning
This occurs most often with lightweight/loosely woven fabrics – In case of such delicate fabrics, start the seams with an extra bit of fabric to prevent your presser foot from eating your fabric.
- Increase presser foot presser.
- Try a smaller needle.
- Use a straight stitch plate.
- Be sure threads are under presser foot.
- Make sure needle is fully inserted.
I am getting the occasional skipped stitches
This refers to missed stitches which result in one or two skipped stitches merging into one long stitch, occasionally. Maybe this has to do with a malfunctioning feed dog and it can be especially frustrating when doing a simple darning job as the fabric must move smoothly to sew over the holes.
Select a different type/size needle; If you are missing stitches, go up one size. Change to a stretch needle if the fabric calls for it. Sometimes the problem is with the needle point, like switching between ballpoint or sharp needle and seeing if the problem persists.
Pre-treat ( pre-wash) fabrics to remove excess sizing. The sizing can clog up the needle and the machine.Using too thick a thread with a fine needle will cause the machine to miss stitches.
Some fabric ( too thin or stretchy) can cause missed stitches. Try adding some interlining or stiffener; even tissue paper will work. I see skipped stitches every time I sew over elastic. Also, allow the feed dog to move the fabric rather than forcing the fabric with the hand, which usually results in a bend needle.
You can find a more detailed explanation in this post – Is your Sewing Machine Skipping Stitches? 7 Questions to ask.
The Sewing machine is not stitching in reverse.
Check whether the machine has the capacity for reverse stitching.
At times, some stitches, like buttonhole or stretch stitches maynot reverse stitch. So check your stitch control and adjust to straight stitch before reverse stitching.
Why is the fabric not feeding and moving straight when stitching?
This may be a result of worn-out or bent teeth on your needle plate. Check whether the presser foot is properly pressing down on the fabric as you sew – if it is not, it will be impossible to sew straight.
Cleaning of the teeth may be all you need to do if you are lucky because lint in the teeth can make your sewing wonky.
If you have a gut feeling that your machine needs a trained professional to look over the problem it is having, you are probably right. There are some things only a professional can fix.
For eg. you have broken gear inside the machine like the timing belt (you will know if the bobbin hook is not moving or taking up the thread when you move the hand wheel towards you, the bobbin thread is not catching into the needle even after you have tried all solutions like re-threading the needle or changing needle.This usually means your machine needs to be re-timed.
When the bobbin case jumps out and seems to be out of sync with your machine and the driver is damaged (The driver is the part that sits right below the bobbin- this moves the hook), the reverse mechanism is jammed, or the reverse gear is damaged, there is a funny smell coming from inside the machine, etc .
Some repairs should be done only by the company – when you are under warranty, most companies insist that you do not do the repairing by yourself or any external party. So wait for them to resolve the problem.
Stitching problems due to fabric characteristics
Sometimes problems arise due to the kind of fabric you are sewing, and you mistake it for a sewing machine problem.
How you sew with satin is very different from how you sew a wool; Sewing knitted fabric often requires a different presser foot to accommodate the stretch, without which the fabric may pucker or run. How you sew with a fabric like polyester will be different from how you sew with a thicker fabric. Leather sewing requires a different set of tips than if you are sewing with a thin fabric.
Refer to the sewing machine Manual
The sewing machine manual you got when you purchased the machine should always be kept near your sewing machine at all times for easy reference anytime a problem arises. It should be thoroughly read before your first stitch. All the settings and maintenance information will be given in them. If you have lost it, you may contact the manufacturer through their online sites; some sewing machine manuals are available on their websites.
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