Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming

RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By Miss D (Guest Post) (05/07/2008) I put this to music for my 7th graders: listen for: ..."the tension dial's whack when the thread pulls in the back" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OujH5e-m2Qk Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By Steven (Guest Post) (04/10/2008) By the gods... I don't know which worked but here is what I did. First of all I was jamming underneath in bobbin area, no matter how many times I rethreaded it. I took advice all over the place... so I came here and did this in this order: Dusted out bobbin area with air duster, bought a size 100/16 needle and put it in, set bobbin so it would fall at just below speed of gravity, adjusted top tension (the coin slot dial) to medium, set top number dial to 4, held threads to left side... jammed... adjusted top number dial to six and tried again starting out real slow on pedal... and now it works! If that doesn't work for you when it worked for sad little male me trying for first time then I will pray for you to all the gods in all religions lol Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By Lauren (Guest Post) (02/19/2008) I know this thread is a bit old, but I just came across it because I am having the exact same problem. I have a NEW sewing machine. I threaded it like the manual said, everything was fine for a while, then It started jamming. I have rewound and restrung the bobbin multiple times and I have basically given up. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine is jammed. Post By Janet (Guest Post) (12/15/2007) I have a Kenmore 385.1684180 - It was working fine until I transported on a trip. It will not move bound tight. Manual wheel will only move if the center is pulled out to fill a bobbin. Any ideas? Please help -- have more projects to finish. Thanks, Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By MoMo (Guest Post) (05/08/2007) I had the same problem last week with my Kenmore machine. It's fairly new and I haven't had any problems except what you're talking about. I was working on my prom dress last week and I couldn't sew more than a few inches. I was about ready to take the whole machine apart after a few hours (I love taking things apart anyway, but only three days before prom...), then I watched my needle (without thread) very closely and noticed that it was knocking on some of the interior metal. I finally realized that I was using a needle that was way too weak for the fabric density and it was being bent just a lil' too much. As soon as I got a thicker needle, I never had another problem with it. I went through three brand new needles before I figured this out. So you may just need a thicker needle. Hope this helps. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post by jazzbird719 (68) | (04/12/2007) Profile | Blog! | Contact I feel so bad for you. I had a machine that did this until it drove me crazy. It was an older machine from Montogmery Wards and I found out later that it was a design flaw. There was a problem with the bottom bobbin and casing. I ended up getting a new machine and have never looked back. Every once in awhile I glance at it in the back of the closet and growl. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By (Guest Post) (04/11/2007) When this happened to me the tension was out of whack and adjustment. I actually had to pay a repairman to get it working again, but it was worth it to me since I couldn't fix it. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post by coreenhart (210) | (04/11/2007) Profile | Blog! | Contact If you have the machine threaded correctly, here is one more thing to try. When you start the seam, hold both the top and bottom threads firmly off to the left, so the machine can't jerk them up. That's what solved my problem. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By (Guest Post) (04/09/2007) lol Okay thanks. If it's "out of time" does that mean the needle will hit the metal, instead of going down into the hole properly ? I think sometimes it's hitting the metal, and it keeps having a bunch of threads down there, somehow, every time I try it again. I yank them all out and start over, but it still does it. It starts out clean, ( no threads down there ) so it's doing it by itself when it's trying to sew. I can't even figure out how it does it. I tried watching it, with the door open, and I can't tell how it doubles up the thread like that. What's strange is it worked fine the other day. It seems like it got messed up when I did "forward" then "Backward" at the end of the fabric. Then it's been acting weird ever since. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post by fauxpaslover (70) | (04/09/2007) Profile | Contact I posted on here the other day and don't know what happened to my post...I felt it was important to help you not make matters worse. What I had said was this, if you have tired all of this...you probably should stop, before you make everything worse. It probably has gotten out of time and you need a professional. If you continue to "try" all this stuff you may ruin it forever...and for crying out loud, do not sharpen your needles on a emory board...get new ones!! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By Marna (Guest Post) (04/07/2007) Sometimes machines need tune-ups, just like a car. But try this first: Take the bobbin out and try pulling on the thread. Does it come off the bobbin easily or seem really tight? If it seems really tight, on the side of your bobbin, there should be a little tiny screw for which you have a screwdriver somewhere. In teeny tiny increments (like 1/8th of a turn at a time) loosen the screw, put it back in the machine, thread, and sew and see what happens. You may need to do it a couple of times, but only do litle, little, little turns. If this does nothing, chances are the whole bobbin assembly is out of alignment and the machine needs to be serviced. I have my Bernina "tuned up" every two years. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By Melody (Guest Post) (04/06/2007) If you've checked for jams in the bobbin and shuttle cases and cleaned out thread ends and dust thoroughly but your machine still jams, unthread then rethread your machine's bobbin and upper threads. Many cases of jamming can be cured this way. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By Melody (Guest Post) (04/06/2007) When a sewing machine jams repeatedly even after picking out the thread ends, you probably need to lower the feed dogs and remove your bobbin case. Then, you'll need a flashlight and tweezers to look for the tiniest thread or dust bunny that may be causing the trouble. Canned air, used for cleaning electronic equipment, can also loosen dust or threads if everything else fails. After a good cleaning is a great time to oil your machine by following your manufacturer's instructions. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By Anita S. :):) (Guest Post) (04/06/2007) Make sure that you are using the proper size needle for the material... Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post by DJ_DJ (9) | (04/06/2007) Contact Hi Thank you to everyone. It's still jamming. I'm going to try your tips. The thread is a good thread, but the bobbins are pre-wound from Joann fabric brand, I have no idea if that's bad quality or not. I was thinking it would be easier, to have them prewound. * Can I just sharpen the needle on an emery board ? *_____________________________________________ It only let me sew about two feet before all of this jamming started. It was doing fine before that, so I don't know what could have changed. : ( ___________________________________________ Does anyone want to come talk where it's easier to post back and forth and answer each other ? It's free, click here. Save this link . It's a message board called "Home Sweet Home" Thanks ! http://forums.delphiforums.com/1HealingGarden1/messages?msg=719.1 . Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By chml (Guest Post) (04/06/2007) All the other advice is very, very good. Mine to add to it is, sew really, really slow on a scrap piece and watch what happens. And longer tails on your thread pushed to the back and held to start. Hand turn the wheel to put 2 stitches in the material before using the electric. Also make sure the foot feed is down to start. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post by gardencraft (34) | (04/06/2007) Contact Check the tension settings on the machine as well as the needle. When needles get too old, they tend to have microscopic nicks in them that pull the threads. And if the tension is incorrect it will definitely cause the same problems you are having. I totally agree as well with the thread quality posting. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By Amber (Guest Post) (04/05/2007) 1. Check for fuzz and use the brush to remove it 2. Make sure the thread take up lever (hook that goes up and down) is threaded. Mine did the same thing and somehow the thread got loose while sewing. 3. Oil the machine as per manual 4. New needle if the others don't help Hope those help. Report Spam or Abuse Just offering a little more help. Post by Starchild in VT (108) | (04/05/2007) Profile | Contact I feel your pain! I had a very troubled machine for years! A few tips: -Yes, thread quality can be extremely important in certain machines. And absolutely check manual for how to thread machine. -check the bobbin, some need a certain tension. Mine: hold the thread and bobbin should go slightly slower than gravity. -do you own a pipe cleaner? Fold it in half and use a rounded end to clean out the fuzz. I get alot of fuzz from using polar fleece. -when in doubt get a new needle! Good luck to you, I know how stressful it can be! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By zballoongirl (Guest Post) (04/05/2007) Two things come to mind. First, check to be sure you have threaded the machine correctly. It's easy to do the threading process in the wrong order or wrong direction. Consult the manual to be sure. Second, on my (admittedly old) Kenmore machine, I have to hold on to the ends of the threads when I first start to sew a seam. If I don't hold them (loosely), the top thread gets drawn down into the bobbin area and causes a huge mess. I only need to hold the threads for the first few stitches. Good luck with this! Patty Report Spam or Abuse RE: Sewing Machine Keeps Jamming Post By (Guest Post) (04/05/2007) Are you using a cheaper thread like wal-mart brand?I have to use jp coats which is sold at Wal-mart but a little more.Also check to see if your needle is good and not bent. Report Spam or Abuse