Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have a Singer 775 sewing machine. The needle is not catching the thread. How do I fix this?
By Victor A.
It sounds as if the needle is either turned to the wrong position, or possible you have the wrong needle. The hole for each is in a precise location, and if its off any at all, it won't catch the thread.
Make sure the needle isnt bent or nicked
I have a singer, not sure of model but I threaded my machine as always. I tested it on a piece of brown cotton to make sure all is well. It works perfect, So now I try to sew a dress (made of viscose, polyester, elasticine) and it's not sewing. The thread is not catching. So I re-tried it on the brown cotton. Works fine. Please explain what I am doing wrong and how can I fix it?
By Jinai
Try reading this:
www.threadsmagazine.com/
This article seems to know what it's talking about and mentions needing to change tension for different threads and fabrics. Since your machine works fine on one sort of fabric, there's likely nothing wrong with it!
Have a great day!
Could be your needle and threads both upper and bobbin.
You write that you are using viscose (called rayon in the US), polyester, and elasticine...these are most often a somewhat stretchy fabric, and require special needles ('ballpoint', or 'jersey' in the UK) for sewing successfully - if the needle you are using is working for the cotton but not the more stretchy fabrics, odds are very high that you are not using the correct sewing machine needle.
Refer to your sewing machine user guide. If you don't have one, post a picture of your machine and I can probably identify it for you and find you a link to the free download.
The Singer company website is fantastic about making user guides available for free download but you do need to know your machine model. Depending on the age of your machine, the information could be anywhere on the machine, but is usually on the machine front (for example, my Talent 3321, a modern electric, has the words 'Singer Talent' along the upper frame), or on the bottom right near the electrics connection.
If you are sewing on a truly vintage machine, the identification is usually on a small metal plate somewhere on the machine (varies with age and country of manufacture - a lot of our UK late 60s and 70s made machines were imported in from the Italian Singer factory).
May I make a suggestion? Singer puts out an outstanding reference book called Singer Complete Photo Guide to Sewing. Wonderful book, you can find a nice, used copy on Amazon.co.uk or buy it new for around £22 in the UK, or if in the US, for under $30USD. Good investment, I highly recommend it to the new-to-sewing students I teach up here in NE Scotland.
Good luck, please feel free to message me for more info.
I have a Singer Simple sewing machine. When I start sewing with it the top thread won't stay threaded through the needle. I just got it about two weeks ago and it was sewing fine, but now I cannot get the thread to stay.
By Stephanie from Whiteville, NC
Take it back to the dealer. But before you do, read the manual. Are you leaving a long enough thread tail?
Reasons why a new sewing machine needle won't stay threaded are many: too thick thread for the needle being used; too short a thread tail; incorrect tension setting; old, worn, damaged needles; starting the stitching too fast; incorrect stitch width, length, and pattern selected...check the user guide that came with your machine for the troubleshooting pages to see what is suggested.
I have the Singer Talent which is very similar to your Simple. My Talent often does the same thing-throws the thread out and the reason is always one of the above, usually that I start too fast.
Those new electronic foot pedals are really sensitive and it's not easy to control them-lol, I teach home sewing and have to remind my students that it's not their fault when the machine zooms off as they begin a stitching line!
I have a Singer Simple sewing machine and it worked fine. Now when I try to sew, the needle will go into the material, but the thread does not stay. It's like I don't have thread in the needle, but clearly I do. The thread stays in the needle it just doesn't go into the material. I was told it could be out of time? What can I do?
By marra m.
What your describing doesn't sound like a timing problem. A mis-timed machine would make a clunking sound as the needle hit the throat plate or banged against the hook or bobbin case. Just in case, though, here's a link to a great timing fix resource:
And here is a link to the manual for that machine-you want to look at page 54 for the troubleshooting info:
www.singerco.com/
What I think may be the case is an incorrect loading of the bobbin. See page 13 of the manual for more info on correct loading. Those 'front load' bobbins are difficult to seat properly and if not seated properly can cause the trouble you are describing.
Sometimes starting the whole process from the beginning (rethread upper thread through to needle, reload bobbin and case, check feed dogs, etc) can solve a problem. You're left scratching your head most of the time, lol, but you often are able to get back to sewing, too.
Good luck, please update on what ends up being the problem and solution.
First things...change needles frequently and check the bobbin. Are there any threads etc that are caught. Clean it out underneath and get rid of the dust etc.
There are excellent U-TUBE videos about adjusting the timing, or on-line with Singer...may give details specific to your machine.
If your worried about making it worse... take it in for a tune-up. Well worth the money. I found a retired gent near me that did this for a hobby and charged minimal amounts for his work. The shops were using him too, so by going directly, I saved the cost and time of the shop sending it out to him.
Just check local ads and the yellow-pages near you.
I have a Singer Patchwork sewing machine. The spool of thread ran out. I put a new spool on. I checked to make sure everything is threaded properly, but still the bobbin thread will not come through. I even changed out the needle which didn't look bent.
The needle goes up and down, but does not catch the bobbin thread. Could the timing of the gears go out of sync when I ran out of thread? How do I fix this or do I need to take it to a repair shop?Make sure the bobbin is not installed backwards.
I have a second hand Singer 478. The needle stem doesn't go down far enough, so it does not pick up the bobbin thread.
Maybe the sewing machine has incorrect size needle for its make/model. Do an online search first as to what size needle the machine uses or seek an expert's advice for their opinion as to why your machine's needle won't pick up bobbin thread if you cannot locate an answer from searching the web.
I see that some of these questions and answers here are quite old and I couldn't find an answer that I need so I am posting my issue.
I have a Singer Scholastic 5523 machine. It is very simple, very basic, and I have this because I don't sew enough to justify buying an expensive machine. I only use it for crafts.
The other day I was sewing a small piece of stretchy fabric and it got caught not only in the feed dog but down inside of the bobbin case. I removed the feed dog plate and cut off as much material as I could. I then unscrewed the two screws that hold the bobbin case holder on and removed the bobbin case. I was able to then take out the fabric and clean all of the threads and lint out.
I put everything back together and tried to sew another piece of fabric, but nothing happened. The bobbin hook isn't grabbing the thread nor is the needle. I tried to troubleshoot this problem for hours even researching it online, but I can't figure it out. I re-threaded the machine a dozen times, put in new thread, made a new bobbin, put in a brand new needle the same size as the one that was there and still nothing.
I have the feed plate off so that I can watch the bobbin hook mechanism go around and the needle goes up and down, but the bobbin thread just sits there doing nothing. Nothing is grabbing the thread. I know I have the bobbin in correctly.
Even though I have had this machine for about three years I have hardly used it at all so it's like brand new. There shouldn't be an issue with it. The machine cost less than $100.00 and I know that if I take it to a repair shop I will be charged at least $80.00 just to have it looked at so having it repaired is silly. I know that this problem is something simple, but I can't figure it out.
The little metal bobbin case holder with two screws lays on the bobbin case to prevent it from lifting out of the machine and I've even tried loosening the screws a bit thinking that it was too tight. It isn't. It only fits one way.
There is nothing on Youtube about this issue and I have even gone into other sewing forums looking for an answer, but there isn't one. If anyone knows what the problem could be please let me know.
By Sandie J. from Orlando, FL
I do vintage Singer (and a very little bit of modern) repairs and from your photo it does look as though the case is back in the machine correctly. I looked at your manual online - on page 14 there is a diagram for the bobbin casing area and again, your placement looks right.
On page 57 of your manual there is a troubleshooting guide, but again from checking that it seems to me you've tried everything.
Usually when a sewer has tried everything you have it is unfortunately time to take it to the shop - tbh the machines people bring me with this problem are either loaded with lint where the person can't reach (or has used one of those canned air bombs and thereby driven all the lint deeper into the machine), or has suffered a parts failure (often the bobbin gear).
Your machine might still be covered under a warranty because parts on a machine that 'new' and that well built shouldn't be failing so soon - it's a very good model and worth the cost of repair instead of replacing. For a modern inexpensive Singer machine, the Scholastic line was built very, very well and to get a comparable machine today would cost you closer to $250USD. For example, it's got drop feeds, one-step buttonholing, and a few other features not available on less expensive Singers on the market today.
Here's a link to a free download of the manual in case yours is missing:
www.singerco.com/
I have a Singer 252 (all parts metallic). It is a great machine. Yesterday my top thread stopped picking the bottom bobbin thread. Any idea how to fix it?
By LadyL
It's probably the bobbin gear if you're sure you've got the bobbin seated correctly and it's the proper class bobbin in metal.
This model came out in the early 70s and the bobbin gear is made partly with silicone - it does wear out eventually and needs replacing, the symptom of the problem is the top thread not picking up the bobbin thread.
It MIGHT also be timing - not as hard to throw out as folks think. You're best served by taking your lovely vintage machine to a Singer repair tech for a look-over. He/she will be able to find a replacement bobbin gear to fit your machine - make sure you ask how old the replacement part is (a lot of techs have to use salvage parts as the parts aren't interchangeable, and a lot aren't being new-milled anymore).
Here's a link to a free download of your model user guide in case you've misplaced yours - there is a good trouble shooting guide on page 44 (loads very slowly, be patient:):
www.singerco.com/
I was clearing out a storage room recently and I found an old hand operated Singer sewing machine in excellent condition. The model no is EF765228. When I threaded the machine and wound the handle to pick up the bobbin thread, it did not catch. Can anyone advise me? Should there be a bobbin case cover for this machine or is there anything I might be doing wrong?
By Miriam
If you haven't found the problem yet, check this site out and maybe post a question to hopefully resolve.
www.singerco.com/
I have my mother's vintage Singer and it was worked on by a professional tech within the past 2 years (lubed, timing fixed, etc.). It has not been used much since maintenance.
Tonight, at the start of a project it has stopped picking up the bobbin thread. The needle is new and bobbin is right size, and plastic. It is inserted correctly, and yes, the top switch is to the left for sewing and not bobbin-winding. :)
Is this likely a timing issue? Or am I looking at another trip to the tech?
By Red Queen
Sorry, but you're looking at a trip to the tech - what you're describing is a worn bobbin gear and it's just not a fix to try at home.
Be sure the tech uses a newly milled part (these are now available in the US and UK for Singer machines - all models including the Stylist models), and not a salvage part. Salvage parts are not reliable as the tech will usually have no idea how many sewing hours are on it, and what conditions the part laboured under.
