Troubleshooting Guide for Sewing Machine

It is very annoying when your sewing machine don’t cooperate properly. Suppose you want to start a project with full enthusiasm but your sewing machine don’t work properly. I think it will be very frustrating experience for a sewer. But in maximum case troubles of sewing machine are not major. If you know few tips for troubleshooting of sewing machine then you can easily handle it. In this article I will list out of tables for sewing machine problems, causes and remedies.

Troubleshooting for Sewing Machine
Fig: Troubleshooting for sewing machine

Problem, Causes and Remedies of Sewing Machine:

Sewing machine problemsPossible causesRemedies
Skipping stitches, shredding and breaking threadBent needleWhen to change needles
Needle in backwardWhen to change needles
Wrong needle for fabricRelationship 2: Needle style and fabric
Damaged needle tipWhen to change needles
Needle not pushed all the way up into needle clampPush needle all the way to stop
Needle too fine for thread thicknessRelationship 1: Needle size and thread
Too much basting spraySwitch to a different basting spray
Glue too sticky in fusible stabilizerSwitch to a different stabilizer
Not enough presser-foot pressurePresser-foot pressure adjustment
Thread getting caught somewhere in thread pathWrong size of thread stopper
Incorrect threadingCorrect threading
Old threadChange thread
Damaged needle plateNeedle plate damage
Tarnished or damaged bobbin caseDamage to the bobbin case
Burr on hookSmoothing burrs on the hook
Timing not set rightTake your machine in for servicing
Hook to needle distance offTake your machine in for servicing
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Loops on back of fabricMachine threaded with presser foot in down positionHow the presser foot is involved
Take-up lever not threadedMissing the take-up lever
Thread not in tension discsPresser foot up
Thread or lint caught in tension discsClean the tension discs
Burr on hookSmoothing burrs on the hook
Damage on bobbin caseDamage to the bobbin case
Top tension set too lowMaking top tension adjustments
Thread too thick for needleRelationship 1: Needle size and thread
Metallic thread too stiffTry a softer thread
Tarnished metal bobbin caseDamage to the bobbin case
Thread is not supply enoughMay be designed for hand stitching
Thread too thick for sewing machineRelationship 1: Needle size and thread
Knee resting on knee-lift lever when sewingReposition so you are not resting on the knee-lift lever
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Inconsistent tensionThread and needle mismatchedRelationship 1: Needle size and thread
Damaged bobbin caseDamage to the bobbin case
Burr on hookSmoothing burrs on the hook
Tarnished bobbin caseDamage to the bobbin case
Wrong thread stopperWrong size of thread stopper
Catch on outside edge of thread stopperWrong size of thread stopper
Burr on hookSmoothing burrs on the hook
Damaged needle plateNeedle plate damage
Damaged needleWhen to change needles
Low quality threadUse good quality thread
Thread too stiffTry a softer thread
High contrast in color between thread and fabricWhat could go wrong?
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Fabric won’t feedNot enough presser-foot pressurePresser-foot pressure adjustment
Lint buildup in feed dogsClean out lint and felt by using a fine screwdriver, tweezers or any other object that will fit.
Damaged needle plateNeedle plate damage
Thread caught somewhereRemove thread
Stitch length set too shortIncrease stitch length
Walking foot lever not on needle clampRemove and reattach the walking foot on the needle clamp.
Presser foot damaged on undersideReplace the presser foot
Knee resting against knee-lift leverReposition so you are not resting on the knee-lift lever
Rubber feed dogs may be distintegratingTake your machine in for servicing
Feed dogs downRaise the feed dogs
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Uneven stitch lengthIncorrect pressure on presser footPresser-foot pressure adjustment
Presser foot worn underneathReplace the presser foot
Wrong foot for jobChange presser foot
Lint buildup between feed dogsClean out lint and felt by using a fine screwdriver, tweezers or any other object that will fit.
Heavy fabric needs more supportHelp fabric to feed
Pulling fabricGuide fabric without pulling
Pushing fabricGuide fabric without pushing
Rubber feed dogs may be disintegratingTake your machine in for servicing
Walking foot lever not correctly mounted on needle clampRemove and reattach the walking foot on the needle clamp
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Won’t climb seamsToo much presser-foot pressurePresser-foot pressure adjustment
Wrong footRefer to your machine’s manual to select the correct foot.
Seam needs to be flattenedFlatten the seam with a wooden clapper or rubber mallet before stitching.
Feed dogs not all the way up (some older machines)Raise the feed dogs.
Lint buildup in feed dogsClean out lint and felt by using a fine screwdriver, tweezers or any other object that will fit.
Stitch length set too shortAdjust length
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Fabric puckeringTension too tightTension in the relationship
Stabilizer requiredFabric puckering
Wrong needle plateRefer to your machine’s manual to select the correct needle plate. Needle plate damage.
Needle point damagedWhen to change needles
Wrong needle for fabricRelationship 2: Needle style and fabric
Top thread hung up somewhere in thread pathRethread machine
Not enough presser-foot pressurePresser-foot pressure adjustment
Thread too heavy for fabricChange thread.
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Needle hittingBent needleChange needle
Pulling fabricGuide fabric without pulling
Pushing fabricGuide fabric without pushing
Wrong presser footRefer to your machine’s manual to select the correct foot.
Wrong needle plateRefer to your machine’s manual to select the correct needle plate.
Top thread caughtWrong size of thread stopper
Drop-in bobbin case has spun aroundMissing the take-up lever
Timing outTake your machine in for servicing
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Noise in bobbin areaHook needs lubricationRefer to the manual for your machine and oil hook
Damaged plastic drop-in bobbin caseDrop-in bobbin case
Bent needle hitting hookChange needle
Tarnished metal bobbin caseDamage to the bobbin case
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Machine jammedThread caught in hookThread lock
Lack of lubricationRefer to your machine’s manual and lubricate as directed.
Use of inappropriate lubricantRefer to your machine’s manual and lubricate as directed.
Thread cutter jammedAutomatic thread cutters
Thread caught and wrapped around handwheelUnravel thread
Thread caught in take-up mechanismUsing gentle force, try to remove the threads. If this doesn’t work, let your sewing machine technician do this at the next service.
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Machine won’t turn onCord not properly plugged inCheck cord placement
Fuse blown after needle hittingTake your machine in for servicing
Fuse blown after thread jamTake your machine in for servicing.
Damaged power cordReplace cord
Surge protector turned offTurn on surge protector
Problem with power printTake your machine in for servicing
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Erratic on high speed onlyBurned contacts in rheostatTake your machine in for servicing or replace with an electronic foot control.
Grease or debris on resistor of electronic foot controlUnplug the control and press it up and down through its entire range of motion for a minute.
Blown capacitor in foot controlTake your machine in for servicing.
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Low bobbin sensor not workingLint in sensor areaRemove loose thread, debris and lint.
Damaged bobbinDamaged bobbins
Wrong type of bobbinUsing the right bobbin
Using prewound bobbinsPrewound bobbins
Bobbin door open while sewingClose bobbin door
Malfunctioning sensorTake your machine in for servicing.
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Upper thread warning comes onLint or thread in sensorClean thread path
Incorrect threadingRethread machine
Sensor activator has jumped out of check springTake your machine in for servicing.
Sensor malfunctioningTake your machine in for servicing.
Sewing machine problemsCausesRemedies
Machine is on and makes buzzing noise but won’t sewBobbin-winder activating lever may be engagedDisengage bobbin winder mechanism.
Thread nest after using cutterPulling extra top thread after using cutterThread cutter
Buttonholes won’t feed properlyMay need compensation plateTroubleshooting buttonholes
Stitch length may be set too shortMaking great-looking buttonholes.

References:

  1. Sewing Machine Reference Tool by Bernie Tobisch
  2. The Sewing Machine Master Guide: From Basic to Expert by Clifford L. Blodget
  3. Understanding and Using A Sewing Machine by Nicola Corrigan
  4. The Sewing Book by Alison Smith

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