Starting to sew without the thread bunching

Starting to sew without the thread bunching

5 tips for a smooth start to sewing

When starting to sew or continuing to sew after a thread break, the thread can sometimes bunch up underneath the fabric. The machine may even lock up and the gears icon may appear on the screen.

The following tips can help you remedy the problem or even avoid it altogether. 

How to prevent thread bunchingHow to remedy thread bunching


Is the upper thread threaded correctly?

Thread bunching occurs underneath the fabric, so you might think the lower thread is the problem and check whether the bobbin was positioned correctly in the bobbin case or even replace the bobbin. However, this does not usually improve the situation because the cause is not usually the lower thread, but the upper thread!

Therefore, always check whether the upper thread is threaded correctly. In other words, is it positioned correctly in the pretensioner on the top rear of the machine, in the tension discs and in the thread take-up lever? If it is not, the upper thread will not have any tension and will be pulled under with the very first stitch.

You can find video tutorials on how to thread your machine on the page for your machine model. 

How to position the upper thread correctly

If you use the horizontal thread stand, make sure there is no gap between the foam pad, thread spool and spool disc because otherwise the thread can get wrapped around the thread stand in front of or behind the thread spool.

When using the vertical thread stand, the foam pad must be placed underneath. Otherwise, the thread could be pulled down by its own weight and then get wrapped around the thread stand. 

Note In both cases, the upper thread breaks and you might forget to raise the presser foot when rethreading so that the upper thread can be repositioned between the tension discs.

Be careful with the knee lever

The knee lifter is a practical accessory that enables the presser foot to be lifted simply by pressing the knee on the knee lever. However, if you sit too close to the knee lever, it is possible to exert a constant pressure on it, which can mean the presser foot is always lifted a little bit and there is insufficient tension on the upper thread. 

Further information on the knee lifter is available here.

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Switch off the securing stitches

Your machine is set to sew securing stitches when you start sewing. This means that if you press the thread cutter button and then start sewing again, the machine automatically makes four securing stitches on the spot. 

In the case of thin fabrics, this could lead to the fabric being pulled down right at the edge when you start sewing.

However, you can switch off the securing stitches in setup.
To do this, select the Setup program, then go to "Sewing settings", "Program buttons and icons", "Thread cutter" and deactivate the securing stitches.

On 8 Series machines

The automatic needle threader cannot be used when using a thicker thread as the upper thread or when using the double needle. When you start threading, a window appears on the display with the "Manual threading" icon, which you have to press.

Next, press the "Automatic needle threader" button and then thread the upper thread into the needle manually. An animation of this process can be found in the machine tutorial under "Threading", "Twin needle threading".
 

A little tip for anyone who is starting out on an 8 Series: The cover above the needle can be removed with the multifunction tool supplied. This makes it very easy to establish whether the upper thread is actually in the thread take-up lever when threading.

What should I do if the machine is still blocked?

Picture: Reversible bomber jacket

  • Do not pull on the fabric or the threads, as this can damage sensitive parts, such as the thread cutter.
  • If possible, first remove the presser foot and the needle.
  • Then carefully cut the threads or the fabric above the stitch plate with scissors.
  • Open the bobbin case area and remove the bobbin case. The tutorial "Cleaning and oiling" for your machine shows you how. 
  • Check whether there are tangled threads in the bobbin case area by taking out the hook.
  • Carefully try to release the blockage by turning the handwheel forward.
  • Remove the stitch plate and check whether there are tangled threads under the stitch plate and if so, remove them.
  • Replace the hook, bobbin case, bobbin and stitch plate. 
  • Check whether the upper thread is threaded correctly and rethread if necessary.

Where would you like to go next?

Tips on starting to sewOverview of all tips & tricks

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