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07-09-2013, 08:19 PM | #1 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Virginia
Posts: 595
| Sewing machine woes -- any seamstresses have advice? Hi guys, I recently got a Brother SE400 machine, and I've been having issues the past couple of days. I usually sew fleece, and there's something amiss with the stitching. It's been skipping stitches, and occasionally I will hear some thumping and while will have skipped stitches in some areas (especially in areas with thicker layers) and then have clumps of thread in other places on the bottom side of the fabric. I do feel like I hear something under the machine, maybe the bobbin moving, but I am not entirely sure. From what I've read, that's usually a build - up under the needle plate or bobbin case, so I fiddled through the instruction manual then removed and dusted in there, plus I would think it would be unlikely for a newer machine to be THAT dusty. I thought there was a chance there had been some loose threads get down into there. I had a similar problem on my old machine and it seemed to subside when I changed the needle. I've changed the needle at least twice and saw a subtle improvement, but messes up again after stitching for a minute or two. I was wondering if anyone else has encountered this and what it may be. I've tried rethreading the machine and checking the bobbin threading, and as far as I can tell it looks correct to me. It does look somewhat like after I stitch a while, the thread looks loose as it's sewing (the top thread -- what is through the needle). So then that makes me think it's something with the top threading, but I am alone in the dark here. I'm still pretty much a novice at sewing, and I know many of you are experts and have been doing this many more years than I have! Not to mention I have been using older machines that are much different than this new one. ^^ I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions! I hope to be able to fix this myself instead of hauling it to an authorized repairman, which looks like is close to 80 miles away! Thank you all for taking the time to read this!
__________________ Home is where your is. Lindsey and Nilla |
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07-09-2013, 08:28 PM | #2 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| Have you tried adjusting the thread tension? Also make sure the bobbin thread is being pulled from the correct direction... check in your manual.
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity |
07-09-2013, 09:01 PM | #3 |
YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida
Posts: 316
| Is your bobbin case oscillating or drop in style? I have an older brother machine with a drop in bobbin. I had a problem similar to yours and there was a plastic piece in the bobbin case that had cracked and was catching the thread. I ordered a replacement part (can't remember the name of it at the moment, bobbin case maybe?) and haven't had any trouble since. |
07-09-2013, 09:19 PM | #4 | |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Virginia
Posts: 595
| Quote:
Uggh, I hope I didn't manage to bust the bobbin case that quickly! Ha ha -- sounds like me though! Thank you!
__________________ Home is where your is. Lindsey and Nilla | |
07-09-2013, 09:33 PM | #5 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Virginia
Posts: 595
| I don't /think/ it's the tension, but I guess I should check that out. It's like it will sew correctly for a while, and then sometimes and mostly when I get to an extra layer of fabric, it skips some stitches, and then further down the line it just randomly starts clumping on the bottom. I read somewhere that 'birdnesting' (which I'm going to guess is what's happening here because of the shape) is usually caused by a problem with the upper thread, but then isn't skipped stitches usually a problem with the bobbin? It's insanity! Pure insanity!
__________________ Home is where your is. Lindsey and Nilla |
07-09-2013, 09:54 PM | #6 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Virginia
Posts: 595
| **UPDATE** Okay, I rethreaded the needle, made sure my bobbin was inserted in the correct direction, and adjusted the tension to 4 for testing ... The test fabric looks good -- looks right. It was still loud while it was sewing though, louder than before I encountered this issue, so I'm cautious. I will try on my project and see what the outcome is and let you know!
__________________ Home is where your is. Lindsey and Nilla |
07-09-2013, 10:04 PM | #7 | |
YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Florida
Posts: 316
| Quote:
Yep, it's a drop in bobbin. Hope the problem is fixed and you don't have to wait on parts or end up having to take it to a repair shop. | |
07-09-2013, 10:20 PM | #8 | |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Virginia
Posts: 595
| Quote:
I guess I'm just terrible at this.
__________________ Home is where your is. Lindsey and Nilla | |
07-09-2013, 10:26 PM | #9 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Mesquite, TX
Posts: 2,659
| First things first, pull that stuff apart and clean it. Thread, fabric and life in general cause dust and debris. My juki quilting machine is so picky and hates any amount of dust. Make sure theres no thread or lint under your plate, caught in any important larts, etc. Second thing is change your needle. Third rethread the machine Fourth rethread the bobbin. FYI: clumping thread or stitches showing (outside the norm) on the bottom of the fabric means a problem with your top thread. Clumping thread or stitches showing on the top means a bobbin issue. Make sure when you rethread the top, your thread goes on the correct side of the tension plate and that it falls all the way to the end of your take up lever and catches in the levers hook on the end. Mine ocassionally slips back and causes problems. Usually retreading takes care of it. Keep in mind old thread can throw more dust, as well as cotton thread. Fleece is especially dusty.
__________________ "You've never learned to live until you've done something for someone for which they can never repay you."~Ralph Hall. Last edited by McheleM; 07-09-2013 at 10:29 PM. |
07-11-2013, 02:00 PM | #10 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Virginia
Posts: 595
| I've changed the needle AGAIN to a #16 (brand new from Jo Ann's), rethreaded, and it seems like it's not skipping and birdnesting as much, but it's still skipping in places (thicker layers especially) and makes loud sounds as it's sewing through the fabric. I know the needle is good because I have yet again put a new one in, but everywhere I look it says the skipping (and maybe even the loud sounds) is a needle problem.
__________________ Home is where your is. Lindsey and Nilla |
07-11-2013, 05:42 PM | #11 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| Some machines require that you use a particular brand of needle for best results. Like I have to use Singer needles in my machine... may be BS... IDK!
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity |
07-11-2013, 06:49 PM | #12 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Mesquite, TX
Posts: 2,659
| Try a different brand of needle???? If that doesn't work, I suggest taking it in for maintenance. We recently had one that was fresh out of the box and had a cracked tension disk.
__________________ "You've never learned to live until you've done something for someone for which they can never repay you."~Ralph Hall. |
07-11-2013, 08:30 PM | #13 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: FtWorth,TX,USA
Posts: 3,269
| Check your owners manuel for needle length. Needles come in sizes for thickness of fabric and length for particular needles. A Singer machine uses a Singer needle because ALL Singers use the same length needle. Older machines call for a shorter needle. So if you are purchasing German made needles (schmetz),make sure that the lengeth is correct. |
07-11-2013, 09:57 PM | #14 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 4,285
| Had a problem like this some years ago - kept putting on a new needle and bobbin and everything I could think of - bottom line I had the needle in backwards (front to back issue). Straightened that out and all was well. Felt rather stupid however!
__________________ . Cali , and Cali's keeper and staff, Jay No, not a "mini" Yorkie - She loves to motor in her Mini Cooper car |
07-12-2013, 03:17 AM | #15 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,866
| Same thing goes for bobbins....
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