How am I messing up my machine?

[Mermaid Dottie]

I keep throwing the timing off...
How am I doing that? It's not the tension. I check that every time. I know my needle isn't blunt because it's pierced the bobbin carriage thingy twice today. So, maybe it's blunt now... but it wasn't when I started having problems.
I was just doing a zigzag seam on some tough cotton yesterday and it jammed. I went and redid everything on it today, and set it up to start sewing a zig zag seam through some spandex. Super huge loops on the underside, Jam, needle pierces the bobbin case, E6 message flashing on my machine's tiny screen, and a very frustrated Dot.

This show the holes my needle put in the bobbin case.
10790

This is a video of my machine screwing up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jaPuDvOiYU&feature=youtu.be

There's a clicking in there, I don't know if you can hear it, that was my first clue there was something wrong because when my machine is running well, its super quiet when I'm working.

[ShyMer]

Ouch, those are some scary noises :c

The first thing I noticed is your metal bobbin. I have a brother also, as does my mom. On both machines, they said to only use the correct size plastic bobbins. One time I tried using a metal bobbin because it appeared to be the same size, so what's the difference? Apparently there's something magic about the plastic ones, because I had a whole bunch of unexplained issues using the metal bobbins. Once I switched back to the plastic bobbins, the issues were mysteriously gone. Check your machine's manual to see if it's picky about the bobbins you put in. If you need to get more, they carry them at walmart.
I tried comparing my bobbin case to yours. Do you have an older machine? it looks to be metal. Just kinda fascinating is all, if the needle did punch through.


Other things-
I saw your upper thread was unthreaded on the top. Weird. did that happen as you used it? I noticed sometimes my thread does funny stuff occasionally when I'm going top speed. Are you sure you're threading it correctly?

the video's kinda blurry- did the machine stop when the needle was down or up? I saw that it didn't want to go back in, but I couldn't tell if it had made it all the way up and was trying to go back in or if it stopped before it got all the way to the highest position.

How often do you clean the machine?

Did you check to see if the needle is bent?

Were the threads at all tangled in the machine? It looks like the thread didn't want to pull out. A look at the threads on the fabric, top and bottom, could be helpful to see what's going on.


In all, I'm betting it's bobbin issues. It could be rooted in that your bobbin is metal, also it's possible the bobbin wasn't wound properly and/or inserted correctly. Mind you, I'm not a machine expert, I've just had my fair share of troubleshooting is all, and it looks similar to what I dealt with.

If you can provide some more photos, that'd be fantastic :)

[Arella]

I don't know much about fixing machines but I feel your pain I have a dinosaur machine and the thing has issues CONSTANTLY :P

[Morticia Mermaid]

I have a Brother sewing machine too. Though, mine uses metal bobbins.

The end of your video, where all the loops are tangled down in the bobbin area, tells me that it might be the needle is bent.

My advice, try these:
Thoroughly clean and oil the machine
Change out the needle
And play with the tension

I had issues with mine too, similar to yours, when I was sewing spandex. I found playing with the tension worked well, not sure about yours but mine is REALLY picky about the tension. I also found holding the spandex taught helped make the fabric a bit sturdier (my machine had a bad habit of deciding the bobbin was hungry, so it would try to eat the fabric).

If all else fails, you can google search the model and year number and see if maybe there is anyone else who has had the same problems, and what they did/recommend doing to fix it

[Moonflower]

#1 - Change your stitch to #15 on your machine. It's the best for spandex. Actually, it's the best for anything. It's a simulated serger stitch, and I swear by it as a seamstress.
#2 - Check that the thread is actually through the hole in the thread lever. Usually when it's not is when I have a similar problem.
#3 - Check the presser foot and thread tensions. They may need to be changed for spandex. Does the machine have the same issues with cotton?
#4 - Check the bobbin. When you wound it, was the thread through the tension holder? If not, it may me too loose on the bobbin.
#5 - Oil your machine and clean out any debris that may be inside (especially if you've broken a needle in the past. Tiny pieces can get inside and mess with everything)
#6 - Make sure you're using needles designed for spandex.
#7 - If all else fails, get your machine serviced, and let them know why you're bringing it in. They may be able to help fix everything without taking anything apart.

Hope this helps!

[Mermaid Dottie]

Oh Gosh! I knew I could count on you guys! You're wonderful!
I will go home and check all of that out, starting with cleaning it out and threading it properly. After that, I'll have to hunt down all of my plastic bobbins. If that turns out to be what I'm doing wrong, I will sing your praises at the top of my lungs, ShyMer.

On a rock, in my tail, covered in mermaid gear.

No Joke.

You guys are seriously my heroes! Thank you!

[Mermaid Dottie]

♪-♫ "Shyyymeeerrrr! you are my Heeerro---"♫-♪
♪-♫ "You fix-ed my machine of stitch wiiiiiiitchery!"♫-♪
♪-♫ "Hail to youuuuuu, my frieeeEEEEeeeeEEEEeeeeEEEEEEEnds!"♫-♪

[ShyMer]

woo hoo! Happy dance :)

[Jadestone]

My machine has this problem ALL the time, I've never been able to figure out why, and it usually goes back to normal after I give it a 20-min break or so and let it have some thicker material like fleece instead of spandex. It might have more to do with the fact that it's 20 years old, but I am definitely going to try all of these suggestions the next time it acts up!!