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Marguerite Wolf Posted on Jan 25, 2016
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How can I prevent bobbin thread from bunching up and tangling?

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R.A. Ellis

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  • Sewing Machines Master 12,731 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 26, 2016
R.A. Ellis
Sewing Machines Master
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Joined: Jun 12, 2012
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First thing to do: install a brand new needle and clean the lint/dust from the feed dogs and bobbin area. Make sure you are using the right needle and thread for the fabric being sewn.

All About Needles

Second thing: remove all the thread from the machine. RAISE the presser foot and rethread from the beginning making sure that it is threaded correctly through every thread guide (consult the owner's manual). And verify that the bobbin is loaded and threaded in the bobbincase properly.

AVOID using old, fuzzy, and bargain bin threads.

Set the upper tension to the midway point between the high & low number (this is the factory standard although every machine may slightly differ). Now perform a new stitch test.

If the upper thread is creating a thread mess under the fabric, the upper tension is too loose. Tighten it.

If the bobbin thread is coming up to the top of the fabric, loosen the upper thread and retest. Sometimes the upper thread tension is not enough to prevent the bobbin thread from coming up. In that case, the bobbin tension may need to be tightened. (Search the internet for instructions for adjusting the bobbin tension. NOTE: bobbin tension adjustments should be done in micro-increments as a small adjustment will make a big difference in the result. Be sure to test after each adjustment.)

The tension is correct when the upper thread and bobbin thread meet and cross in the middle of the fabric. This will change whenever fabric, needle & thread are changed, so a sewist needs to be comfortable with regularly making upper thread adjustments.

One other thing to try is pull the bobbin thread up through the fabric before stitching and gently holding the thread tails when taking the first couple of stitches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=caPzulMMlMU

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5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 110 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 13, 2007

SOURCE: bunching thread underneath

When your thread is bunching at the bottom, your top tension is not tight enough, or you did not thread the machine correctly. Make sure the thread goes through the tension blades. Check your manual how to do it properly. you can check if there is any tension by pulling on the thread before threading through the eye of the the needle, and with the presser foot down. By pulling with the left hand and adjusting the tension with the right hand you should be able to feel a difference. Normal setting is between 3 and 5

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bargainbox

Hassy

  • 1388 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 24, 2008

SOURCE: Thread bunching and knotting under fabric

The thread does pass over the top of the bobbin case to form a stitch, perfectly normal, whether front or top loading bobbin.

Ensure that all is clean and free of lint jams....now for tension troubleshooting .......

This solution is for tension problems...if you cannot form any sort of stitch, the issue is quite different, so please let me know if you need a different problem solved.....

It is quite long, but just work through each section in order.
The "knotting up" can reveal a lot. If you have loose threads on one side or the other, the tension on the opposite side will be the culprit.

QUICK SUMMARY FIRST:
Ensure sharp new needle,
Thread guides and Bobbin are Clean & Clear of lint
Set Top Tesion to 4 ....then....
Balance Bobbin to suit.

TOP THREAD TENSION:
If the looping threads are on the underside as you sew, it is the top tension. Top tension ought to be between 4 & 6 (this variation to allow for the different weights of fabric in your
projects).

IS YOUR NEEDLE SHARP ?
If you are using a needle that has seen quite a deal of work, or you suspect it may be blunt, change it for a new one !

TOP TENSION & GUIDES:
Make sure that when you thread the machine the presser foot is up so the thread goes between the discs and not to one side, top tension between 4 and 6, and that you have threaded through all the guides, including the last one, usually on the needle arm, just above the needle clamp.

It may be there is lint trapped between the discs, this will keep them slightly apart and reduce the actual tension, sometimes dramatically.

If tensions appear correct, and the thread is definitely in the channel between the discs, but still too loose and looping, try raising presser foot and remove your thread.

Now, with a 2" (50mm) wide strip piece of fabric 8 - 10" (20 - 25cm) moistened with methylated or denatured spirit, gently insert the fabric strip and clean between the discs with
a see saw / to and fro action.

In the worst cases, gentle use of a needle to pick & remove the jam may be necessary, but be very gentle and make sure the tension is set at Zero and the presser foot is raised, (to
disengage tension plates).... do not gouge or score the plates, they need a polished surface to work correctly.

BOBBIN TENSION:
Far less common, but if the loose threads are on the top, it is bobbin tension that is loose, it too may have lint in the spring and be giving a "false" tension.

I would not recommend fiddling with bobbin tension without good reason, it may end up with missing small screws and spring pieces, however, you can take the needle plate off to clean
the hook race area (where bobbin case sits)

...this is just good housekeeping, my wife does this every time she replaces the bobbin....

just take it out and clean the bobbin case and the fixed metal hook race with a small brush to remove lint. If there is a significant amount of lint, use a vacuum and small brush to get the worst.

Then wipe all this area with a cloth or cotton bud (Q tip) moistened (not soaked) with methylated spirit, especially if there appears to be fine dirty deposits....oil and lint combine to conspire against you.

If it seems likely that you ......really ....do .....actually .....need .....to adjust the bobbin case, first check there is no lint trapped in the metal spring where the thread is tensioned.

TOP LOADER:
Drop-in Bobbin case will look similar to this image with the tension screw in the middle of the metalwork....

4c76dc1.jpg ...the other screw at one end is holding it all together, so beware....it is not a tragedy to undo the whole lot and clean it, but very gingerly and lay the bits out in sequence and orientation, or you risk tearing your hair out !

FRONT LOADER:
....this is a bobbin case from a front loading machine and works in a very similar fashion to the top loader with drop in bobbin, again, if you dismantle it, take care so you can put it all
back properly.
165ca5c.jpg FINISHING UP
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT:
When you are certain there's no trapped lint in top tension or bobbin, set the top tension to 4 and the bobbin tension to a point where you just begin to feel resistance.

Try using good quality thread of contrasting colours so you can more easily spot the changes.

Set your zigzag to one width less than maximum (eg. 5 of 6 ...or... 4 of 5 etc) and sew a sample for a few inches and check the result.... adjust the bobbin tension screw very little at
a time, perhaps 1/16 of a turn.

You may find you are playing with this balance for some little while and if you are putting the needleplate on and off each time begin to think it cannot be correct to do this.....BUT....it is,
and eventually, you do get a "feel" for the correct tension and then it happens quite quickly.....as a user you won't be doing it very often unless there is lint built up (or are there small hands at work around the house !?!?!)

OTHER ISSUES:
If you live near the ocean as we do, salt air can play havoc with metalwork inside and out, so to help minimise this, keep a few small packets of dessicant (silica gel) in your machine
case....no case ? then make some sort of cover !

Same applies in any damp or humid environment, keep your machine dry and dust free.

Budget for a proper full service every couple of years (more often if heavily used) and if you don't use your machine for a few years, be aware that old oil will dry out and combining with
dust and form a "clag" like glue (another reason for some sort of cover, even a teatowel !)

FINALLY, A WORD ON THREAD:
If it is worth spending the time, energy and money on making something that you would like to give lasting enjoyment......use quality thread, .......it may seem to cost a little more at the
time, but the results, ease of use and added longevity will be worth the extra, and as a bonus, your tension troubles may be fewer and further between, because there is a more consistant diameter with good thread, and less compensating to be done by your tension plates and less thread breaks !

If you want any more help with this, just post back here, or, drop a line through the "Contact Us" page at www.bargainbox.com.au

Anonymous

  • 46 Answers
  • Posted on Oct 24, 2008

SOURCE: Thread is bunching up unside of the material does not catch bobbin thread

This sounds like the tension is not set properly for what you are sewing.

Anonymous

  • 2 Answers
  • Posted on Jan 23, 2009

SOURCE: bobbin thread bunches up creating a tangled mess under the plate

This could either be due to the bobbin being wound too loosely, or the tension on the top thread is too loose. This just happened to me the other day, and I thought it was the bobbin thread, but then I put another bobbin in with a different color than the top thread (this is a huge help in diagnosing thread issues), and I was surprised to find that it was actually the top thread that was a big loopy mess on the underside of the fabric. I fixed it by tightening the tension on the top thread (quite a bit), and everything was fine.

Anonymous

  • 69 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 12, 2009

SOURCE: need online manual

If you are having problems with the thread on the underside of the fabric, that is usually the upper tension. Check to make sure that it is threaded correctly. If so, make sure that the thread is inside the tension disc and that there are no pieces of thread caught in the tension. If it is threaded and there are no thread caught up in the tension assembly, adjust your tension dial to a slightly higher number. Do this until you get a good stitch.

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This likely is related to thread tension. You might increase that adjustment a bit higher than the book settings. If that does not fix the problem, here are some additional considerations?

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/fixing-bobbin-thread-bunching-looping-tangling-2978069

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Thread started bunching on underside of project & tangling around bobbin. Now the needle won't pick up bobbin thread, even after changing needle 2x and re-threading upper thread. What's wrong?

Hmmm, could be several things.
Try a brand new needle. Try a different brand of thread.
Remove the top thread from the machine. RAISE the presser foot and rethread from the beginning. Verify the thread path is correct.

If it still will not pick up the bobbin thread, the machine could be out of time.
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The bobbin thread is bunching up

hi Lois.
this is all i could find out.
Check Your Tension Settings. Looping underneath the fabric usually occurs when there is not enough tension in the needle thread to pull the bobbin thread. Sometimes thread bunching can be caused by something as simple as the tension dial being inadvertently turn.
or try this link.
WHY IS THREAD BUNCHING UNDERNEATH MY FABRIC
or this one,
Sewing Machine Thread Bunching Up Here Why .
if you go to this link a little window might open up in the middle of the page just close the little window down.
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If the thread is bunching or tangling when winding a bobbin, check that you have properly threaded the winder. Especially make sure you are running the thread through the bobbin tension assembly.
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1. thread machine correctly.
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I am sewing scout badges on a uniform and when I sew there is a bunch of needle thread bunched up on the bottom (the top looks fine). And the needle thread gets all caught up around the bobbin.

Clean out the bobbin area if there are any thread tangles there.

Refer to the maintenance section of the manual - see the configuration of the bobbin case and shuttle race? The bobbin case as an extending arm and the race a notch. When inserting the bobbin case into the shuttle, turn the handwheel so the needle is at it's highest position. Then lift the lever on the back of the bobbin case and insert the cast into the shuttle, arm pointing straight up toward the bed of the sewing machine.

Now thread the machine with the presser foot up - always - and see if the tangling stops.

When you forget to lift the presser foot before threading the machine, the tension control does not open to capture the thread. Then when you begin to sew, the top thread has no tension, and the bobbin thread, which does have tension, pulls the top thread to the bottom in messy loops.
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Make sure before you close the bobbin case, that the whole piece of thread is pulled out and put towards the back of the machine, if its bunching up dont worry about it, it might just be the way the machine is. But if it is causing problems while sewing then check the bobbin thread is not tangled inside :) Hope i helped
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are you doing embroidery? if so turn off jump stitch cutting if possible. is the machine threaded correctly (pull needle thread out of machine and thread again with presser foot raised.

check for foreign matter in needle tension assembly. ensure there is sufficient needle thread tension.

the thread you see caught up underneath the fabric will be needle thread and indicates insufficient needle thread tension or something preventing the needle thread from being pulled up into the fabric (maybe a damaged bobbin case, or bobbin case position finger, or damaged needle plate hole).

goodluck,
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Have you replaced the needle with a new one? Your needle may be bent or in wrong, or the wrong size. You may have a bad needle. Check that the upper thread path is running freely and is not tangled or wrapped around anything. Make sure that the bobbin is unwinding in the correct direction as well, most bobbins, this is clockwise as the bobbin faces you. If you are using inexpensive thread, it could be the thread that is the culprit. Uneven thread in the needle will not flow through the needle properly, and cause bunching as well. Save it for the bobbin, and use good thread in the top.
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Take the thread out of the top and bottom and turn the handwheel by hand to see if the machine will rotate smoothly.
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Sorry for the delay in response. I just found the sight this evening.
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