While sewing a straight seam, I've had the fabric pulled into the needle plate, which results in me having to unscrew the plate to get it released. How do I fix this?

Carefully cut any thread, turn the hand wheel gently to lift the needle up. Lift the presser foot up from the fabric, if the fabric is jammed in the feed dogs, and as the metal plate, take a screwdriver (some machines come with a special one). Unscrew the metal plate and use a seam ripper to carefully pull out the fabric or loosen them from the feed dogs.

try changing the needle it could be blunt

also make sure the top thread has not come off the thread take up lever

clean under the needle plate and in the bobbin are for lint

Slow down and watch what you sew over.
No needle is going to sew through the metal part of a zipper.
With many layers of fabric you have to slow down. If you have multiple layers of a thick fabric you may have to resort to using the hand wheel to get through the layers.
Another tip would be to not pull on the fabric. The machine is capable of "feeding" the fabric at the rate it requires. When sewing with many yards of fabric the weight of the fabric may create a pull on the needle. If the needle is pulled so that it no longer goes through the need plate properly it will hit the metal of the needle plate and break. Instead rest your hands on either side of the fabric and gently steer the fabric. Do not pull it out of the back of the machine or shove it into the needle. With large yardages wad up the fabric around the machine so that the weight of the fabric isn't causing strain around the needle.
One other tip. If you have a needle plate in your machine that only supports straight stiching, that is one with a needle hole that is just big enough for the needle to move up and down, and you switch to a zig-zag stitch, you will break the needle. Most factory installed needle plates have a needle hole large enough to support the largest zig-zag that the machine can support. But some machines have custom needle plates (for quilting) that only support a straight stitch.

Using a straight stitch needle plate helps a lot. The end of the fabric doesn't get drawn down into the zig zag needle hole. The needle plate will cost around $50 but for me it is worth it for accurate piecing.

here is a link for parts for the sewing machine
http://www.sewingpartsonline.com/bernina-150-sewing-machine-parts.aspx

have you tried using a new needle- if the needle is the slightest bet bent or or damaged it can cause problem with the fabric threads

if the needle is not the correct one for the fabric, it can move or damage the fabric threads

also clean under the needle plate for loose threads or lint also in the bobbin area

Have you wound the bobbin with the shiring under tension? you need the shirring elastic to be stretched somewhat as it goes onto the bobbin so that when stitched out, it relaxes and pulls the fabric up.

And yes, usually you need to tighten up the bobbin tension also to stretch the elastic some more.

The Ellure has a horizonal drop in bobbin so you will need to access this to adjust the tension. This may require unscrewing the two screws holding down the needle plate (metal flat plate you sew over). Take this off and now you'll see the bobbin holder area clearly. Look where the tension spring is, the little groove you pull the thread into when threading up. Is there a small dial just near this, about 7mm across? it will have a groove in the top and hopefully a + and - marking.

IMPORTANT: carefully make a note of where it is set now. Take a picture or write a little diagram down so you can get it back to normal setting. Use your little accessory screwdriver and carefully turn it one click to +, then test sew. YOu may need to turn it up 3 clicks to get the elastic stretched enough. Just make sure you know where to set the dial back to when you are done.

Also, remember you won't be able to shir heavy fabric, just light weight cottons work best.

I find that stitching lots of straight lines of shirring like you see tube bodice sundresses made in ready to wear is very hard, factories will have a machine that sews 20 rows at once. And getting enough gathers is trial and error with a domestic sewing machine.

Here's how I do it. Turn down top selvage edge of the fabric width you want to gather, turn down about 10mm and straight stitch around. Now on the wrong side with a sewing marker pen rule lines down from here across the fabric width spaced 1 cm apart. Now lie shirring elastic on these lines and stitch over it with a narrow zig zag stitch making sure not to catch the elastic with the needle. Start each sitching seam one cm from the raw edge of the fabric and finish the seam the same way.

Now I pull the elastic up from each side pulling all of them evenly until I"ve got it gathered enough. Now place right sides together and stitch the fabric into a tube catching the elastic ends in and securing them.

I hope this helps you out.

Hello,
Here are several solutions for you to try.

* Your broken needle may have been too thin for your fabric. Make sure your replacement needle
is appropriate for the weight and type of your fabric and thread. You may also need a thicker needle if you’re sewing through bulky layers of fabric. When you insert your new needle, make sure it’s positioned correctly (usually with the flat side away from the bobbin, but consult your manual), that it goes all the way into the holder, and that the screw is securely tightened.


If there doesn’t seem to be a problem with your needle, try the following:

* Check your pressure foot to make sure it’s attached securely.

* Change your pressure foot. Your pressure foot may be bent, causing your needle to hit it.

* Don’t sew over pins. A needle that hits a pin can break. Always remove the pins from your fabric before they reach your needle.

* Don’t pull your fabric as you sew. You could be bending your needle back, causing it to hit your needle plate instead of going into the hole. Just guide your fabric, letting it feed on its own.

* Check your needle plate to make sure it's securely in position.

* Change your needle plate. If you’ve been using a straight stitch needle plate (a plate with a small hole, often used for sewing fine, delicate fabrics), switch to a needle plate with a wider hole.

* Check the position of your needle. Sewing machines with zigzag capability allow you to adjust the position of your needle, right,left, or center. If your needle is not positioned correctly, it may be hitting your needle plate or pressure foot.


I hope this helps.

Hello,
Here are some solutions to try.

* When you insert your new needle, make sure it’s positioned correctly (usually with the flat side away from the bobbin, but consult your manual), that it goes all the way into the holder, and that the screw is securely tightened.


If there doesn’t seem to be a problem with your needle, try the following:

* Check your pressure foot and make sure it’s attached securely.


* Change your pressure foot Your pressure foot may be bent, causing your needle to hit it.


* Don’t sew over pins a needle that hits a pin can break. Always remove the pins from your fabric before they reach your needle.


* Don’t pull your fabric as you sew. You could be bending your needle back, causing it to hit your needle plate instead of going into the hole. Just guide your fabric, letting it feed on its own.


* Check your needle plate and make sure it's securely in position.


* Change your needle plate. If you’ve been using a straight stitch needle plate (a plate with a small hole, often used for sewing fine, delicate fabrics), switch to a needle plate with a wider hole.


* Check the position of your needle. Sewing machines with zigzag capability allow you to adjust the position of your needle – right, left, or center. If your needle is not positioned correctly, it may be hitting your needle plate or pressure foot.

Hope this helps.

Hello,
Here are some things to try.

* Your broken needles may have been too thin for your fabric. Make sure your replacement needle is appropriate for the weight and type of your fabric and thread. You may also need a thicker needle if you’re sewing through bulky layers of fabric.

* When you insert your new needle, make sure it’s positioned correctly (usually with the flat side
away from the bobbin, but consult your manual), that it goes all the way into the holder, and
that the screw is securely tightened.


If this doesn’t seem to be the problem

* Check your pressure foot
Make sure it’s attached securely.

* Change your pressure foot
Your pressure foot may be bent, causing your needle to hit it.

* Don’t sew over pins
A needle that hits a pin can break. Always remove the pins from your fabric before they reach your needle.

* Don’t pull your fabric as you sew
You could be bending your needle back, causing it to hit your needle plate instead of going into the hole. Just guide your fabric, letting it feed on its own.

* Check your needle plate
Make sure it's securely in position.

* Change your needle plate
If you’ve been using a straight stitch needle plate (a plate with a small hole, often used for
sewing fine, delicate fabrics), switch to a needle plate with a wider hole.

* Check the position of your needle
Sewing machines with zigzag capability allow you to adjust the position of your needle – right, left, or center. If your needle is not positioned correctly, it may be hitting your needle plate or pressure foot.

I hope this helps.