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ellen kidd Posted on Nov 20, 2013

Underneath of quilt the stitches are long with smaller topstitches is my top tension to loose or too tight

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Quilts and Lace LLC

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  • Posted on Dec 06, 2013
Quilts and Lace LLC
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YOur top thread is looping, right? Re-thread your top thread, making sure you floss it into the tension system. When you drop the pressed foot it should offer tension to the thread. Right? When you have underside loops it would indicate too much thread, right? So either the tension is too low OR something is jerking on the top thread causing a loop.

2 Related Answers

Debbi's Sewing Machine Repair

  • 7365 Answers
  • Posted on Nov 22, 2010

SOURCE: sews small stitches on the

change needle
change your stitch length dial to a number higher like if it on 3 change it to 4 or 5
change the tension to 3 or 4
clean under the needle plate where the feed dog is for lint
clean the bobbin area for lint or loose threads
rethread the machine

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Debbi's Sewing Machine Repair

  • 7365 Answers
  • Posted on May 18, 2012

SOURCE: no manual, can't program for straight stitch, tension seems tight

what the name & model number of the machine?

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1helpful
2answers

Tension on my new Juki2010q when Machine quilting/topstitching a quilt. The stitching in the back of the quilt is puckered, but the top is fine. What are the correct tensions required please.

tensions are not an exact science but from your description of puckered which by the way is perfect indicates that the tension is way to high lower the tension settings and always use a practice sample first before going live on your project
1helpful
1answer

My bottom stitch is perfect but my top stitch is sloppy,how do I fix that?

Is the top thread making a thread mess under the fabric? That usually means the top tension is too loose or the thread is not seated in the tension disk.

Remove the top thread from the machine.
ALWAYS RAISE the presser foot and rethread from the beginning.
Set the top tension at the midpoint and test your machine. Then adjust the tension until the two threads meet in the middle of the fabric.

...
1helpful
1answer

Why won't my Bernina zig zag bobbin thread catch underneath; the top looks great.

have you tried changing the needle?
have you tried adjusting the top tension?
0helpful
1answer

Stitch too tight on top, too loose on bottom

This is a problem with thread tension. The needle thread is too tight and the bobbin thread is too loose. I don't have one of these machines, but there should be either screws or knobs to adjust. Look at your manual. Here's a page I found on bobbin tension.
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1022927/Toyota-Quilt-50.html?page=50
0helpful
1answer

The tension seems to be loopy on the underneath of the fabric just can't get it right

Tighten the top tension. To check the bobbin tension take the bobbin out and dangle it by the thread like you would hold a yo yo. A gentle flick of the wrist should cause the bobbin to drop down some but not just spin out to the floor, ie there should be some tension. If it hits the floor it is too loose. But if it doesn't release, fall, some it is too tight.

When you stitch a broad zig zag if the tension is correct it will look identical on the top as it does on the bottom. If it is smaller on the top then the bobbin is too tight. If it is smaller on the bottom than the top tension is too tight etc.
0helpful
1answer

My zig zag stitch is puckering fabric. I even went to the multiple zig zag, same problem. I decreased tension. What should I have double. Note: this was on single layer, along edge of fabric so I could...

Check the bobbin tension too. It could be too tight. Make sure you are using the right size needle for the material as well. Sheer, thin fabric needs a smaller needle, thicker material requires bigger needles. Bobbin tension is the typical problem as most think to adjust the top tension but don't check the bobbin tension.

Is your quilt peices cotton? Cotton shouldn't cause as much trouble sewing along the edge but don't use too long of a stitch length else it will seem to gather up. Puckering side to side however is a tension problem usually. With sheerer fabrics that cause a problem sometimes you can put thin paper underneath, sew through both and then pull the paper off after sewing. (thin like the iron on type interfacing type fabric but like paper).
4helpful
1answer

The thread underneath when sewing is too loosed

Usually thread too loose on the bottom is caused by the upper tension being too loose. The top and bottom tensions work together with the top thread making the underside of the stitch seem too taunt or too loose and the bobbin thread causing the top side of the stitch to be loopy or too tight. Select a large zig zag stick and sew a couple of inches. Then examine the stitch. It should look identical on both sides. Look to see which side is drawn too tight, the zig zag being smaller on that side with threads from the bottom threads pulled through. Then adjust the two tensions so that they make a uniform, identical stitch.

Also, when the bobbin tension is right you can hold the bobbin dangling by the thread and it won't spool out to the floor but will let loose a bit with a slight flick of the wrist. Too loose it will just spool out. Too tight and it won't drop at all. When you get that set right then do the above zig zag test to see where the top tension should be set.
0helpful
1answer

Pfaff varimatic 6091 sew a rag quilt with jean and flannel,I can't get my tension right it seems to be funny on the bottom stitch,where shoulf the top tension be set at 4 1/2 ,when do I adjust the bobbin...

Hi! The bobbin tension rarely needs to be adjusted. First, make sure you're using the appropriate size needle and thread for your fabric (I'd probably use either a 'denim' needle or a universal size 14) and also that the upper thread and bobbin are threaded absolutely correctly. These can throw off the tension! Also, take the time to clean out the bobbin area. That can throw your stitch off also.

If the stitch on the bottom is loose, so that you see the top threads, then the top tension is too loose. If the top stitch is too loose and you see the bobbin threads on top, then the top tension is too tight.

It helps to thread the machine with different color thread on top and in the bobbin, and then stitch an inch or so on the same type of fabric as you're using in your quilt. Check the stitch. If you need to adjust the top tension, make sure the pressure foot is down! Adjust a little, stitch a few inches, and check again. Repeat until you don't see any (or very little) bobbin thread on the top or top thread on the bottom.

If you go through all these steps, and the bobbin thread is still loose (and you've tightened up the top tension), then there is a tiny little screw on the side of the bobbin case that you can use to adjust the bobbin tension. Turn the screw just a little bit (less than a quarter turn), stitch, check, etc. Once the bobbin tension is set, you shouldn't ever have to change it.

Let me know if this helps, ok?

Happy sewing!




0helpful
1answer

Sewing machine stitches upside down!

Sounds like you may need to have the tensions adjusted. If the bobbin thread is showing on top, the bobbin tension may be too loose. If the top thread shows underneath, the top tension is probably too loose. Since you are having both problems, perhaps a technician should take a look at it.
0helpful
1answer

Skipped stitches & looping on the bottom of Quilt

Try a different needle. Use a quilting or topstitch or even a metallic needle - one that has a larger scarf than normal. The scarf is the groove at the back of the needle where the thread goes while the stitch is being formed. Quilting threads often need more "room" there. I have been told that the Inspira quilting needles are good because they have a thread groove on the front and the back of the needle. Not tried them personally but might be worthwhile for you to consider.

For the looping, you could fiddle with your tensions a little either loosening the bobbin tension or tightening the top, or both. Only ever do this in very small increments. But the good news is that even the "professional" quilters do not have perfect quilt backs - just have a look at them at quilt shows!
Pam M.
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