Tension what is each dial for... i cannot set the tension right

Threading and setting the tension on your Finesse 356 sewing machine can be done by following these steps:

1. Raise the presser foot and thread the machine:

• Take the end of the thread from the spool and pass it through the tension disk at the top of the machine.
• Next, guide the thread through the take-up lever and then down through the thread guides on the front of the machine.
• Pull the thread through the needle from left to right and make sure it is securely in the needle's eye.

1. Set the tension:

• The tension dial is usually located on the top or the side of the machine, near the needle.
• To set the tension, turn the dial until the numbers on the tension gauge line up with the red indicator line.
• The tension should be set to a medium setting, around 4 or 5, but you may need to adjust it based on the type of fabric you are using.

1. Test the tension:

• To test the tension, sew a few stitches on a scrap piece of fabric, and then examine the underside of the fabric.
• If the thread is too loose on the underside, turn the tension dial to a higher number. If the thread is too tight on the underside, turn the tension dial to a lower number.
• Repeat the process until the thread is properly tensioned on both the top and bottom of the fabric.

If you have any difficulty with these steps or if you have any other questions about your Finesse 356 sewing machine, I would recommend referring to the machine's manual for more detailed instructions.

Consult your owner's manual. Usually, the standard overlock tension settings are somewhere in the middle of each dial, ie if the dials are 1-9, the mid-range is 4 or 5.

Here's a manual that may be helpful:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB8QFjAAahUKEwijk4uUjZvHAhVVL4gKHZHFCBM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.husqvarnaviking.com%2Fsitemedia%2Fproducts%2Fmachines%2Fsupport%2Fhuskylock_s15_manual_en_e.pdf&ei=5c7GVeOMNNXeoASRi6OYAQ&usg=AFQjCNF2jSaQ5fFkvSNjeWLqqA3Av42JgA&bvm=bv.99804247,d.cGU&cad=rja

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Means thread is way too loose. Up tension dial number until the thread just skims the surface of the fabric.

These are the instructions in the manual:
Adjusting the Thread Tension
Balanced thread tension:
Small amount of the needle thread shows on the wrong side of the fabric.
When the needle thread tension is too tight:
The bobbin thread shows on the right side of the fabric. Reduce the tension by turning the tension dial to a lower number.
When the needle tension is too loose:
The needle thread forms loops and the stitches look shaggy.
Increase the tension by turning the dial to a higher number.

However, if you have recently changed the needle check that it is pushed right up in the slot. Other thing that springs to mind is making sure that the bobbin thread is correctly placed in the bobbin, and that the chamber is not full of lint and threads.

Begin by setting all 4 dials on "3" which is the default setting on this model (often "5" on other machines). If a beginner, it would be best to thread the machine with four different colour threads according to the colours indicated on the tension dials (yellow, red, blue &green) so that it is easier to see how each thread responds as you adjust the dials. The two lower dials are for the loopers & must be adjusted until the upper & lower loops meet on the cut edge of the fabric - if below the edge: tighten the left dial & loosen the right dial (& visa-versa) just a fraction at a time. The two upper tension dials are for the needles: if too loose, loops form underneath the fabric below each needle, & if too tight the lower threads will show through to the upper side of your fabric where it is pierced by the needle. Good luck!

Try setting up your machine with the 4 different thread colors as the guide--use yellow thread in the yellow guide, blue in the blue, etc. This is a good way to figure out what is not working with your tension dials. To start out with a 4-thread stitch, set the tension dials at the midway point on each and then test your stitch. You should be able to see which thread colors are off. If one color is wrapping over the edge of the fabric, then that tension is too loose and the opposite thread may be too tight. The tensions are correct when the threads meet in the middle of the fabric. It's a matter of sitting down and playing with it to see what happens when you make changes to the settings. Also, one particular setting that works on a particular fabric may not work on another, so learning how to test and adjust is a big part of using a serger.

As for stitch length, that is mostly a personal decision. The shorter the stitch length, the closer the stitches will be.

The anatomy of perfect serger tension Sew McCool

Serger Tension Made Easy Do It Better Yourself Club

There are many web sites and videos that could be helpful.

Possible causes:
top tension dial set too low
top tension dial not working at all
top thread not seated into top tension discs
top thread hasn't been threaded up correctly, missing out the tension discs or take up lever

Most likely your top tension device is either set too low, or gunked up and not working right or has actually failed. Can you access the tension discs? If so, turn dial to zero and 'floss' between the discs with the selvage edge of a clean piece of waste cotton fabric and see if any black stuff comes out. If so, continue until it comes out clean. Turn back to 5 or the marked normal setting.

Now thread up again from top spool down to tension, through take up lever, then down to the eyelet just above the needle. Lower the pressure foot to engage tension then pull on the thread downwards. Is it hard to pull? If not, then the tension dial is faulty and you'll need to get the machine serviced.

If this feels firm and hard to pull, then take a look at the lower thread tension but this shouldn't normally need any altering (unless you've adjusted it previously for some reason and not reset it to normal setting). Check thread is fully into the tension spring, bobbin is in the right way and bobbin case is in fully in the correct position.

If you look at the zig zag stitiching you've done, can you identify if the loose thread is the top one? If you use two different coloured threads for troubleshooting, this often makes it a bit easier to see what's happening, just make sure they are the same weight and brand of thread if you do this.

I hope this helps you to identify the problem and fix it. But if you suspect that the top thread tension device is just not tensioning the thread even if you turn the dial right up to 7, then you'll need to get the machine serviced as the dial could well be faulting.

has the cone of thread at the back got caught up? this sounds like your thread is being caught and not feeding freely through the tension guides. Check the thread cones are okay and that the thread is pulling freely off the most right hand cone (lower looper). Also this thread dial should be set to the same tension setting as the next dial to the left for the top looper. Other possibility is that the tension disc itself has become gummed up or dirty with thread lint or dirt. Turn thread dial to zero and clean between the discs be rubbing the selvage edge of a piece of fabric between the discs gently. Now return tension to 5 or normal setting and try again.

Hi, This is a threading problem.
When you thread the machine, to make sure it is right in the top tension, thread as far as the take-up lever and stop.
Set the presser foot down, turn the top tension dial to zero, and then to 3 or 5. While turn the dial, pull the thread some to see if it tightens up as the dial increases in numbers.
After the thread comes out of the tension discs, it should then go through the check spring, then up to the take-lever.
The needle is correct and thread from the inside out, meaning right to left.

Hope this helps for now..

Take care

If you have pattern dials set correctly then I might guess that one or more sets may have been missed when the thread was being set up in the machine. most of these models show either arrows or numbers for each or way the thread needs to be routed.