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Unfortunately, appearances are misleading. Tension is a tug of war, so if the bobbin thread lays on the surface of the fabric, it's because the top tension is too loose and is not pulling the bobbin thread up. Tension is correct when both threads meet in the middle of the fabric. Tighten the top tension and keep adjusting until the bobbin thread comes up into the fabric.
You need to tighten the bottom and top stitches both. First, tighten the bobbin slightly. Now, tighten the top stitches the same amount of pressure as the bobbin. The attempt is to have both the bottom and top stitches exactly the same so the final stitch ends up in the center of the fabric. Observe the stitch and readjust if necessary.
Um, the top thread is showing on the bottom of the fabric? The top tension is too loose. The two threads create a tension battle, one pulling against the other. To pull the bobbin thread up, tighten the top tension. The tension is accurate when the two threads meet "in the middle" of the fabric. On thinner fabric, you might see a tiny spot of bobbin thread on the top and a tiny spot of top thread on the bottom.
The sewing on the bottom is loose because you don't have enough tension on the TOP thread. First, make absolutely sure you are threading the machine correctly. Next, while using 2 different colours of thread, tighten the top tension dial one number at a time and then checking the stitching, continue tightening the top tension until the sewing is even on the top and bottom of your cloth.
Load your sewing machine with one color on top, threaded through the needle. Load the second color thread into the bobbin and thread.
Fold the scrap fabric in half, and sew a straight stitch at least 2 inches long. Look closely at the seam. If you see loops of the bottom color thread on top of the fabric, proceed to Step 3. If you see loops of the top color thread on the bottom of the fabric, proceed to step 4.
Loosen the top tension. Since the top tension is so tight, it is pulling the bottom thread up through the fabric. Loosen the top tension by turning the numbered knob on the front of the sewing machine counterclockwise by one number.
Tighten the top tension. Since the top tension is too loose, the bottom thread is pulling the top thread down through the fabric. Tighten the top tension by turning the numbered knob on the front of the sewing machine clockwise by one number.
Sew a straight stitch 3 inches in length. Check the stitching. It is perfect if the threads meet in the middle, and you can only see the top thread on top and the bottom thread on bottom. If it still needs adjusting, go back to step 2 to repeat the needed steps.
Using two different colored threads makes it easier for you to see which thread is being pulled.
Always use proper precautions when working with electrical machines.
The bottom stitch is affected by the TOP thread tension :) First go back and make sure your bobbin tension is correct since you adjusted it. It should drop slightly when held suspended by danging it by the thread. If it reels out to the floor it is too loose. If it doesn't drop at all it is too tight.
Now that you have that adjusted look at your top tension. If it is loopy on the bottom side of the stitch the TOP tension is too loose. Increase the top tension.
Now take some scrap material and set machine to a wide zig zag, medium length stitch and sew a bit. Compare the top and the bottom sides of the stitch. They should look identical. Remember the TOP side effects the bottom and the BOTTOM tension effects the top side. Adjust accordingly until they look identical with no loose threads or loops and no puckering (puckering means it's too tight).
This is a tension adjustment problem. It's good to use two different colors of thread, like you did. From your description, the top thread (needle thread) tension needs to be tighter. As you tighten the tension of the top thread, you'll see that the top thread pulls the bobbin thread up into the fabric so it's no longer laying loose on the bottom of the fabric.
You'll need to have the pressure foot down when you tighten the tension. Tighten it a little, sew a practice seam, check to see what the stitch looks like. Tighten it a little more, sew, check, etc etc--until both top and bottom look the same--you shouldn't see much (if any) of the bobbin thread color on top of the fabric or the top thread color on the underside.
If the top stitch is loose, then you need to tighten the bobbin tension: if the bottom stitch is loose, tighten the top tension. Hope this helps. It could also be the size needle and thread you are using for a particular fabric. Different fabrics require different notions.
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