I am trying to sew on a cheap plastic tablecloth, single and double thickness. This is a new machine and I cant get the tension right. The underside thread is just a straight tight line, not a linked stitch. I have tried just about every needle thread tension with the same results. I have tightened the bobbin tension and loosened it. Am using a 14 needle, and two different color threads so I can see which is which. I checked to see that I have threaded the machine properly, and it is--maybe I should return the machine? Can you think of anything I can do to correct this? Thank you.
Just a few tips, which might help. Try these on cotton material first. Make sure you use the same quality thread for both, upper and lower stitching. I find Gutterman the best. Secondly, turn the bobin the other way round. Thirdly, make sure there is no fluff under the needle.Remove the plate and use a little brush. Fourthly, test the bobbin tension by holding it by the thread: if it falls to the ground, it is too loose, if it stops suddenly in the air, it is too tight. When it drops a little and then stays, that it the correct tension. I hope this helps.
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Sewing on double layers of leather can be challenging, and it's important to have the machine properly adjusted to handle the thickness. Here are some adjustments you can try:
Needle size: Make sure you are using the correct needle size for the thickness of your leather. A larger needle may be required to penetrate the layers.
Tension: Adjust the tension of the upper thread. If the tension is too tight, it can cause the needle to break or skip stitches. If it's too loose, the stitches may be uneven.
Presser foot pressure: You mentioned you have already adjusted the presser foot pressure, but to clarify, turning the adjustment screw clockwise will increase the pressure, while turning it counterclockwise will decrease it. You may need to increase the pressure for thicker materials.
Stitch length: Increase the stitch length for thicker materials. A shorter stitch length can cause the machine to struggle to sew through the layers.
Speed: Slow down the speed of the machine when sewing on thicker materials. This will help the machine to handle the thickness and prevent skipped stitches or broken needles.
If none of these adjustments work, you may need to take the machine to a professional for further inspection and repairs.
When sewing from thick to thin layers, it is common for industrial sewing machines to skip stitches or produce uneven stitches. Here are some things you can try to prevent this issue:
Use the right needle: A needle that is too small or too large for the fabric can cause skipped stitches. Make sure you are using the correct needle size and type for the fabric you are working with.
Adjust the presser foot pressure: The pressure of the presser foot can be adjusted on most industrial sewing machines. Decrease the pressure of the presser foot when sewing over thinner layers to help prevent skipped stitches.
Use a walking foot: A walking foot can help prevent skipped stitches when sewing over multiple layers of fabric. The walking foot will help feed the fabric through the machine evenly, preventing skipped stitches.
Adjust the tension: If the tension is too loose or too tight, it can cause skipped stitches. Adjust the tension according to the fabric you are working with.
Use a stabilizer: When sewing over thin fabrics, use a stabilizer to prevent the fabric from puckering and causing skipped stitches.
If none of these solutions work, you may need to take the machine to a professional for further inspection and adjustment.
Tension will not fix the problem you are having. When sewing stretch fabric with a sewing machine, use a zig-zag or stretch stitch. Test on a swatch of scrap fabric and then pull on the seam. If the seam pops, you need to increase the size of the zig-zag stitch to allow for the amount of stretch in the fabric.
According to the manual, you should not need to adjust the bobbin tension (and I located other sites which stated the bobbin tension cannot be adjusted on this machine). Apparently, all the tension adjustment is accomplished through the upper thread::
"EN Thread Tension Upper thread tension Basic thread tension setting: "4". (1) To increase the tension, turn the dial to the next number up. To reduce the tension, turn the dial to the next number down. A. Normal thread tension for straight stitch sewing. B. Thread tension too loose for straight stitch sewing. Turn dial to higher number. C. Thread tension too tight for straight stitch sewing. Turn dial to lower number. D. Normal thread tension for zig zag and decorative sewing. Correct thread tension is when a small amount of the upper thread appears on the bottom side of fabric. Lower thread tension The bobbin tension has been set correctly at the factory, so you do not need to adjust it. Please note: - Proper tension setting is important for strong seams. - There is no single tension setting appropriate for all stitch functions, thread or fabric. - A balanced tension (identical stitches both top and bottom) is usually only desirable for straight stitch construction sewing. - 90% of all sewing will be between "3" and "5". - For zig zag and decorative sewing stitch functions, thread tension should generally be less than for straight stitch sewing. - For all decorative sewing you will always obtain a nicer stitch and less fabric puckering when the upper thread appears on the bottom side of your fabric. 1 A B C 22 D"
Doing further research, I found this statement on a machine review site:
"After reading reviews online from where I've bought my drop-in bobbin machines, I think many of the negative reviews are due to the bobbin thread coming up without laying across the bobbin. It can cause the stitches to look very sloppy and no amount of tension adjusting can fix the stitches."
There are several machine review sites wherein 4423 owners stated their disappointment in the 4423's performance. Some said the machine failed almost immediately and others said the machines developed problems when sewing heavy fabric.
the looping on the bottom usually is a tension problem, the top & bottom tension are unequal usually fixed by adjusting the top tension.
some people that I've talked with have had success with changing to a different size needle ( depends what type of thread is being used).
when the machine is threaded the foot needs to be up ( this releases tension on the thread), when the foot is lowered it the tension is set on the thread. if the material being sewed is too thick it raises the foot too high & releases tension on the thread ( the material has to be really thick to do this).
if there a piece of thread or lint in or around the tensioner or bobbin area it could cause trouble.
other wise if you've tried everything you can think of, take it back th the store & have them try it & tell you what is wrong.
possible problems
1) too thick for the feed dog to move the fabric forward need; lighter tension
2) are the upper and lower threads the same kind of thread?
3) is the thread feeding properly from above? sometimes the spool can snag the thread causing the tension to jump and skip stitches
It sounds as though the problem is with the tension in the bobbin. Check to make sure the thread is pulled through the tensioner on the bobbin case, if it is check and adjust the tension on the case.
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