SOURCE: embroidery problems
You are speaking of two conflicting problems, when the bobbin thread shows, loosen the top tension, when it loops underneath, increase top tension.
It seems you are using different weights of thread for the different projects and this will require slightly differing tensions for each.
Are you sure you have threaded through all the guides, as the foam pad is only there to increase friction to prevent thread spool from rattling wildly (esp winding bobbin)
Take a look at this below to exclude the possible issues you face:
This solution is for tension problems...if you cannot form any sort of stitch, the issue is quite different, so please let me know if you need a different problem solved.....
It is quite long, but just work through each section in order.
The "knotting up" can reveal a lot. If you have loose threads on one side or the other, the tension on the opposite side will be the culprit.
QUICK SUMMARY FIRST:
Ensure sharp new needle,
Thread guides and Bobbin are Clean & Clear of lint
Set Top Tesion to 4 ....then....
Balance Bobbin to suit.
TOP THREAD TENSION:
If the looping threads are on the underside as you sew, it is the top tension. Top tension ought to be between 4 & 6 (this variation to allow for the different weights of fabric in your
projects).
IS YOUR NEEDLE SHARP ?
If you are using a needle that has seen quite a deal of work, or you suspect it may be blunt, change it for a new one !
TOP TENSION & GUIDES:
Make sure that when you thread the machine the presser foot is up so the thread goes between the discs and not to one side, top tension between 4 and 6, and that you have threaded through all the guides, including the last one, usually on the needle arm, just above the needle clamp.
It may be there is lint trapped between the discs, this will keep them slightly apart and reduce the actual tension, sometimes dramatically.
If tensions appear correct, and the thread is definitely in the channel between the discs, but still too loose and looping, try raising presser foot and remove your thread.
Now, with a 2" (50mm) wide strip piece of fabric 8 - 10" (20 - 25cm) moistened with methylated or denatured spirit, gently insert the fabric strip and clean between the discs with
a see saw / to and fro action.
In the worst cases, gentle use of a needle to pick & remove the jam may be necessary, but be very gentle and make sure the tension is set at Zero and the presser foot is raised, (to
disengage tension plates).... do not gouge or score the plates, they need a polished surface to work correctly.
BOBBIN TENSION:
Far less common, but if the loose threads are on the top, it is bobbin tension that is loose, it too may have lint in the spring and be giving a "false" tension.
I would not recommend fiddling with bobbin tension without good reason, it may end up with missing small screws and spring pieces, however, you can take the needle plate off to clean
the hook race area (where bobbin case sits)
...this is just good housekeeping, my wife does this every time she replaces the bobbin....just
take it out and clean the bobbin case and the fixed metal hook race with a small brush to remove lint. If there is a significant amount of lint, use a vacuum and small brush to get the
worst.
Then wipe all this area with a cloth or cotton bud (Q tip) moistened (not soaked) with methylated spirit, especially if there appears to be fine dirty deposits....oil and lint combine to conspire against you.
If it seems likely that you ......really ....do .....actually .....need .....to adjust the bobbin case, first check there is no lint trapped in the metal spring where the thread is tensioned.
TOP LOADER:
Drop-in Bobbin case will look similar to this image with the tension screw in the middle of the metalwork....
...the other screw at one end is holding it all together, so beware....it is not a tragedy to undo the whole lot and clean it, but very gingerly and lay the bits out in sequence and orientation, or you risk tearing your hair out !
FRONT LOADER:
....this is a bobbin case from a front loading machine and works in a very similar fashion to the top loader with drop in bobbin, again, if you dismantle it, take care so you can put it all
back properly.
FINISHING UP
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT:
When you are certain there's no trapped lint in top tension or bobbin, set the top tension to 4 and the bobbin tension to a point where you just begin to feel resistance.
Try using good quality thread of contrasting colours so you can more easily spot the changes.
Set your zigzag to one width less than maximum (eg. 5 of 6 ...or... 4 of 5 etc) and sew a sample for a few inches and check the result.... adjust the bobbin tension screw very little at
a time, perhaps 1/16 of a turn.
You may find you are playing with this balance for some little while and if you are putting the needleplate on and off each time begin to think it cannot be correct to do this.....BUT....it is,
and eventually, you do get a "feel" for the correct tension and then it happens quite quickly.....as a user you won't be doing it very often unless there is lint built up (or are there
small hands at work around the house !?!?!)
OTHER ISSUES:
If you live near the ocean as we do, salt air can play havoc with metalwork inside and out, so to help minimise this, keep a few small packets of dessicant (silica gel) in your machine
case....no case ? then make some sort of cover !
Same applies in any damp or humid environment, keep your machine dry and dust free.
Budget for a proper full service every couple of years (more often if heavily used) and if you don't use your machine for a few years, be aware that old oil will dry out and combining with
dust and form a "clag" like glue (another reason for some sort of cover, even a teatowel !)
FINALLY, A WORD ON THREAD:
If it is worth spending the time, energy and money on making something that you would like to give lasting enjoyment......use quality thread, .......it may seem to cost a little more at the
time, but the results, ease of use and added longevity will be worth the extra, and as a bonus, your tension troubles may be fewer and further between, because there is a more consistant diameter with good thread, and less compensating to be done by your tension plates and less thread breaks !
If you want any more help with this, just post back here, or, drop a line through the "Contact Us" page at www.bargainbox.com.au
SOURCE: BabyLock Proline upper looper thread keeps breaking
I ended up switching the spools of thread around. Apparently, even though I had purchased good quality threads, one of the spools was wound in a way that made the thread loop and twist around. So I put the offending spool of thread through one of the needles and put the needle thread on the upper looper. That seems to be working. By the way, BabyLoc was very unhelpful dealing with this problem. Thank you!
SOURCE: tension settings for the babylock sewing machine
I found that the tension setting of 1 worked. The main problem was the machine had thread wound around behind the bobbin. I had to take the plates that are under the foot out, clean out the thread, oil the machine and use a spool of thread that had more weight than the little spool I was trying to use.
SOURCE: Tension
I answered this a couple days ago but don't know if it went through. I can sew through 6 or more layers of denim with my 226, no problems at all. In my 30 years in the upholstery business I never had a problem sewing leather, vinyl, canvas or multi-layers of fabric. The 226 Consew, the 111W and 211w Singers I had presented zero problems with heavy fabrics - and I don't consider vinyl "heavy".
You need to first of all check threading. If the machine's threaded wrong you're break thread. Also you need to oil under the bobbin case and the bobbin hook and the rest of the parts as well.
Then, loosen thread tension on top by turning the knurled knob that's on the spring that's holding the tension discs. Also loosen bottom tension on the bobbin case by turning the small, left-most screw on the outside of the bobbin case counter-clockwise. Do both with the presser foot down. Pull the thread(s) out and feel the tension. You should be able to pull the threads out with some little effort. Tighten both a little at a time until you get some tension. Run a couple seams and check where the threads meet in the fabric. They should meet in the center. Also check stitch length. If you're using 92 thread (is should be left twist), you should run the machine at about 6 - 7 stitches/inch. I'm running my machine at 5 - 5 1/2 with #69 nylon bonded, and 6 - 6 1/2 with #11 mono.
One more thing; if tension's too loose at the bobbin or top, the machine will jam in the bobbin and thread will break.
Go to www.consew.com and download a pdf owner's manual for free. You need to click on the 224. That machine, the 225 and 226 are the same.
SOURCE: I have a WHITE 3300 EMBROIDERY MACHINE and the
Refer to your machine for cleaning the bobbin area.
You will need to clean this area often as lint and thread snips can build up can cause the bobbin feed to malfunction.
If this continues after you have cleaned the machine, the timing may need to be adjusted by a sewing machine tech.
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