Fabric doesn't Feed

The needle never moves forward/back on its own for most sewing machines. The needle bar goes up and down. The fabric moves due to the action of the feed dogs. First remove the fabric from under the presser foot. Check for tangled thread wrapped around the feed dogs or fabric/thread going down into the bobbin area in a tangle. Next check if the feed dogs are up. (When the feed dogs are down or covered (on some machines), the machine is in darning mode. The fabric will only move if you move it yourself.) With the fabric out of the way, rotate the hand wheel and check if the feed dogs are moving. Open up the bobbin compartment and clean out any lint, thread or other debris that may be tangling the mechanism. Take off the throat plate and check the feed dogs. A damaged throat plate can stop the feed dogs from moving properly. You may need to replace the throat plate.

For some machines, you may need to make sure that the unit is not in bobbin wind mode. This is usually obvious since the needle bar won't move either.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Have you got a tangle under your fabric? If so, release the fabric and rethread your machine, making sure the foot is up during threading. Otherwise check the feed dog under the foot. There's usually a switch somewhere that brings the feed dog up or down. If it's down the fabric won't feed. Another point, what type of fabric are you sewing. If it's leather or leatherette you'll need to use a roller foot. Hope this helps.

Make sure the stitch length is set high enough to actually advance the fabric--the feed dogs actually need to move forward and backward.. The stitch length control controls how much the feed dogs move the fabric. Also, check if your machine has a presser foot pressure control. This manages the amount of pressure the presser foot applies to the fabric, causing the feed dogs to grip the fabric in their movement.

If these do not resolve the issue, you may need to take it for service.

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Is the feed dog raised into sewing position and not dropped as for darning? Feed dogs need to be in the raised position in order to pull the fabric through the machine.

If the stitch length is set too short, it will cause the fabric to barely move thereby causing the machine to stitch in one place.

Raise your presser foot and gently rotate the handwheel and watch the feed dogs. Do they rise when coming to the front of the machine, move toward the back of the machine, drop down below the needle plate, and move forward to the front of the machine again? If so, the feed dogs are working properly.

If the feed dogs never rise, they are in the dropped position for darning or free motion quilting when you would move the fabric manually.

If, on the other hand, the feed dogs do not move at all, then they are seized and you should probably get your machine serviced.

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Check that the stitch length is set to make ~10 stitches per inch. This stitch is long enough to actually move the fabric. If the stitch length is set too short, the fabric will stay barely move and the needle will stitch almost in place.

Check that the feed dogs have not been dropped for darning or free motion quilting. In this position, they do not rise and are, therefore, unable to contact the fabric to pull it through the machine.

With the presser foot raised and using no fabric, hand rotate the handwheel and watch if the feed dogs actually drop down below the needle plate, move toward the front of the machine, then rise above the needle plate, and move toward the back of the machine. If the feed dogs are moving in this manner, then they are functioning properly.

Is there lint or gunk stuck in the feed dogs? This will restrict the ability of the feed dogs to grip the fabric.

Are the feed dogs worn? Are the little teeth worn so there are no sharp points?

What type fabric are you using? If it is very light-weight or slick fabric, the feed dogs will have a difficult time gripping the fabric. Most machines have a presser foot pressure adjustment so that more pressure is applied between the presser foot and the feed dogs. Consult your Owner's Manual. The adjustment is usually a dial either on the left side of the machine, on the front of the machine located above the needle bar, or on vintage machines it is usually a skrew located under the top lid above the needle bar.

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Sewing machine feed dogs generally do not move sideways. They move only forward or backward. Embroidery machines will stitch in all directions but only because they use hoops and not feed dogs to move the fabric. If you need the stitch to go a different direction, you can try rotating the fabric. Free motion quilting uses your hands to move the fabric under the needle but the feed dogs are not in use.

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it would be a good idea to have the feed dogs checked to see why
they are not moving the fabric

Presser foot tension is to low for the weight/finish of the fabric, or bottom dogs are worn.

• The feed dog feeds the fabric under the presser foot while you guide the fabric.

  
  

• The feed dog regulates the stitch length by how much fabric passes under the presser foot as the machine stitches.

  
  

• It is important for you to not push and pull the fabric under the presser foot. Allow the feed dog to move the fabric, so that you do not bend and break sewing machine needles.

Hope this helps.

h! there,
fabric moves forward when machine run due to movement of feed dogs,feed dog has a teeth, when your foot presser goes down attached to fabrics the pressure hold the fabric between pressure foot and feed dogs that why when machine run feed dogs pushed fabric when recieved stitch.try to check adjustment of feed dogs it maybe set at rest or neutral.reset it to upward towards needle.check also bobbins thread if accumulation was build up under feed dogs.regard and have a nice day.

hi! there if your feed dog does not move the fabric forward or backward,if this is so try to run machine w/o the fabric check if feed dog move on cycle,the teeth should be moving upward and downward rotation pushing action on your fabric,the teeth should come out to the plate slot of feed dog.if not adjust upward, and adjust also the presser foot of needle.if your feed dog is not moving when machine running,thre is a mechanical disengage or loosen in shuttle assymble and feeder dog mechanism they link together ubder the machine,as the shuttle move on one stroke the feeder also move also with the needle.Chesk the adjustment and link mechanism.in addition to this try to clean feed dogs by brush chips thread and fabrics sometimes stored on mechanism of feed dogs and shuttle.