Elma supermatic balls up under machine after a few stiches

if the sewing machine is brand new, then take it back and get another one

Are you sure you have the settings right on the machine? It can be a little unintuitive with these old Swiss beauties. Start by checking the disc is fully clicked into the Elnagraph, there is a little finger underneath which marries up with a hole in the disc. Now turn the dial in front of the elnagraph to A, the automatic setting. Now turn the stitch length dial to the straight line and the stitch width to A also.
There were a few variants of the supermatic and I have descibed the last one the Star Series, this machine is white with blue top. But I have got a manual for the earlier green supermatic as well so could drag this out if you havent resolved the problem. I do find that any machine left for a while unused may,suffer from loss of needle swing, the needle bar bearing gets funked up. Can be worked loose with Triflow and gentle wiggling. The bar bearing slides across on a shiny metal rod and is,pulled back to centre by a spring, so,this could also have broken,or come off.

Make sure you have the correct needles for this machine and that it is fully inserted into the needle bar and correctly oriented.

here are some suggestions, if the suggstions don't help then it
would be a good idea to have the machine check to see if something
in wrong with the computer part of the machine
1. change the needle--make sure it's the right needle for the fabric
2. rethread the machine top & bobbin,,make sure to use every
thread guide
3. make sure the bobbin is turned the right way in the bobbin case
4. clean under the needle plate & in the bobbin area for lint

suggestions
put in a new needle
check your top thread tension
clean under the needle plate
clean the bobbin of lint & loose threads

Usually you use a ball point needle and stretch the material as you sew. Another trick is to us tissue paper under your fabric.

Totally rethread your machine, then check your needle, put in new one if you haven't changed it in awhile or not sure if it is bent. Usually it is in the top threading for problems underneath. Also, make sure that you are using the same weight of thread top and bottom or else you can have problems. Good luck

Change your needle and use a ball point.

Replace your sharp needle, code 2020, with a ball point needle, code 2045. This usually solves the problem. You can also put "Stitch and Tear" at the bottom to help stabilize the material. If you can do not have Stitch and Tear, try a piece of tissue paper for the short term.

At first, my machine was getting all tangled under the fabric and then would stop working because it was tangled in the bobbin area. Now the bobbin area is staying clear but there are no stiches being made. I have no idea what to do. [email protected]