Stitches are gathering on backside when sewing on patches

More info needed.

The link below features 3 different videos on YouTube for you machine. Maybe there is something there that will help.

Google

Sounds like machine is not threaded correctly or need upper tension adjusted. These adjustments can be shown to you by a repair tech.
May have something stuck in Bobbin case tensioner?

Cheers,
Kelly
San Diego, CA

hi, have the machine set at the longest straight stitch length, usually 4 or 5. Then sew 2 rows of stitches side by side without reversing at either end. remember to always pull the bobbin threads up to gather and not the top one.

Try loosening both top and bottom tension. while longer stitches are easier, it can be done on shorter stitches as well. A bennifit to shorter stitches is the gathers will be smaller and easier to work with! Remember to reset the bobbin tension before sewing again.

Gathering stitches is same on most makes and models, you just set up for a straight stitch but turn stitch length up to 4 and loosen off the top tension by one number, ie turn it down a little. Then sew two straight stitch seams where you want to gather, one at 10mm from raw edge and one at 20mm from raw edge, leaving long thread tails on both. Then draw up the bobbin (underside) thread to gather the fabric.

Normally to gather fabric, you select the regular straight stitch, turn the stitch length up to maximum (4 or 5 usually), and stitch two rows of stitches, one at 10mm from edge and one at 20mm from edge.

Then gather by pulling the bobbin threads (underneath ones) from each end to gather the fabric. If doing lengths of more than 1 metre, then stop, leave long thread tails, and start a fresh length of gathering threads to avoid gathering long lengths of thread which might break on you.

If your machine has a basting stitch it might look like " .___.___.___" on the dial however, I've never been that happy with machine basting for things like attaching slippery fabric to underlining, I've always done it with needle and thread to keep the two layers matching and not stretching/slipping. For example, stitching a piece of chiffon to a underlayer of satin, even pinning carefully, these two fabrics will slip under the machine foot so I'd always do it by hand.

If you have masses of fabric to gather, sometimes what is quicker is doing a large wide zig zag over a length of perle cotton (heavier than thread) at the 15mm seam, don't let the needle pierce the cotton though. Then you can gather the fabric along the perle cotton.

Sewing machine instruction manual often assumes a knowledge of sewing techniques that you may not yet have. I have the Vogue Book of Sewing on my shelf and refer to it often. Or Singer do a good range of sewing books too, its worth investing in a good reference book.

I also love www.patternreview.com, this is such an awesome website for dressmakers/sewing enthusiasts and you will find loads of helpful tips here.

Hope this helps you a little.

You will need a gathering foot, a shirring foot or a ruffler - http://www.sewingmachine-sales.co.uk/sewing_machine_info/video/sewing-machine-feet.php

You can however, gather without these accessories.

Lay crochet thread down the line you want to gather and zig-zag over it anchoring one end and then pull up the gathers.

Another method is to make long stitches and pull the thread to gather.

Make a sample with the same fabric you will be gathering to see which technique works best for you.

Hi! I've had this happen to me many times and it is so very frustrating! First, take the bobbin out and also the bobbin assembly and clean the entire area of all lint, fuzz, little bits of thread....get it as clean as you can. Take out the upper thread too. Clean and oil. Change the needle. Make sure you're using the appropriate size and type of needle and thread for the fabric. Take off the needle plate and look for any nicks or scratches. If you've got them, you can get emery cloth from a good hardware store (often in the plumbing department) and polish them out (or mostly out).

Rethread the machine, carefully following the instruction manual. Use your basic, normal settings. Using a scrap of the fabric you're trying to gather, sew a seam and see if everything works ok. You may need to hold the top and bobbin thread firmly behind the needle as you sew the first few stitches (I find this little trick helps a lot to prevent birdsnests).

To gather, sew three parallel lines of long, basting stitches (you really don't need a special foot or special settings other than to make the stitch a long one). Don't backstitch, reverse, or lockstitch either end, and leave the thread long when you cut it. Pull the three bobbin threads and the fabric with gather nicely along them.

Something to keep in mind--if you're trying to gather very sheer fabric on a zigzag machine, you may need to replace the throat plate with the zigzag hole for a throat plate with a single, small hole for a straight stitch. I've run into this situation before, and ended up using one of my antique straight-stitch only machines to do the gathering.

If you don't have a throat plate with the single hole, you might try some light weight interfacing to give some density to the sheet fabric.


Hope this helps!

We have a very old Jones Sewing Machine (1960's) we are having trouble with the thread at the moment. When we sew the thread gathers up underneath the material that we are trying to sew. Any suggestions to overcome this problem?