How do you fix a loose bobbin thread?
If the bobbin thread is too loose and showing on the top of the fabric, carefully tighten the flat head screw (shown below) to the right. If it is too tight and the upper thread is being pulled to the back of the fabric, loosen the screw by turning to the left. Remember, righty tighty – lefty loosey? It works here too.
The machine is not correctly threaded
If the machine is threaded wrong, not only does it make the thread breaks easier, but is also more likely to create loose stitches. Check the threading to see if the thread has passed through the entire thread guides, the take-up lever and the eye of the needle.
A: Looping on the underside, or back of the fabric, means the top tension is too loose compared to the bobbin tension, so the bobbin thread is pulling too much top thread underneath. By tightening the top tension, the loops will stop, but the added tension may cause breakage, especially with sensitive threads.
Cause: The tension of the upper thread is too weak or the tension of the lower thread is too tight. Solution: Tighten the tension of the upper thread, or loosen the tension of the lower thread, until the tensions of both threads are correctly balanced. Cause: The machine is not threaded correctly.
Tie Off the Threads
Tie off the loose threads to prevent unraveling. You will need to tie the threads off to prevent further unraveling. At each end of the opening, you should have two threads, four in all. At one end of the ripped seam, tie these two threads together snugly against the edge of the seam.
First, pull the fabric slightly, but not too hard, just enough in order for this to push back the loose thread in place. All you need to use is a pin that pushes the snag back into the original hole. You can use the back of a larger needle to push through the back of the fabric.
- Check that the thread was wound correctly on the bobbin. - Make sure the bobbin was properly inserted. Re-install the bobbin if necessary. - Check to see if the bobbin case is scratched or has a burr on it.
2) Bobbin Case—Holds the bobbin and has a specific threading pattern that provides tension to the bobbin thread. It is either built into the machine or removable–either way, the bobbin is manually placed into it. 3) Bobbin Winder—Takes thread from the top thread spool and winds it on the bobbin.
This represents tension readings in grams. Correct bobbin tensions should be 180 to 220 grams (up to 250 grams when embroidering caps).
Damaged Bobbin Case
The bobbin case that holds the bobbin must maintain its original shape. If dropped, the bobbin case may have bent and is no longer round. This will apply uneven pressure on the bobbin and create uneven tension. Replace the bobbin case with a new one.
What does loose bobbin tension look like?
Bobbin thread showing on top
If the bobbin thread is showing on the top side of the fabric it means that the bobbin thread tension is too loose. You can see small loops of the bobbin thread on the right side of the fabric.
Spool Huggers to keep thread on your spools from unraveling. Bobbin Clamps to keep thread on your bobbins from unraveling. Bobbin Holders to keep color matching bobbins and spools together. Bobbin Holders to keep color matching bobbins and spools together.
Bobbin and Bobbin Case (1)
The bobbin is wound with the thread that will make up the underside of a machine stitch. Machines have either a top drop-in style of bobbin (like the one shown), or a front-loading bobbin. The bobbin case holds the bobbin. It is usually not interchangeable between machines.
Does your bag or wallet show loose threads around the edges? You can remove these easily with the help of a lighter. By burning them the chances of the threads coming undone decreases, and next to that it will make your bag look better too!
Pulls or loose threads should never be trimmed or cut or they may cause unraveling of the fabric. Instead you can often pull the loose thread to the back side of the fabric and weave it into the threads.
Your Thread Tension Is Too Tight
Sewing machine manufacturers suggest that you don't mess with your bobbin thread tension too much, but you should adjust your upper thread tension if you keep getting bunched up thread underneath your fabric. If your tension is too tight, it can pull your thread and break it.
First, make sure the bobbin-winding spindle (located on top of your machine) has been pushed back to the left for sewing. If it is not in the correct position, the needle will not go down and pick-up your bobbin thread.
Your Thread Is Not Wrapped Securely Around the Tension Disc
Before winding your bobbin, you must pull your thread through the tension discs and thread guides. This helps ensure your bobbin will wind evenly. Some people like to wrap their thread around the tension discs two times to encourage more even bobbin winding.
The dial settings run from 0 to 9, so 4.5 is generally the 'default' position for normal straight-stitch sewing. This should be suitable for most fabrics. If you are doing a zig-zag stitch, or another stitch that has width, then you may find that the bobbin thread is pulled through to the top.
You should see a small screw on the flat/closed side of the bobbin case. Turning the screw a tiny bit counterclockwise will loosen the bobbin tension; turning it clockwise will tighten the tension.
Why does my bobbin wind loosely?
Your Thread Is Not Wrapped Securely Around the Tension Disc
Before winding your bobbin, you must pull your thread through the tension discs and thread guides. This helps ensure your bobbin will wind evenly. Some people like to wrap their thread around the tension discs two times to encourage more even bobbin winding.
If the upper thread is incorrectly threaded, the upper thread passed through the fabric cannot be firmly pulled up and the upper thread becomes tangled in the bobbin case, causing a rattling noise. Remove the tangled thread, and correct the upper threading according to the following procedure.
Proper bobbin tension is essential to good embroidery. If tension is too tight, unwanted bobbin thread may begin to show on top of your garment and you may begin to experience frequent thread breaks which wastes time and money. Bobbin tensions should be 18 to 22 grams (up to 25 grams when embroidering caps).