Card 08 · Your Machine
The 8 fixes to try first.
When your sewing machine won’t sew, or the threads are tangling, work through these fixes. Looking after your machine and sewing correctly helps stop it happening: never turn the handle backwards, lower the needle into the fabric before you start, take the threads up and back, and trim stray threads after sewing.
- Change the needle. It may be bent, broken or dull. Put it in with the flat side facing the back.
- Check the top thread goes through all the holes and between the tension plates.
- Set the tension to 3–4 for standard sewing.
- Release the bobbin winder. If it is not reset, the needle won’t move.
- Check your thread. It may be too thin for the project. Metallic threads break easily.
- Clean the machine. Brush dust and threads out of the bobbin case, then change the needle.
- Change the fabric. Domestic machines struggle with many layers and thick fabric like denim.
- Check the machine timing. Tried everything? A professional service can fix timing issues.
Try it!
☐ Never turn the handle backwards. Always turn it towards you.
☐ Lower the needle into the fabric before you start sewing.
☐ Take both threads up and back before you start (see Start Sewing).
☐ Trim stray threads after sewing, so they don’t get sucked back into the machine.
Top tip: When a machine won’t sew it is usually the same faults, often because the person sewing is new to it, rushing or tired. If you’re struggling, sometimes just trying again the next day works.
