| When you understand how to adjust and balance your | | | | bunches of thread almost as soon as they stitch. |
| sewing machine tensions, you save time, money, and | | | | Remember, your goal is to provide the same or equal |
| frustration in your sewing. Here are some simple | | | | tension from the upper and lower threads. |
| steps to doing your own tension adjustments. | | | | Begin your corrective efforts by rethreading the upper |
| The outcry of frustrations can shatter creativity. | | | | thread. Be intentional and careful to insure everything |
| When the finished seam has faulty tension, it can | | | | is just right. Remember to lift the presser foot while |
| cause even the most meek to cry out. | | | | threading. Watch out for anything that might snag the |
| "I hate this machine! All it does is gum the threads up." | | | | thread. Check to make sure not lint or gunk has |
| Perhaps the most common complaint sewing machine | | | | messed gotten stuck between the tension discs. |
| users make, is about their tensions. In a sense you | | | | Watch out for rough spots. Once you reach the |
| might say poor sewing machine tensions cause | | | | needle, gently draw on the thread two or three |
| extreme user tensions. | | | | inches. You should feel very little resistance. The |
| The sewer may sew along thinking all is fine, only to | | | | thread should flow smoothly. Now drop the presser |
| cry out in anguish when the turn the fabric over to see | | | | foot, and test again. Is there more resistance? |
| gobs of unsightly tangled threads. Or the thread may | | | | Good. |
| pucker up in little balls on top of the fabric. | | | | Take your bobbin out. Is the thread wound evenly? |
| What causes poor sewing machine tensions? | | | | It should be. Place it back in its carrier. Check the |
| There are many possible sources. | | | | tension spring for any debris or lint that may have |
| The threading may be faulty. | | | | collected under it and clean it out. Slide the thread |
| If the upper thread does not seat properly into the | | | | under the tension spring. Test it to make sure there |
| tension assembly, problems result. | | | | is moderate resistance on the thread. This usually |
| If there is a snag on spool or on one of the thread | | | | does not require adjustment unless you change the |
| guides, problems result. Missing a thread guide, | | | | size of thread significantly. Some suggest that a |
| tension spring, or the bobbin tensioner can cause | | | | professional sewing machine repair person make |
| problems. | | | | these adjustments when needed. |
| There are a dozen places where jagged edges, dirt, | | | | Next, adjust the upper tension to equalize the lower |
| burrs, or other rough spots can snag the thread | | | | tension. You may need to rely on some trial and |
| resulting in poor tensions. | | | | error until you get it just right. Ignore the numbers on |
| Bad thread causes problems. | | | | the tension dial, unless they are really low or really |
| Dull needles cause problems. | | | | high. In this case you may need to disassemble the |
| Dirt causes problems. | | | | tension assembly to make the repair, or have a |
| Properly set tensions should produce stitches with the | | | | technician to do. |
| upper and lower thread locked together in the center | | | | Sew a trial seam on scrap fabric. Sew a straight |
| of the fabric. When you look at the seam from the | | | | stich and then a medium zig zag. Examine the stitch |
| top side, you should see a smooth even flow of | | | | quality. Continue making slight adjustments until your |
| thread with tiny holes into the fabric. When you turn | | | | get a stitch that pleases you. Avoid sewing on finish |
| the fabric over, you should see exactly the same | | | | fabric, until you have confidence that your stitch quality |
| quality stitching as you saw from the top side. The | | | | is what it should be. Avoid frustration. |
| stitches should be snug and show no extra threads on | | | | Sometimes things just do not work perfectly. The |
| top or bottom. | | | | thread, the needle, the fabric, and the machine can all |
| To achieve these perfect stitches the upper and lower | | | | contribute to small challenges. Some of these |
| threading must be just right. The drag or resistance | | | | issues can be resolved by using better thread, |
| of the upper tension system and the bobbin tension | | | | replacing the needle, using the right needle, or using |
| system must balance each other precisely. | | | | better fabric. If you have good tension with straight |
| Imagine the fabric is a stream of water. The threads | | | | stitches, but one side of the zig zag is still not just |
| are like ropes across the stream. One tug of war | | | | right. Minimize the flaws by setting tensions to keep |
| team pulls up and another pulls down. Each team | | | | the flaw on the underside instead of the facing side of |
| pulls across the stream. If the lower team or bobbin | | | | the fabric. Narrowing and shortening the zig zag |
| team pulls harder than the upper tension team, excess | | | | stitch can also help. |
| thread will collect under the fabric out of sight until you | | | | When you understand how your sewing machine |
| lift the fabric to see ugly bunches of thread. It may | | | | tensions work, you can adjust them with confidence. |
| even look fine on top while the threads jam up | | | | In those rare instances where your best efforts fail, |
| underneath. If the upper team pulls harder than the | | | | you can always rely on your local sewing machine |
| lower team, excess threads pop up on top of the | | | | repair technician. |
| fabric. Usually, you will see bubbles, balls, or | | | | |