Why does bobbin thread bunch

It may sound banal, but particularly when you sew thick fabrics or several layers, you might forget to lower the presser foot. This of course means that there is no tension on the upper thread. The upper thread is pulled under, resulting in thread bunching. The upper thread may have got caught somewhere.

This can happen, for example, if you leave a gap between the foam pad, thread spool and spool disc. You may also be using the vertical spool holder and have forgotten to put the foam disc underneath. Then the upper thread breaks and you may forget to raise the presser foot when rethreading it so that the upper thread is positioned in the tension disc again. I have also seen sewers touch the knee lifter slightly with their knee while sewing because they were sitting too close to it. If you keep accidentally exerting slight pressure on the knee lever, the presser foot will be raised slightly, causing the upper thread tension to become uneven.

So when sewing, and of course when embroidering, keep your knees away from the knee lever! This means that if you press the thread cutter button and then start sewing again, the machine automatically makes four securing stitches on the spot. In the case of thin fabrics, this can lead to the fabric and the upper thread being pulled down right at the edge when you start sewing, causing a jumble of tangled thread.

However, it is possible to switch off the securing stitches in the setup on our newer sewing machines, starting from the 4 Series. To do this, select Setup program, go to Sewing settings, then Program buttons and icons, then Thread cutter.

There, you can switch off the securing stitches. However, you may want to thread it manually — for example, if you use a double needle or thicker thread. Occasionally, when I am threading an 8 Series machine, I do the threading a little too quickly.

So an additional tip for everyone starting for the first time with an 8 Series: you can remove the left cover of the machine using the multi-function tool supplied to see whether the upper thread is really in the thread take-up lever. What should you do if the thread is pulled down inside, the machine is blocked and the gears message appears on the screen? This brings us to the end of my second post with tips for starting to sew successfully. As mentioned at the start, thread bunching when sewing is unfortunately a problem that many beginners have to deal with.

Hopefully, you now know how to solve this problem and make sure it no longer happens. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I understand that BERNINA will process my comments as well as my first and last name for publication and direct marketing purposes and link these to information collected by BERNINA for direct marketing purposes or information derived from the comments such as captions, tags.

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Thank you for your feedback, I will forward it to our team! Hi I have just bought the B and everything was fine for the first garment but now when I top stitch or understitch the machine needle will do a sudden stutter part way through and then I will get a tangled mess underneath or really loose stitching.

This is my first electronic and most of my clothing I make is topstitched so very worrying. Does the needle size fit to the fabric? Maybe you have to adjust the size. Hi Been teaching years with Berninas and know about right needle for right fabric. This is a new machine. Make sure that the bobbin thread is evenly wound. You can also check and adjust the bobbin case to make sure that your bobbin is correctly positioned. Make sure that your bobbin case thread is not loose.

This is a major cause of bunching. Also, make sure that you are using the correct bobbin for the sewing machine that you are using. Different sewing machine brands have different sizes and types of bobbins. Most times, these bobbins are not interchangeable.

Step 2. Check the needle. First, confirm that your needle is not broken. If it is broken, you will have to change it. You should change your sewing machine needles regularly. Then confirm that the needle is properly threaded. You can consult your user manual on how to properly thread your sewing machine. When the needle is not properly threaded, it may cause bunching underneath the fabric that you are sewing.

Also, confirm on your user manual that you are using the right needle and thread for the fabrics you are sewing. Different fabrics may need different needle and thread sizes and types. Step 3. Rethread your machine. Sometimes, bunching could occur due to the poor threading of the sewing machine. Rethread your sewing machine, making sure that you follow all the threading guides on the machine.

When threading the machine, confirm that you are using the same type of thread for the top and the bobbin. Different threads have different weights that the machine tugs at differently thus causing bunching. Step 4. Clean your sewing machine. Properly cleaning your machine is likely to solve any remaining cause for bunching. Your sewing machine may have crumpled up threads, lint, and dust in the bobbin case, throat plate, and thread path.

Consult your user manual on how to clean and oil your sewing machine. Make sure to clean your sewing machine regularly. It helps to keep your sewing free from bunching threads and other problems. Prolonged use of your sewing machine causes the thread tension to change. The tension may increase or decrease. This affects the positioning of the top and bobbin thread on your sewing machine.

Consequently, you are likely to see loops of thread on your sewing. Looping that occurs on the underside of the fabric being sewed means that the top thread tension is loose compared to the bobbin tension. Adjust the bobbin tension. This means that you will need to play around with your thread tensions until you get to the correct tension levels between the bobbin and top thread.

Make a slight change on the tension then test it on a separate fabric. Make sure that the fabric is the same as the one you are sewing. Tweak and test until you have the correct tension.

Rethread your sewing machine. It is not as difficult as you may think and the manual will come in handy. Sewing machines are meant to make your project easier and nothing is as frustrating as a ball of tangled thread underneath the fabric.

Tangling is usually as a result of improperly threading the sewing machine. You will notice this when sewing. The bobbin keeps pulling and jamming collecting a lot of thread beneath your fabric.

There are several culprits for this ranging from a dull needle, improper threading or tension. The tension in both your upper and bobbin threads need to be even. The bobbin could also be placed incorrectly. More than likely, you forgot to put the bobbin back correctly while cleaning your machine.

The bobbin could also be upside down and the thread will not turn in a counter-clockwise motion. When this happens, the bobbin thread will not be in harmony with the upper thread. This will cause tangling underneath the fabric. The problems discussed above could really drag your project or even halt it all together. You can easily resolve them on your own at home. If they keep occurring then it is more likely that your sewing machine needs to be checked by a professional.

To avoid these mishaps, have your sewing machine serviced regularly even if they are working well. Do not wait until they fail completely since you could have avoided it. A simple habit as cleaning and regularly oiling your sewing machine could go a long way in saving you time and money.