I know one of the most frustrating things when you're learning
to use a sewing machine or a beginner sewer,
or, you know,
what, even in a more experienced,
so still encounters this problem from time to time.
And that is when you start sewing and you end up
with these huge,
giant nasty just thread nesting.
It's like a little birds nest under there.
This is what we call thread jam.
This is the most frustrating thing,
because as your beginner sewer,
you just think,
why is this happening?
So let's solve this for you in this video.
I'm going to talk about the top 10 things that you
should try to fix your thread jamming so that you can
just get on with your sewing.
Welcome. My lovely ladies and gents.
My name is Evelyn Wood and I'm the founder of VintageSewingSchool.com.
And as a lifelong dressmaker and head sewing teacher at vintage
sewing school,
I have encountered a lot of thread jamming and this horrible
beds nesting that was entails as I make this video,
we are currently in the middle of the COVID-19 quarantine looked
down, so everybody is stay at home and hopefully stay at
home. And so I have found that my videos on thread
jamming and beginner,
sewing tips have just skyrocketed.
Maybe you're picking up the machine for the very first time,
or maybe it's the first time in a long time that
you've pulled out your machine and you're starting to sew.
And you come up with this issue,
this, this horrible thread jamming.
So in my experience,
there are generally,
unfortunately there's no one problem.
It is a could be anything.
And it is basically a process of elimination.
And so I say,
try these things in this order.
So let's just clarify thread jamming.
So this means this horrible big ball of nested threads,
right? This is thread jam.
This is what we're talking about.
If your machine is sewing and it's sews,
but it just looks messy.
That is more likely to be a thread tension issue.
And that is separate.
So you'll need to look for a thread tension for that
particular problem.
We're going to solve this a thread nesting,
this jamming issue.
The number one reason why when you're sewing that you'll get
this thread jamming is actually operator error.
Yeah, it's a,
unfortunately it's not really what you want to hear,
but on the plus side,
it's the easiest one to fix.
Now, there are three main reasons in operator error that I'm
just bundling up into one here.
So the reason is that you're not either holding onto the
threads when you start sewing.
So as the machine starts going,
it draws these threads back in.
And if you cut off the little ends too small,
it'll, it'll ruin it for you.
So you actually need to keep a bit of length to
them and you actually need to hold them.
So there's the two reasons to hold on to them and
you need some length.
The second,
the third one is that you don't need to start right
at the tippy tippy end of the fabric.
It can cause the threads to go in down into the
bobbin and cause this horrible nonsense.
Now I have actually made a video on this already.
And so I would recommend that you go watch that one
because it's more in-depth on these issues and how you can
fix this first up.
So please,
if you haven't already,
that is go watch that one for the operator error issues.
If you're doing all these things right,
then you really need to just rethread your top thread.
So quite often the thread is not actually inside these tension
disks properly and it can cause all sorts of trouble.
It's very mathematically,
all calculated,
worked out this piece of machinery.
So try your top thread.
If that doesn't work,
you've tried re threading it and it's still not working.
Then retry your bobbin.
So pull the whole bobbing out and put it the case,
put it all back in and try that.
The next thing to try is to try a new needle.
You'll be really surprised at how much a blunt needle can
cause you so many stitching problems.
So just change your needle and put in a new one.
If you're interested in needle sizes and what to choose for
what fabrics I have actually made another video all about needle
sizes and I'll link that down below.
So you can go watch that one after this one.
Of course,
next try sewing on plain cotton fabric.
So just a plain quilting cotton,
no stretch,
no nothing.
If you're trying other fabrics that use already,
just try it on a really plain easy so fabric,
just to make sure that it's not the fabric that you're
using that is causing the issue.
And then you'll know whether you need to,
if it is you'll need to adjust your sort of tension,
pressure, foot thread,
or that sort of step things to,
for the fabric that you're sewing.
So just try be plain old,
sort of like ground zero fabric.
Try it to make sure if it's sews on that,
or if you're still having issues,
if you're still having issues next,
try cleaning your machine.
You'll be really surprised at how much a dirty fluffy machine
underneath can cause all of this.
So you'll need to actually pull out your bobbin,
pull out the case,
take off this metal plate and pull it all up and
cleaning and de fluff.
You'll be really surprised.
I dare you.
I dare you to post a picture of how much fluff
is maybe in your machine.
If you have never done this before now is definitely the
time to do it,
but try just cleaning your machine de fluffing that bobbin area,
because often for me,
even that is just,
that's all that is the problem that you need to do.
So do clean that machine.
If it's a brand new machine might not have that issue,
but it's still nice to know that you can do that
and you should try anyway,
failing those two things.
Next thing to try is to try new thread.
So sometimes maybe you've picked up an old spool of thread.
Maybe you've accidentally picked up top stitching thread and not realize
because who knows the difference when you're starting.
It's hard.
Trust me.
So try it,
new thread.
That means both in your top and rewind another bobbin with
new different thread.
So try that as your next port of call.
Next thing double-check you actually have the right bobbin for your
machine in here.
So we're starting to get to the tail end.
Now these are small little things that can do.
Maybe you've just picked up the machine and it's been sitting
in the cupboard for who knows how long,
maybe you've just bought new,
new packs of bobbins,
but each of these little bobbins,
maybe you're using a metal one where it should be a
plastic. One middle doesn't necessarily mean better.
Each machine is designed with a certain specific size and weight
and everything in mind.
So it needs to be the right bobbin for the machine.
So I would double check that you do actually indeed have
the right one for your machine still having problems.
Well, I suggest walking away taking a breather and coming back
and trying again later when you're at this point,
I know you're super frustrated.
Nothing's working,
you just getting crankier and crankier,
or just,
just walk away,
take a breather,
take an hour to come back the next day.
And then just maybe try this,
try this checklist again,
to see a fresh eyes,
a fresh,
fresh mind can perhaps maybe I've fixed the issue for you
if you're still having issues.
When you come back and try it again,
then unfortunately we're really reached the limit of what you can
do at home.
And just like your car,
you probably eat,
you shouldn't just pull things apart and start tinkering and,
and trying to figure it out.
You really need to take it into a professional and have
it serviced.
So what it could be often,
maybe you've run into a pin and you broken a needle
often. That can actually,
the pressure of that can bend all of your bits and
pieces up up the top here and bend it out of
alignment. And so when your needle is coming down,
it's not properly winding around the bobbin any more and catching
the thread that can happen very,
very, that's very common,
just something that's going out of alignment in there,
and it's just not working properly.
The tension discs may be just a need to be pulled
apart and cleaned,
who knows,
as I said,
we are beyond the limit.
So take it in,
get it serviced,
let the professionals do their thing.
They will make it spic and span all nice and perfect
for you to keep on sowing with.
I have links below to all of those videos that I
think that you might really want to watch and we'll really
help you out as a beginner.
So, and if you're really interested in going deep and really
learning how to sew and to understand your machine and all
the things involved with sewing,
I would invite you to come join me VintageSewingSchool.com,
where you can actually take a free class all about your
machine. It will really,
really give you,
I think a lot of insight for those brand new sewers
as well.
And of course,
if you like that,
that is,
but the tip of the iceberg come join us as a
member of vintage sewing school.
And I can really,
really take you down this sewing rabbit hole.
So to say,
let me know in the comments below,
which of these problems was your problem that you needed to
fix. Let me know.
It always helps everybody else as well to find out those
answers. And of course,
if you have any extras that you want to add,
let us know down in the comments so we can all
learn, share them without community that we have here.
Thank you so very much for watching and hopefully have the
sewing by.
So I can confirm that trying to make this horrible thread
lock on my machine.
I have now have to take off the metal plate and
clean the entire thing now because I have threads stuck in
there. If you do have any threads stuck in there,
make sure every single little bit is out.
That's an extra tip number,
tip 11,
get all the threads out,
which I now have to do.