Why Does My Sewing Machine Keep Jamming? Effective Solutions

I am often asked the question: why does my sewing machine keep jamming? In a nutshell, it could be due to maintenance issues that could damage parts or leave the machine dirty. Otherwise, it may be due to the use of faulty needles and tangled threads.

In this article, we’ll look at the top reasons why your sewing machine is likely to get stuck at one time or another, as well as the best solutions to eliminate and prevent these unpleasant phenomena.

How do I stop my sewing machine from jamming?

Whether you’re a beginner, an enthusiast, or a professional seamstress, a sewing machine keeps jamming in the middle of a project can be quite a frustrating experience. The moment when there is no sound or movement after pressing the pedal, we all dread and also note how your machine makes a few stitches right before getting stuck up during the project.

That’s why it’s very important that you understand what the root cause of this machine keeps jamming is so that you can do your best to prevent further occurrences, as well as know how to act quickly, without panic or anger, and deal with this annoying problem effectively. as soon as it happens.

Here are the top reasons why your sewing machine is likely to get stuck at one time or another, as well as the best solutions to fix and prevent these annoying occurrences.

No upper thread tension

As much as you may be sure that the problem with the machine is most likely due to a lot of tangled thread in the bobbin under the fabric, the most common cause of a thread jam is usually not enough upper filament tension. This simple problem can cause the machine to jam due to insufficient filament tension to pull the thread through the fabric you are sewing.

Solution: All you have to do is raise the presser foot and rethread the needle according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Badly fitted bobbin

Another common cause of the sewing machine keeps jamming is a badly fitted bobbin. If the bobbin is not properly installed in the machine, it can cause a number of problems including skipped stitches and tension issues.

Solution: If the problem is the machine is clogged, turn off the machine and remove the thread from the machine. Now it’s time to completely clean the machine, paying special attention to all working mechanisms.

You can take a small brush to remove all the dust and debris stuck on the machine. Also, if you want your machine to stay in good condition, you will need to lubricate its metal parts regularly.

Use compressed air to blow out any residue from the bobbin parts. If you don’t want to deal with these kinds of situations anymore, clean and oil your machine every month. If you sew daily, you will need to clean and oil your machine more than once a month.

An arrow suddenly stopped moving

If your needle suddenly refuses to budge, the first thing to check is that it is properly seated. There are usually two reasons why the needle refuses to move in the middle of sewing:

• The clutch could be disengaged
• You may have broken your driver’s belt.
• Wrong needle size in use

Solution: If the problem is with the clutch, you will find that the sewing machine is not even in sewing mode. So, make sure its flywheel stays free. After that, click on the winder of your machine on the left side. This will return the machine to bobbin winding mode and the needle will not give you any trouble after that.

You may need to replace the drive belt if you find it has broken. Try a larger or smaller needle depending on the thickness of the fabric.

The needle is deformed or broken

Often, your sewing machine will suddenly stop working due to a bent or broken needle that prevents the thread from going through the fabric.

Solution: Stop work and carefully inspect the needle for deformation or breakage, and if you notice any, replace it with a new one. Make sure you are using the correct type and size of needle for the machine and for the specific project because this can sometimes be a major cause of annoying sticking.

Impossibility to get the device out of the zigzag mode

Zigzag stitching is a common method used for parts where a straight line cannot be sewn. So you can choose a zigzag stitch to reinforce buttonholes or to sew stretchy fabrics. However, the fact that certain fabrics or parts of them require a zigzag stitch does not mean that the machine must be permanently set to zigzag.

Solution: Your task is to bring the sewing machine out of the zigzag mode. So, for that, look at the user manual and you might find something useful. If you can’t find anything in the manual, please contact the manufacturer’s hotline for a solution.

Feeders not working properly

Another fairly common cause of sewing machine failure is when the small teeth located under the needle and presser foot pedal, which are responsible for pulling the fabric through during the sewing process, also known as the feed dog teeth, are not working properly. The cause of the problem may be lint, dust and other debris getting stuck in their mechanism.

Solution: Stop work, raise the presser foot pedal, and thoroughly clean the feed dogs of debris. Also, make sure they are up in a raised position to ensure proper grip on the fabric.

Another useful thing to try is to make sure that the presser foot pedal is not too low over the nursing dogs, which causes problems with the free movement of the fabric during the sewing process. Adjust them properly before returning to your project.

Sewing machine stuck at maximum speed

Sewing at high speed is not the best solution for complex parts. Thus, it is important for you to have complete control over the speed at which the sewing machine runs. So you’ll need to make sure it’s fixed if full speed is the only one it knows. Here are some of the possible problems and their solutions:

Solutions: If there are problems with the engine of the car, you will run into problems with the speed of the car. Damaged motors tend to affect speed and this is one thing you can’t fix on your own without professional help.

Pedal issues can also make the machine run at full power. Check to see if something is stuck at your pedal by forcing it to move at a higher speed. Also, clean it of debris and dirt to make sure it returns to its normal function.

Foreign objects in the feed dogs

The feed dogs are responsible for moving the fabric through the sewing machine. If there are any foreign objects such as lint or filament in the path, it may cause the feed dogs to jam. Remember to clean the gear racks regularly to prevent this from happening.

Solution: Raise and calibrate the dog feeders to a reasonable height to begin sewing again. If you often sew buttonholes, you can leave the stitch length at zero instead of going up to two or three.

If the previous project involved quilting, raise the racks a couple of inches above the plate and start again. Before sewing, make sure the foot pedal control is up. This will allows the racks to hold this tissue during feeding.

Excessive filament tension can also be a problem. So, make it loose enough and feed the fabric again. If there are tangled threads, be sure to re-thread the machine.

Why does my sewing machine keep jamming underneath?

This may be due to a broken lever. If your presser foot lever is broken, you will need to have it repaired, and it is best to have it repaired by a professional. You can even replace the entire presser foot because, after all, it needs to be changed as needed.

Why does my sewing machine keep bunching the thread?

A huge mess of tangled threads is usually due to improper threading of the sewing machine. So just because you see this mess on the bobbin of your stitch, don’t automatically assume it’s the bobbin’s fault.

Solutions: Raise the presser foot of the machine and begin to completely remove the thread from the machine. Now thread the machine while holding the presser foot up. Then follow the instructions in the machine’s instruction manual and make sure you are pulling the threads correctly in all places.

Avoid a very common mistake people make when threading a sewing machine while holding the presser’s foot down. This makes the tension discs tight or interlocked, preventing the thread from remaining properly between the two discs.

Why does bobbin thread keep jamming?

There are several reasons why your thread is getting stuck in the bobbin.

Problem with threading the bobbin

If your bobbin is not threaded correctly, it can cause your sewing machine to jam.

Your bobbin thread will not move properly if there are knots or if the bobbin is not wound properly.

Check your bobbin for a tangled thread and fix it if you can. But if you can’t, thread another bobbin to see if that solves the problem.

Voltage problem

If the filament tension is not correct, it may cause the thread to become caught in the bobbin. And it could be the top thread or the bottom thread, so look at both threads and fix the problem.

Make sure that the upper thread passes freely through the sewing machine. But if you still don’t understand it, just refill your machine.

If the problem is with the bobbin thread, try adjusting the tension of the bobbin case by moving the screw located on the bobbin case.

If you use a thicker or thinner thread, tension problems may occur.

No upper thread tension

Bobina is not to blame! This is a common misconception when you see a bunch of thread in a tangled mess under a fabric. In fact, the problem is related to the tension of the upper thread. Basically, the sewing machine does not have enough top tension to pull the thread through the fabric.

How to properly thread a sewing machine?

Most sewing machines come with a manual that contains diagrams and instructions on how to thread the machine. Some online tutorials and videos may be helpful. Here is a quick overview of the steps involved in threading a sewing machine:

1. Start by winding the bobbin. This is usually done by inserting an empty bobbin into the spindle, then holding the end of the thread and turning the handwheel to wind it onto the bobbin.
2. After winding the bobbin, insert it into the bobbin case.
3. Draw the thread through the tension discs and then through the thread take-up.
4. Continue to pull the thread down and around the needle bar, then insert it into the needle from back to front.
5. Pull the thread up by turning the handwheel until the needle is at its highest point. At this point, you should see a loop of thread on the underside of the machine.
6. Finally, step on the pedal to start sewing!

How to install a bobbin on a sewing machine?

Most sewing machines have a special place to install the bobbin. There is usually a cover that needs to be opened to access the bobbin. Once you have found the correct place for the bobbin, you must thread it through the machine.

Many sewing machines have a diagram next to the bobbin area showing how to properly thread the bobbin. After the bobbin is threaded, it will need to be wrapped with thread. To do this, you will need to hold on to the end of the thread and turn the wheel on the side of the machine. Once the bobbin mode is full, you can cut off the excess thread and replace the cap.

How to adjust the thread tension on a sewing machine?

There are a few things to keep in mind when adjusting the filament tension on the sewing machine. The type of fabric you are sewing, the thickness of the thread, and the stitch you are using all play a role in determining the correct tension.

If you have problems with uneven stitches or loose stitches, try increasing the tension. If the stitches are too tight or gather fabric, loosen the tension. It may take a bit of trial and error to find the perfect tension for your particular project, but once you get the hang of it, it’s super easy!

What are the reasons why the needle is stuck in the fabric?

There is nothing more frustrating than when your sewing machine gets stuck more than once while sewing a project. It is very unpleasant to see that the needle is stuck and the needle becomes immobile. This will not only frustrate but also destroy your project, which is much worse. Even as a professional, the feeling of exhaustion was slowly creeping up.

There are several reasons why the needle often gets stuck in the fabric, let’s see:

Tangled thread

If the thread is stuck in the bobbin case, the needle will stick until you fix the problem.

To solve this problem, turn off the sewing machine and raise the needle and presser foot so that the needle plate can be removed. Thoroughly clean the needle plate and replace it, this should solve the problem.

Poor thread quality

You get what you pay for when it comes to sewing threads. Buying cheap basement thread may seem like a smart idea for your budget, but the thread can cause a number of different problems with your sewing machine.

Poor quality filament leaves a lot of fluff that can get into the working parts of your machine and cause it to seize. The thread may also have tiny knots that can cause a snag when trying to push it through the fabric. Poor quality thread can also break more often.

Purchase a higher quality thread if you have checked the machine, needle, feed dog, presser foot, and thread tension and found no problems. You will see a huge difference with your sewing machine as it will work better and your sewing projects will look fantastic because you have used quality thread.

Stitch length

Your stitch length can be a problem. Thus, if you have too short a stitch length, it can cause the machine to get stuck.

The needle is broken/bent

Sewing machines can also jam if there is a problem with the needle. It could be bent or broken, preventing the thread from passing through the fabric. Check your sewing machine needle to make sure there is no problem with it. If the needle looks fine but is still causing problems, you may be using the wrong type or size of needle for the stitch pattern. Also, check if you are inserting it correctly.

Conclusion

The sewing machines are an important part of my business. This allows me to create beautiful clothes, home decor items, and other useful things. However, like any machine, they require regular maintenance to keep them running smoothly.

One of the most important aspects of sewing machine maintenance is keeping the machine clean. Lint and dust can accumulate inside the machine and cause problems with moving parts. It is important to vacuum the lint trap regularly and also wipe the outside of the machine with a soft cloth.

Another important aspect of sewing machine maintenance is the lubrication of moving parts. This helps keep them running smoothly and prevents premature wear. Be sure to refer to your sewing machine’s instruction manual to determine which parts need to be oiled and how often.

If you use your sewing machine regularly, it’s a good idea to have it serviced by a professional every few years. This will help keep it in good working order and prevent any major problems from developing.

Following these simple tips will help keep your sewing machine in good condition for years to come. Regular maintenance is the key to keeping your machine running smoothly and ensuring it will last for years without a hitch.

Read also: How To Sew Stretch Fabric – 8 Best Tips for Success!