So I've got everything threaded and ready, but when I try to sew, the thread doesn't do anything. The needle pierces the fabric, the motor works, but no actual sewing happens, just a lot of hole punching.
I have an Euro Pro x 464 if that makes a difference.
Posted Oct 26, 2014, 11:05 PM UTC
[deleted]
As far as I can tell, it's threaded right on top. I've tried redoing the bobbin, but I'm not sure what to do with the tail of it, or if I'm doing it right at all.
Are you holding onto the thread tails when you start sewing?
double check that your bottom bobbin is properly threaded. Maybe there's nothing for the top thread to catch on.
Make sure your bobbin wasn't wound wrong (upside down, backwards, the thread was on the wrong side), and that it isn't upside down.
I'm not really sure what to do with the thread after placing the bobbin.
After you place the bobbin you pull the thread up and replace the cover over the bobbin casing area. Then you hold your needle thread, and use the hand wheel to move the needle. Once it goes down and about half way up, it should catch the bobbin thread (if you pull on your needle thread a little the loop will come up. Pull that loop to the left (I use my seam ripper to catch it), and then the bobbin thread will be pulled up where it needs to be. Then you should be able to sew. If that was confusing I can take some pictures/video shortly to demonstrate.
Oooh. Also check your needle. I accidentally had mine in backwards and it did the same thing.
If it's not the threading, consider your fabric. Polyester knits with a very smooth/silky surface are nearly impossible to sew. My Bernina will only pick up a stitch every 5 or 6 stitches in them (and I've tried every kind of needle--stretch, ballpoint, microtex, even leather and denim; no dice).
I don't want to live in a world where fabric made for and distributed by JoAnne's isn't machine-sewable. I think theres an issue getting the thread into the tension disk.
This question is 16 hours old, so maybe you have this solved, but do I understand the bobbin thread is not on top? If so, there is a step that needs to be done before sewing.
First, you have correctly threaded the spool thread up top. It never hurts to re-do this if there is an issue.
Next, you wind the bobbin with the spool thread (or use a pre-wound bobbin).
Then, make sure the bobbin is correctly put into the bobbin holder and put under the feed dogs in the sewing machine. Make sure a couple of inches of thread come out of the bobbin holder.
Then, before putting fabric under the needle area, you have to pull up the bobbin thread up to the top of the sewing machine, through the hole you see where the needle goes up and down. You do this by:
Holding the thread which is through the needle, turn your balance wheel by hand until the needle and thread go down the hole. Then pull the thread end and the bobbin thread will come up through the hole.
Pull the two threads a couple of inches. When you start to sew, you will need to make sure to hold these two threads, and make sure they are under the sewing foot when you sew.
This makes sense to me, but if I've left out some steps, please watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nUpNf31AsE