Suppose a scenario where you are working on your favorite project. And you want to get it done as soon as possible. But your sewing machine does keep jamming during the project. This probably is going to divert your concentration from stitching to the causes of jamming.
Well, it’s not just a supposed scenario but a real-life situation. All sewers know that a sewing machine can jam during any project because of several possible reasons. But being a beginner, you might not be aware of those reasons yet.
We are going to provide you with all the information so you can better acknowledge why your sewing machine keeps jamming. This will help you in dealing with and troubleshoot such issues more easily.
There are a couple of reasons that can lead a sewing machine to jam. For instance, a poor thread, a wrong set bobbin, shorter stitch lengths, skipped stitches, and many more. Continue reading to know more about these reasons.
How To Figure Out That Your Sewing Machine is Jammed?
A sewing machine might produce whirling sounds while jamming. Or if it is not making those sounds then it must be doing the uneven stitches or missing the stitches completely. If that’s also not an issue in your case, then maybe the sewing machine has refused to pass fabric.
Or maybe, it just began to break the thread. Even a sewing machine breaking a needle simultaneously can be due to jamming reasons.
Major change because of sewing machine jamming infers in the form of improper stitching.
Either your sewing machine is jamming because of the improper needle, poor thread, improper or maladjusted tensions, or feed dogs. One can easily figure out by reading these below-mentioned causes which one is happening to your sewing machine.
Most Common Reasons behind Sewing Machine Jamming:
Here are some very common and basic reasons. If your machine is undergoing such issues then find the solutions below, so; you can deal accordingly.
Reason 1: Setting Up Upper & Lower Tensions properly & Bobbin Setting
Most of the time, we make the mistake that either we add our new thread right on the top of previously used thread over the bobbin. This is where the knots begin to create. And some beginners often mistakenly put the bobbin in the wrong place.
Or maybe they forget to pass the thread over top or bobbin accurately. Which makes it hard for the sewing machine to pass the thread from the bobbin appropriately.
These knots or bends are supposed to adjust between the layers of fabric to maintain balance. Otherwise, a whole mess of tangled thread begins to form. This messy tangled thread accumulation can be on upper thread tension or in the bobbin case area.
The imbalance occurs, when the knot is either resting on the top thread side, which; results in the tightening of the upper tension. And, if the bend is resting on the bottom this creates tightness in the bottom tension.
This will jam your sewing machine, as it will not be obtaining enough tension required for pulling up the thread through the fabric.
The solution to this hard-appearing issue is pretty simple. You need to lift up the presser foot and replace the thread, right according to manual instructions. Make sure to adjust the bends between the layers of fabric to maintain upper tension.
And if you think that tension is insufficient at the bottom. Then, discard the left-over thread over the previously used bobbin. And if you don’t want to discard that, then at least use a new or separate bobbin with only the thread on it that you are going to use.
Check the bobbin as that should be fixed properly in the bobbin case.
Reason 2: Wrong Needle, Wrong Thread, and lint
The right needle for the right fabric is the necessity of each sewing project. If you switch to a variety of projects then change the needle accordingly. Every fabric requires a different type and size of needle and thread.
A dry cotton thread is always better and strong for every fabric. Using a dry cotton thread can be better than a wet one; comparatively appropriate as well. Any low-quality thread is a trouble creator for projects. But it doesn’t make a cotton thread compulsory for every project. Besides, you can use a thread type similar to the fabric type you are going to use in your project. This makes things simpler, easier, and the project tidier.
A hard or smooth fabric like woven needs sharp needles. All the heavy needles work flawlessly for heavy fabrics. A collection of synthetic fabric would require ballpoint needles. Lightweight fabrics can be handled with fine needles perfectly. Choose the appropriate needle along with the right thread to avoid jamming. For every project of 4 to 6 hours; a new needle becomes a necessity for every sewing machine.
Thirdly, the lint in different spots of your sewing machine causes jamming as well. Before getting started every day, clean all the accessible parts of the sewing machine. And make sure to oil all the metallic bits regularly once your machine is all cleaned up.
Reason 3: Feed Dog Adjustment
Mostly, we fail to understand the reason behind the issue. A similar happens when the fabric refuses to head under the feed dogs. Beginners are frustrated at this position when machines refuse to take fabric easily.
But it’s not a big issue. Any work near the needle area needs more careful handling. It can cause harm to your hand.
This type of issue can happen because of feed dogs’ maladjustment. Try calibrating feed dogs to the appropriate height and start stitching again.
Maybe, you were working on a quilt before starting a new project. Make sure to raise the feed dogs over the plate, a couple or more inches, and then start sewing again.
If the foot pedal is not raised then that can bring jamming. The feed dogs will hold the fabric as far as the foot pedal is raised. This will make your fabric pass more easily.
Final Verdict:
A combination of any of these issues or reasons can lead to the jamming of your sewing machine. So, before starting any project or simply prior to any regular work on your sewing machine. Clean it first. Then do oiling. Thread it by filling a new bobbin and checking out the upper and bottom tensions before beginning any project.
These simple tips can help you work smoothly through any fabric. The size of the needle and type of fabric and thread are the basic ingredients to adjust accordingly. Then feed dogs also play a reason behind jamming, when there is some debris or dust stuck in there. Make sure to clean that too.
And the bobbin placement in its case is also very important for passing and moving the thread within it so that it can pass smoothly to the bobbin.
Well, these are just the primary causes that we have touched on. Besides, it’s wordy to write but easier to deal with. If you don’t find any of these issues happening to your sewing machine but it’s still jamming. Then a better option will be to get your machine checked by a tailor or a professional sewing machine handler. Surely, they can help you in dealing with the problem.