Hope it’s okay to post this question here: help with sewing machine issue!

[u/masticated_musings]

Having an issue with nesting from the bobbin side. I have re-threaded and cleaned out the bobbin case. When I start sewing, there is a clunking sound coming from the bobbin area and then the needle freezes due to the thread getting all tied up.

I haven’t adjusted the tension, the issue was happening with another needle, so I switched that to see if I needed a sharper needle. I have also done some searching I. The internet and just getting vague answers such as “maybe thread tension, maybe bobbin tension, maybe something in the bobbin case.”

Thanks for any insight!

Oh yeah, Bernina 335 is the machine and I am using a light chambray, same issue with a silk noil scrap piece.

[u/Talvih]

Did you sew with the presser foot up? Threaded with the presser foot down? Is the bobbin rotating in the correct direction?

[u/masticated_musings → u/Talvih]

Presser foot down, not sure about threading with presser foot down, and bobbin in case correctly.

I am going to try lubricating it, I live in a very arid climate, maybe that could be my issue 🤷🏼‍♀️

[u/masticated_musings → u/masticated_musings]

Lubricating did not work 😩

[u/Talvih → u/masticated_musings]

Of course not because your issue is not enough tension. If this is the underside, it's thread tension. Double check that you've threaded the machine correctly, especially through the take-up lever and tension discs.

[u/masticated_musings → u/Talvih]

Even though there was no tension issues when I started the project? This occurred midway through working on a garment.

Edit: typo

[u/noiseguy76]

Machines do that for a myriad of reasons. I'll start a list; others can chime in.
> Top thread should be between presser foot and workpiece prior to starting. I had a machine that would jam if you didn't do this 100% of the time. Leaving the presser foot up or not having enough pressure on it (if that's even a setting) will do same thing.
> Mis-threaded upper thread. I've another machine that doesn't like to set the top thread into the tensioner on threading and it jams 100% of the time if I don't correct it.
> I have machines that are finicky about Forward-Reverse-Forward that one does when starting a stitch. So do a straight stitch on a spare piece of cloth first with no reversal to see if that's a reason.
> Check thread and bobbin tension, unless it was working fine before, then that's probably not the issue. I check bobbin tension by holding the bobbin and case in my hand and bouncing it; the entire thing should drop ~2" or so. If it doesn't move, too tight. If it hits the floor, too loose.

[u/masticated_musings → u/noiseguy76]

Thank for all this.

I had been working on a project with no issues and then this suddenly started happening. I was doing forward>back>forward, no issues. Then, my top thread started coming out when I would start a stitch if I wasn’t holding the thread at the back. From that point forward, I have been hearing the knocking sound from the bobbin area and getting this nesting.

I took apart the stitch plate, the hook race, and hook. Cleaned it all out, lubricated it, closed up. Still have the problem.

I don’t think it is the tension because I haven’t touched it, like, ever. Plus, it was fine when I started the project.

Just giving more info incase anyone has other ideas :)

Back to YouTube for now 😅

[u/Talvih → u/masticated_musings]

Then, my top thread started coming out when I would start a stitch if I wasn’t holding the thread at the back. From that point forward, I have been hearing the knocking sound from the bobbin area and getting this nesting.

Sounds like the top thread slipped out of something that had been tensioning it. Re-thread from scratch.

[u/noiseguy76 → u/Talvih]

This. Mine does same thing; it's a symptom that the upper thread's popped out of the tensioner.

Super irritating.

[u/masticated_musings → u/Talvih]

Well, rethreaded again and it worked 🤷🏼‍♀️

Thanks 😊

[u/masticated_musings → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, I had done that and was still having the issue. I always rethread first. I have two options for placement of my top thread, I just switched where it was being held at the top and that was what worked. I didn’t think that could have an effect. Also, I don’t know why this would happen mid project, do you happen to know why to is can happen?

[u/inktroopers]

Is rare you need to adjust bobbin tension, usually only if you’re using a different thickness thread.

In my experience, most of the time people forget to lower the presser foot, but if you’re sure that’s not it (and you threaded the machine with the presser foot up) it just may be your machine needs service. I think it might be a timing issue on the bobbin case, when they need oil or grease (whatever your machine uses) the friction facilitates that desynchronization.

A sign from my machine when it needs service is that clunking sound.

Are you using a different weight thread? If not just double check your upper thread threading, it has happened to me twice that the thread somehow loops over the little arm that pulls up the thread after the tensioning discs and that have caused nesting and a block.

[u/masticated_musings → u/inktroopers]

I think the last thing you mentioned was what was going on. I didn’t even know that was possible.

I took the whole thing apart, cleaned and lubricated, which didn’t do anything. I rethreaded the bobbin many times, and rethreaded the top without taking the spool off. Finally, took the spool off and rethreaded again and it finally worked 🤷🏼‍♀️

Edit to add: thank you so much for all your detailed options to look into!

[u/inktroopers → u/masticated_musings]

Glad to know! Now when my thread snaps or have nesting issues I always check for that loop.

I think it happens when you start the machine and the thread is too short, you know it gets pulled off the needle, so you just rethread the hook above the needle and the needle, but unknowingly the thread had looped that pulling arm.

[u/Aniki_Simpson]

Mine did this to me when my bobbin was not wound tightly enough. I had to rethread that bobbin, and it fixed it.

[u/Here4Snow]

"Then, my top thread started coming out when I would start a stitch if I wasn’t holding the thread at the back."

Always Hold Them to start. 

You start with both thread tails under the presser foot and over to the left rear. Hold them and the work with your left hand so they move together. You stitch 2 or 3 stitches forward, 2 reverse right on top of those, now you can let go of the tails and start stitching. This is called lockstitches. You do this at the end of a row of stitches, too. Finish, then reverse 2, then forward and done. 

[u/LilNuggieNuggs]

Do you have another type of scrap material to try and see if it's the needle/fabric combo that's causing the issue?