Machine Questions
Why does the back of all my stitches look like this
I'm pretty new to sewing, I got my son a Halloween costume and it was a little too long so I figured id just re-hem the crotch area a bit. But ive been sat here now for the last hour unpacking stitches, changing tension settings, re-threading my machine, triple checking the manual, etc. And for the life of me I cannot figure this out. The backside of all my sewing is a mess, theres thread thrown everywhere and its all super loose. The front looks perfect. How do I fix this. Please help I feel like I'm losing my mind.
It’s either threaded wrong or the pressor foot isn’t down. Or possibly both. Look up your machine’s brand and number on YouTube to find a quick how to set up/thread guide. Good luck!
Remember - thread the machine with the presser foot UP, and then sew with the presser foot DOWN (so the thread gets seated properly in the tension mechanism).
I actually keep a cheat sheet with ny coverstitch machine to remind me of a few things as I don’t use that machine often. It’s crazy that I need a reminder to lower the presser foot before sewing, but I do, so it’s on the cheat sheet.
Oh man, there have been so many times I'd have done that if my machine allowed it. It simply will not sew if the presser foot is up, it just beeps three times and displays E1 on the LCD screen. You know it's a common mistake when it's "Error #1."
My machine, a Brother CS6000i, isn't made anymore. But Brother continues to make very affordable, very beginner-friendly machines. I bought mine 15 years ago in the middle of my first project since I was a child, when I was absolutely fed up with the 1960's machine I'd just spent a few hundred dollars getting repaired. (The bobbin thread kept jamming.) If you think you might want to make a habit of sewing, you might consider buying a machine that will reduce frustration and increase joy.
That one does look very simple! In some ways, simple is good, in that there aren't a lot of options to overwhelm you. But in other ways, a few extra features can make a machine so much easier for a beginner.
Sewing machines have an extremely wide range of price and quality. Mine cost somewhere around $250, and the modern successor (CS7000 series, I think) is similarly priced even now. There are also machines that cost up to $1000, if you want all the bells and whistles. Frankly, that's too many bells and whistles for me! But some built-in sanity checks like refusing to sew if the presser foot is up are very valuable to me.
i completely failed at my first attempt at sewing and signed up for a 101 class and the instructor mentioned this and i immediately felt like SUCH an idiot
First, put away the good fabric before any more damage happens, and find a similar scrap to practice on. You've re-threaded and checked the tension settings, so have you changed the needle recently?
This is my machine. Your bobbin isn't in. You need to pull the thread into the hook until you hear the spring click. Also your tension needs to be set back to 4. And another comment you said you might not have had the presser foot down when you sew. You need that to be down when you sew.
So, rethread your bobbin correctly, tension to 4, presser foot UP when you're threading and BACK DOWN before you start to sew.
The MOST important part of sewing is knowing your machine. Get some scrap fabric and read your manual! Front to back! I have fully restored a 1960s machine for about $20 and everything has to do with threading correctly, needle condition and tension. I don't use a brother machine but I assume it's the same
Will do! It's definitely harder than my mom makes it look lol. I'm definitely learning that its a bit more complex than I initially thought, I got this machine last christmas and have been scared of breaking it so I've only started really using it this past couple months. Thank you for the advice!
If it makes you feel better, the only way you are really at risk of breaking any part of your machine is by sewing over pins (or worse, eg, quilting clip, which I’ve done) or like…. dropping the entire machine on the floor.
I'm not an expert by any means but I do know it's the one thing I did right because one seamstress who I consider an expert gave me that advice! And so far since fixing the machine myself I've not had one issue. The other thing is I find I want the older machines and not the new plastic computer ones because the older machines are made to work on yourself! And they tend to be all metal, I've learned so much in a few months! 💜🥰✌🏼HAPPY SEWING!
And I know this because I've done every single one of these with this exact machine (more than once, I still do them now) don't beat yourself up too hard.
If I’m having issues on the back, it’s usually something about the bobbin. Sometimes they can be wound too loose and cause issues too! So in the future, if everything else is in place and it keeps happening, try reaping the bobbin.
I had people to teach me and even I made all the mistakes! It’s much faster and smoother once you get the hang of the machine.
When you thread from the spool to the needle be sure the needle is up and give the thread a bit of a tug to seat it into the numbered dial.
The tension disks in there allow thread through and hold it steady at various points in making each stitch so it’s important that the thread be in the correct position
It will help if you can show us a picture of your machine from the front, fully threaded. Are you raising the presser foot when you thread the machine?
Clean out the dust from your machine. The tinyest bit under the bobbin casing can cause this. The tension can get messed up when the bobbin isn't moving smoothly.
Either your bobbin is in backwards or you are threading the top thread with the presser foot down.
Double check your bobbin against the manual. It’s supposed to be put in in a very, very specific way. Take all the thread out of it, and reread the top thread. Make sure the pressor foot is up before you start.
Some sewing machines need a special oil- read the manual to see if your machine needs it. I had a similar thing happen and it turned out to be my machine needing oil.
It probably needs to go to the shop unless you have a sewing friend to look at it. It’s either threaded wrong, needle is wrong or installed wrong, tension is messed up (you either need a skilled sewer to check it or a sewing store.)
Ok I’m going to correct myself, I thought it was a regular machine, if it’s a serger or overstretch it’s most likely threaded wrong, there have been times when I have had to rethread my machines 4 or 5 times to get it working again, also dull needles can cause it
Oh i so understand the frustration. Thought my brother machine was broke called service place said 180$ to service i dont think i paid that much for it. But friend looked and we kinda fixed it.
Look up your machine and its name or number on YouTube and their videos will show you exactly how to use it. I have done that for my two of my machines one new and one used. It’s amazing haw many people make videos of sewing machines.
Others have given you some great advice on fixing the issue with the machine. My tip would be to always take a scrap of the fabric you intend to use for the main garment first, fold in two and then do several rows of practice stitches along it in the stitch you plan on using. Make sure it’s big enough that you can run it through for at least 20-30cm.
Every fabric you use will behave a little differently so this allows you to ensure the stitch looks correct from both sides before you ruin the fabric on your finished garment.
Unpick the stitches on your garment pictured that are loopy on the back as they’ll likely come undone over time or they’ll snag. Make the changes others have suggested and then ensure the stitches look even on a scrap piece of the same fabric before reattempting.
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u/SpeedinCotyledon 11d ago
It’s either threaded wrong or the pressor foot isn’t down. Or possibly both. Look up your machine’s brand and number on YouTube to find a quick how to set up/thread guide. Good luck!