Sewing is an enjoyable hobby for many. Spending the day at a sewing machine, creating well-crafted clothes and hand-made articles, relieves stress and confers feelings of accomplishment. Even the best day spent sewing, however, may be challenging if you end up fighting with your thread and bobbin rather than stitching. Here’s a guide to learn how to solve some of the most common issues with sewing machine operation.

3 Sewing Machine Problems & Their Fixes

1. Thread Bunching

If you've ever come halfway through a row of perfectly straight stitches only to discover a tangle of thread underneath, you've encountered thread bunching. Thread bunching is caused by a lack of tension on the upper thread. To remedy it, raise the presser foot lifter and rethread your machine. To confirm you have the right tension, raise the take-up lever and needle to their highest position.

2. Skipped or Uneven Stitches

Skipped and uneven stitches are the result of broken, bent, or damaged needles. Although recommendations may call for sewers to change needles after 16 hours of use, many don't change them until there is an immediate need.

If you're still experiencing skipped stitches after changing a needle, don’t stretch your fabric by pulling it from behind. Although many sewers find pulling helps fabric move through the machine more quickly, stretched fabric leads to messy work and may cause your machine to jam.

3. Jams

A sewing machine may jam when lint, debris, or thread collect around the machine’s feed dogs, preventing them from moving. A jammed sewing machine can cause needles to break and damage both fabrics and machines.

If your machine is jammed, gently pull your fabric away and snip threads to detach the cloth. Before resuming your project, examine your needle. Remove all loose or knotted threads and gently clean any debris.

If your sewing machine needs repairs, contact the experts at Dothan Sewing Center. With nearly 50 years of dedicated service in southeastern Alabama, their professional and friendly team is committed to helping you find cost-effective solutions for a wide variety of sewing machine mishaps and repairs. Contact them today at (334) 794-3177 to schedule service, or visit them online for information about the machines they sell.