KNOW YOUR NEEDLES
Always use the correct needle for your type of sewing machine.If you own a Janome Sewing Machine, you will need to use Janome brand Sewing Machine needles.
For most other brands of Machines you should use a good quality brand of needle such as Schmetz.
Schmetz needles are an excellent quality German made needle.
If you use low grade (cheap) needles in your machine - you may experience problems with stitch quality, these problems may include loopy stitches, tight stitches, thread breakage, skipped stitches plus many other problems. The tension is often blamed for these problems.
The tension should never have to be changed.
When you are having trouble like this - the first thing to do is look at the needle that you are using - if the needle is a good one and also the right size for your project, then look at the bobbin and check if it is inserted the correct way around. Next thing to check is the top thread by taking the thread out and rethreading the machine.
Remember to always have the presser foot up when threading the upper thread.
When the presser foot is up the upper tension disks are open for the thread to lay inside - for perfectly tensioned stitches.
When the presser foot is down - the tension discs are closed ready for sewing and if you try to thread the machine with them closed the thread will lay outside the tensioning and will not sew a nice tight (perfectly tensioned) stitch.
When the thread is laid inside the discs and they are closed by lowering the presser foot, you will have perfect stitches because the thread is held between the discs with just enough tension to keep the stitches beautifully tight & neat.
Call back soon for my next post about what size needles to use for your project.
HAPPY SEWING
Gillian
If you use low grade (cheap) needles in your machine - you may experience problems with stitch quality, these problems may include loopy stitches, tight stitches, thread breakage, skipped stitches plus many other problems. The tension is often blamed for these problems.
The tension should never have to be changed.
When you are having trouble like this - the first thing to do is look at the needle that you are using - if the needle is a good one and also the right size for your project, then look at the bobbin and check if it is inserted the correct way around. Next thing to check is the top thread by taking the thread out and rethreading the machine.
Remember to always have the presser foot up when threading the upper thread.
When the presser foot is up the upper tension disks are open for the thread to lay inside - for perfectly tensioned stitches.
When the presser foot is down - the tension discs are closed ready for sewing and if you try to thread the machine with them closed the thread will lay outside the tensioning and will not sew a nice tight (perfectly tensioned) stitch.
When the thread is laid inside the discs and they are closed by lowering the presser foot, you will have perfect stitches because the thread is held between the discs with just enough tension to keep the stitches beautifully tight & neat.
Call back soon for my next post about what size needles to use for your project.
HAPPY SEWING
Gillian
I do enjoy reading your hints and tips. It is very handy having a little refresher course, I know that I push my needles beyond their limits, I'll take more care in the future.
ReplyDeleteWell done Tracee it is well worth the effort to change the needle regularly.
ReplyDeleteHow do you know when to change the needles, is it hours use, stitches done, or the sound ?
ReplyDelete