The Sewing Room

nuttywoman

lisakay wrote: »

Ladies (I've not seen any gents on this thread?), I'm a bit stuck with my sewing machine. It's a toyota 7700, and a good few years old. It's been fine up until very recently and now I can't get it to work properly. It doesn't seem to be picking up the thread from the bobbin properly and only does one stitch in about 8 leaving loose thread inbetween.

I've tried different tensions and different fabrics and even though I know it is, I have double checked it's all threaded correctly.

Oh and the top thread keeps slipping off the errrm up/down thingy:rotfl:. (no, not the needle:p).

It's booked in for a service next week, but in the meantime I need to get a couple of fancy dress outfits made for DD's by Friday!

I don't suppose any of you have any idea (from my very detailed description:o) what I could be doing wrong??

with thanks, Lisa x

Lisa, if your on FB ask on their group , someone should advice you to see if you can get it running for now xx

lisakay_2

nuttywoman wrote: »

Lisa, if your on FB ask on their group , someone should advice you to see if you can get it running for now xx

D'oh, I didn't even think of that. I'll get on it right away :T Thanks nuttywoman x:T

moonpenny

lisakay, Don't usually post on here but browse occasionally.

Have you tried changing the needle? Sometimes, if the needle is a bit blunt it skips stitchers etc.

lisakay_2

changed the needle and i now have half a princess leia costume ready (it was already cut and pinned)


Haha, moonpenny, you're brilliant! must have just cross posted. thanks x

(must try refreshing the page more often might read your answers quicker then!!)

moonpenny

lisakay wrote: »

changed the needle and i now have half a princess leia costume ready (it was already cut and pinned)


Haha, moonpenny, you're brilliant! must have just cross posted. thanks x

(must try refreshing the page more often might read your answers quicker then!!)

So glad it worked. I havn't done any sewing for years so it was a shot in the dark!

rufusdog52

Another thing that can stop it picking up the bottom thread is if you have fluff under the bobbin casing (if you have a drop in bobbin that is, not sure about the upright ones). I find I get a lot of fluff under there and it needs cleaning out quite regularly x

Savvy_sewing

Glad you fixed the problem. I was going to say the needle first. Thats always the best place to start. It does say that you should always start a new project with a new needle. I dont quite do that, but I do change my needles quite a lot. (Or I break them!! oops thats sewing over pins mostly!).
I have been naughty and ordered some new curtains for my bedroom/work room. I could have made them, but I couldnt find the fabric I liked then saw these curtains in H & M, that look like a book shelf and thought they were brilliant. Nothing to do with sewing, but I do read a lot. I am hoping that they will come soon, and I can cosy up the room, and get things back on track.
I just did a little more of my handsewing last night. I was so tired that I was in bed by 8pm.

rufusdog52

The curtains sound fabulous Mooloo, good to have a nice treat now and then. I didnt get much sewing done yesterday. Was busy doing other things but did finish off an apron and oven glove set for OH's mum. Will do some pics later when it gets a bit brighter. I am hand sewing today, trying to make some small bits for a stall to fill up the empty spaces.

cuddles123

Was going to suggest changing the thread too.
Recently had a bad experience with a reel of Moon thread. Was badly wound, so kept snapping or pulling out of the needle,

Anyone else ever had this problem?

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

rufusdog52 wrote: »

The 1/4 inch guide foot is "nice to have", most machines you can adjust where the needle is and move it left or right a bit so you can set it so that the side of your foot is 1/4 inch away from the needle if you get me.

As for the rule, I bought one that is about 6 inches wide and as long as my cutting mat which I think is about 24 inches. I dont have any other ones but would love a square one.

Thanks for your help. I was taught the two rule technique for squaring so I think I'll go for a square and a long. Excellent idea to buy one the same length as my cutting board... you see you just don't realise these things till you've used them a while.

As for the 1/4 inch guide foot... I'll save up some John Lewis vouchers! When I was sewing 1/4 seam allowances a few nights ago I managed to move the needle across and then just aimed for the same place on the foot with each new run. I might make a little mark with permanent marker on the foot so I can aim for that.