Help! Think I've broke my Mam's sewing machine!

Becles

I've borrowed my Mam's sewing machine to make new covers for the dogs beds! All I'm doing is sewing some old curtains into big pillowcases.

My sewing machine skills consist of being able to sew straight lines, refil the spool and that's about it

Anyway, there was already some white thread on the spool, so I've been sewing fine. On the latest edge, the spool ran out. I stopped sewing and refilled it.

Put the spool back in, started sewing and it all jammed. Stopped, cleared all the thread out, set it up again and started but it jammed again.

Cleared it and set it up again, and tried moving it on by hand sewing on a sheet of paper. It does about 4 stiches that look ok on the top, but underneath it's just a jumble of threads.

I've tried taking the metal bit off and taking out the container that holds the spool. That was full of fluff, so I blew it out with an air duster, but that hasn't solved the jamming and not sewing on the bottom problem.

Can anyone help me in easy to follow steps?

The make is New Home by Janome and I haven't got an instruction book with it.

ChocClare

It sounds like you've put the bobbin back in upside down. I have a Janome machine and you have to have the thread coming from the left (ie, hold the bobbin in your left hand and you should be able to pull the thread towards you with your right) with the thread coming out anticlockwise. Now put the bobbin back in the machine that way round!

The other thing which can cause problems is if the thread isn't wound on evenly. You sometimes get thread on the bobbin getting itself into a loop which "traps" thread underneath. Again, try pulling thread off the bobbin by hand. If it seems caught at any point, there's your problem.

The only other possible problem is tension. It sounds like bobbin tension (hence looking to see if the thread's caught) but it MIGHT be top tension if you've adjusted that by accident. I find on my Janome that the top tension should be about 5-6 for normal sewing. If it's too loose or tight you'll have problems.

Good luck - let us know how you get on!

Becles

The bobbin was in right.

However the top thread should go through a metal clip, down round a white thing and back up, through the metal bit that goes up and down, then down into the needle.

I've just realised that I'd missed the "down, round the white thing and back up" step. I've set the top thread up properly and it's working now.

No idea why a mistake on the top thread causes problems on the bottom, but at least it is working now!

Thanks for your help though - much appreciated

mah_jong

I think that there was a lack of tension from above, therefor causing trouble below!