Helpful Tips on Sewing Machine Tensions – Sewing Machines Los Angeles

When the threads along a seam lie in place as they are intended with no wobbles, no puckers, no loops, no excess thread on top or bottom; you have well balanced sewing machine tensions.

However, messed up tensions are terrible. You might get to feeling that every time you sew, the threads mess up.

Perhaps the most common complaint sewing machine users make, is about stitch quality and of course their tensions.

You might say, poor sewing machine tensions cause extreme user tensions. The sewer may sew along thinking all is fine, only to cry out in anguish when they turn the fabric over to see gobs of unsightly tangled threads. Or the thread may pucker up in little balls on top of the fabric.

The problems with sewing machine tensions may result from many different things.

Threading is often a problem. You may have threaded your sewing machine a thousand times, but if the thread misses a guide or rides along the ridge of the tension discs, you get problems.

Dirt, grit, gunk, and lint can cause the system to mess up. Rough spots, irregular surfaces, burrs, and rust can ruin tensions.

Loosely wound bobbins, bad thread, dull needles, and of course mechanical failures can produce tension problems.

Properly set tensions should produce stitches with the upper and lower thread locked together in the center of the fabric. When you look at the seam from the top side, you should see a smooth even flow of thread with tiny holes into the fabric. When you turn the fabric over, you should see exactly the same quality stitching as you saw from the top side. The stitches should be snug and show no extra threads on top or bottom.

What you do not want to see are loops of thread, intertwined thread tails, gobs of unsightly threads, puckers, skipped stitches, or other stitch issues.

The sewing machine tension system is designed to create drag or resistance which we call tension. When it is properly adjusted, the upper and lower thread tensions are equalized to produce proper stitches. There should be not extra thread anywhere.

Standing on top of your sewing machine is an imaginary little person. You might call them little people or gnome or leprechaun. He pulls on the thread from the top. Another little person is under the needle plate of your sewing machine. Each one is pulling on their thread.

The one that pulls the strongest gets the most thread. If the fellow on top, pulls harder than the one below, you will see little puckers, wobbles, or balls of thread along the top of the fabric. If the little fellow on the bottom pulls harder, you will see bunches of tangled threads underneath the fabric.

Only when they pull equally, do you see a proper stitch without excess threads. Only then do you see properly balanced tensions.

Remember, your goal is to provide the same or equal tension from the upper and lower threads.

Begin your corrective efforts by re-threading the upper thread.

Be intentional and careful to insure everything is just right. Remember to lift the presser foot while threading. Watch out for anything that might snag the thread. Check to make sure not lint or gunk has messed gotten stuck between the tension discs. Watch out for rough spots. Once you reach the needle, gently draw on the thread two or three inches. You should feel very little resistance. The thread should flow smoothly.

Now drop the presser foot, and test again. Is there more resistance? There must be.

Take your bobbin out. Is the thread wound evenly? It should be.

Place it back in its carrier. Check the tension spring for any debris or lint that may have collected under it and clean it out. Slide the thread under the tension spring. Test it to make sure there is moderate resistance on the thread. This usually does not require adjustment unless you change the size of thread significantly. Some suggest that a professional sewing machine repair person make these adjustments when needed.

Finally, tighten the upper tension until it balances the lower tension providing stitches that meet in the middle of the fabric. Test and retest. Keep in mind the numbers on you upper tension do not really mean much.

The key is to balance the resistance.

Testing is good. Using scrap material sew a seam using a straight stitch and then a moderate zig zag stitch. Check the quality of the stitch? Are the tension balanced? Do you see any problems? If so continue to experiment until you are satisfied. Remember, if you test on scrap, before sewing on your fine finish fabric, you will save loads of frustration and sew with greater confidence.

You may notice irregularities on one side of a zig zag stitch and not on the other. Test and adjust until it looks the best you can make it. Some machines have design issues that make a perfect zig zag stitch almost impossible. If you want a perfect stitch and you have one of these older machine, consider getting a better machine.

Sew with confidence. Understanding your sewing machine tensions, empowers you to keep your stitching well balanced and beautiful. If all else fails, you can depend on your local sewing machine repair person.