New machine - straight stitch problem

Hello everyone,

Well, my old machine finally died so I got a new one. I chose a Kenmore, figuring it was not too expensive but still had a nice selection of stitches, etc. Just got it tonight.

The problem is the straight stitch - it's not in a straight line but slightly offset, as if the needle goes down on one thread and comes up slightly to the left so all the stitches are skewed. I've tried messing with tension, stitch width and length but nothing helps.

Has anyone seen this before?

I can always return the machine - maybe I got a lemon!

Thanks for any advice!

Steph

Reply to
Steph
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Have you tried taking the needle out & replacing it with a new one? Or maybe the existing needle just isn't in straight? That's the only thing that comes to mind - frustrating, cause you probably want to sew up a storm with your new machine:)

Reply to
Pauline

Hi Pauline,

I haven't tried a new needle - I'll do that! I did think that maybe it was crooked so I made sure it was in there tight and it was....

It's sooo frustrating! I haven't had a machine in 2 weeks and was looking forward to getting back to quilting this afternoon... Patience, patience. I can return it easily enough if need be.

Thank you for the suggest!

Steph

Reply to
Steph

It was a good idea - but they are still funky...

Reply to
Steph

Hang up and re-boot. That was the guidance I always received from our office's computer department. It wasn't always welcome or good advice but it was cheap. So. Sounds to me as if your SM is attempting to do a zigzag. Don't know if you're doing dials or buttons but try punching everything or winding all the dials clockwise and back a few times. Then, turn it off, unplug the rascal and begin again. For no reason I can grasp, this works with my scanner, oven and microwave - it's worth a try with your new Kenmore. Won't hurt. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Steph,

It may just be the machine, I had a sewing machine that did this and it was actually a great machine but the stitching was never exactly straight. It was the first zig zag machine I ever had, my husband went out and bought it for my in the mid 60's when I was trying to make shorts out of long pants for my kids.....on my Featherweight!

I don't remember exactly why this machine couldn't make a perfect straight stitch but there was some sort of a technical reason. I used to use the featherweight machine for top-stitching and the Signature machine for everything else.

You may want to return the machine and try another one to see if it's just that particular machine and not the model.

Keep us posted and good luck,

Judie

Steph wrote:

Reply to
Judie in Penfield NY

Hey Steph

I have this problems sometimes. I have a SM with a drop in bobbin. On occassion the thread will flip over the bobbin so the thread is feeding incorrectly off the bobbin. In other words is acts like I put the bobbin in backwards. The stitches look like loops when you finish sewing.

Kate T. South Mississippi

Reply to
Kate T.

What sort of machine did you have before? The only really absolutely totally perfect straight stitch comes from a machine that only does straight stitch. A good solid machine with bells and whistles will generally do a pretty good straight stitch. But some machines just have too much wobble. Maybe you did get a lemon

-go to the store and try out some others. Try some different brands too. Still, my little old Featherweight does a perfect straight stitch. The modern Pfaff and Bernina do very nice stitches but not Perfect. Roberta in D

Reply to
Roberta

Steph,

Try stitching with no thread on paper and see if the holes line up.

If so, then try the machine with different fabrics and see if you still have the problem.

While nothing will do 'as straight of a stitch' as a straight-stitch only machine, the only reason a stitch really looks straight is that the particular piece of fabric you are using is allowing it to come back to the center of the needle hole as it exits the fabric. The fact is, each individual stitch in a line of "straight stitching" will lay at a slight angle unless the fabric allows it to do otherwise. With the wrong fabric, even a Featherweight will produce a 'wavy stitch.'

-Irene

Reply to
IMS

Fascinating, Irene. I was just telling my Bernina what a beautiful straight stitch she had done on some Swiss batiste. The truth is, upon close inspection, that the stitches aren't perfectly straight; they angle just the barest perceptible bit. Still, it's a very pretty seam. Polly

Reply to
Polly Esther

Hello,

Thank you all for replying! I bought a Kenmore 19233 - it has great reviews everywhere I looked! I was sewing on a 1980s model Kenmore that had a great straight stitch but tension issues and the bobbin finally gave up - and I gave up struggling with it. I could manage if the stitches were somewhat straight but they are Really off! Funny thing is that I found a featherweight on Ebay and got it - for a really good price. A local quilt shop has a featherweight class the

2nd Sunday of the month and for 4 months in a row I'm not free or not here on that day so it sits waiting, with me afraid to touch it without guidance :(

I tried your suggestions - turning on/off and messing with the controls - no change. Different fabrics, even messing with tension, no change. I have half a quilt top done (was hoping to work on it this week!) And it's just quilters cotton that the old machine sewing straight. Sewing paper was very interesting - the holes are not lined up, you can see that they are in 2 different rows. I think it is trying to slightly zigzag them.

I'm going to go back to Sears tonight and give it back - test out another machine to see if its' the model and if so...continue my search. Very disappointing.

Thanks again for your comments - I really appreciate everyone's help!

Steph

Reply to
Steph

I think the straight stitch can have something to do with the type of bobbin mechanism. Whether it's rotary or oscillating. There are people who have a preference with the Bernina models due to the bobbin type. With that said....I don't remember which type makes the better straight stitch. Big help, huh??

Reply to
KJ

I was thinking that it must be either the needle or the bobbin since it seems to be an up/down issue :) Kate T - I did take the bobbin out and check and looks like it's in there right and working smoothly. This has the horizontal drop-in bobbin which I've never had before (it's nice!) I don't know if it's rotary or oscillating. I hope I'm not just being picky but it's really off - like the stitches are all angled. I've never seen anything like it.

Reply to
Steph

That's a classic reply, Kathyl! Marvellous! . In message , KJ writes

Reply to
Patti

Since you've checked everything. Maybe you should try an exchange while it's still so very new. Maybe it's just your machine...or you may find out that model doesn't do what you want. Just don't get stuck with a machine that will make you unhappy everytime you use it. You hear the words "stitch quality" mentioned when machines are discussed. I think you've just experienced what a bad one can look like.

Reply to
KJ

With the old all-metal machines, you could pop the top off and see what was going on with the ZZ mechanism. There was an oscillating track that carried the needlebar from side to side for the ZZ stitch. If you knew what you were about, you could adjust the tracking to straighten out the straight stitch. With the new machines, I don't think you are supposed to open them up (g).

If you want a really pretty straight stitch, you might pick up a vintage SS model machine for next to nothing. Most of mine have been between $1 and $10. There are only 3 that cost me more; a $30 Necchi BF Mira in a mahogany cabinet, a gorgeous Singer 66 Red Eye treadle, $50, and a Singer 301 with a hoard of attachments, $58, and they sew beautifully straight seams.

It sounds to me as if you should consider exchanging that machine while you can.

Maria in NE PA

mchsi

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Reply to
Maria O

Steph, part of it is a basic problem with any machine that has zig-zag capability. Because the needle can go from one side to the other it does. Most of the time, at least in the last several years, the bit of slant isn't really noticeable, but there are exceptions. It almost sounds like your needle position isn't quite going to zero in the width department. Are the stitches all leaning in the same direction or are they alternating direction?

Personally, I would return the machine and only buy when you can actually test the machine you want to take home with you. And take your own fabric to test on.

Pati, > I was thinking that it must be either the needle or the bobbin since

Reply to
Pati C.

Steph: Good luck with the Kenmore return or exchange. Let us know how it goes. As to the Featherweight .... do NOT be afraid. FW is probably the most user friendly SM around. Just review the manual and play around. If you do not have the manual, you can get the reprint which includes history and general FW information, by Nancy Johnson Srebro. Very helpful book. PAT in VA/USA

Reply to
Pat in Virginia

Steph, Just yesterday I was reading the manual for my 'new' featherweight and it mentioned something along these lines (no pun intended). As to straightening the stitching - it suggested adjusting the pressure of the presser foot. Not sure if you've returned your machine yet or not but thought it might be worth mentioning here.

Good luck.

Kim in NJ

Reply to
AuntK

I think what everyone told you is right. Some machines just make a "prettier" stitch than others. I had an inexpensive Bernina that made the prettiest stitch ever.

That just may be it's "straight" stitch.

Cindy

Reply to
teleflora

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