sewing machine trouble

Check the plate and feed dog with your finger. If you feel a rough spot polish it off with some crocus cloth

Thanks for the tip Ron. I tried to feel it but the feed dog is, after all, rough. What is crocus cloth? Where do I get it? Is it possible that the hook could be catching the fabric? It only happens every couple inches but not regularly but the snag actually leaves a small loop of fabric thread sticking out.

Kirsten

I'm not Ron, but it's a kind of emery cloth, available at many hardware stores. It's used to smooth rough areas on metal.

Take off the needle plate and run your fingers over the top and underside around the needle plate; that's another good spot for burrs. Also check the bobbin case and hook assembly areas....

-Irene

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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Dear Kirsten,

This doesn't sound like a needle problem to me, unless you're using a needle too large for the fabric. Silky fabrics require an 8 or 9 needle size. But if you are getting snags, it sounds as though the bobbin might be in backwards. Note how the bobbin is inserted; try turning it over. If that doesn't help, try re-threading the top thread.

Teri

Might well be the thread. If it has large slurbs it may be pulling the fabric. Irene is right on with the crocus cloth, just a very fine very cloth available most home stores. Not likely the hook is snagging the fabric, more likely a gouge in the needle plate than anything

Those are the machines I saw in Big Lots last week, priced at $69 brand new. I cannot think they were much good if Brother sold so few that they ended up in an outlet store.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

I did try rethreading the needle several times, changing the needle and changing the thread. It does seem to be chewing up the thread as well and I have to keep rethreading. This is what made me think it was a problem underneath. I don't think the bobbin is in backwards. It is a drop in bobbin but I will try that just in case. I have made several projects with the machine in this state but it is rather annoying.

Kirsten

My fingers don't always feel rough spots, but a scrap of microfibre always does. Before I had that, nylon stockings were sure to find snags and rough spots.

double check that your needle is in properly. Remember that the slot in the needle needs to be facing the same way as you thread it. In other words thread into the side of the needle that has the slot. Hope this helps.