thread breaks

[smeggy345o]

I have oiled and greased everything. Have put in a new needle. Thread is good. Tried actifeed and standard feel. I am getting thread breaks when stitching -no where near a trim. I hear a noise and then the thread breaks. Does anyone have an idea of what I should check?

- mary

[Judy]

Hi Mary. My list of stuf to check is:

A) Bobbin case - I have one that has a shorter backlash spring than others, and when I use it by accident, I pay the penalty of thread breaks.
B) Hooping - is it loose in the hoop? Another favorite cause of headaches
C) Needles - put in facing squarely front? Check by using a beading needle (VERY thin needle available at the local fabric store). Insert in into the eye of the Amaya needle. It will probably stick in the opening. Slowly release and see if it is pointing straight at you, or just a HAIR to the right.
D) Watch it sewing. Is the thread REALLY loose on the tension bar? If so, could be a problem with actifeed...of which I know nothing
E) Check the thread feed. Is it going directly down that tiny little groove?
F) Check the pinch roller and acti-feed roller. Are they both in good shape, no grooves, no build up of assorted stuff?
G) How's the humidity in your room? If it's dry, it can lead to static. I keep fabric softener sheets around, and when everything else on this list is okay, I hold one against the pinch roller as it is running. Gets some anti-static stuff onto the roller and helps with thread breaks. I also rub it against the surface of the hooped item before I start the machine.
H) Hoop arms - you'd probably notice if the screws were loose (by Friday mine always are, and it's not necessarily the machines that I am referencing...!!). Check the screws to be certain they are tight enough.
I) Bobbins - did you get a bad box or bad batch? It's amazing what a bad bobbin can cause.
J) Baseball bat/Golf club -- is one readily visible in the corner? Intimidation is sometimes a major factor in getting The Beast to work correctly.
K) Bounce check -- when all else fails, stand on one foot, bounce up and down while whistling Yankee Doodle and waving pompoms. Your machine will laugh so much it will forget to break threads.

HTH,
Judy

[Judy]

OOPS, forgot to mention check presser foot height, and adequate stabilization. As I said, Friday....

Judy

[smeggy345o]

Thanks Judy,
It was the bobbin case! - mary

[Judy]

YAY! I was just remembering to send another post about flossing the blasted thing...

Friday...

wwhiinnneeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!