Bottom stitch a mess....

**miyanc** · 01-07-2016, 12:05

I have learned to trust ramrev. I have also sewn enough of this stuff and worked on enough machines to agree with rev. Its a top issue. I took a machine apart, cleaned and put it back together and could not get my thread to cooperate. It would get like that for me if the thread length was larger. So I was sewing everything at 12-15 threads per. Anytime I moved below that number I could no longer hold the bottom threads (or as it is adjusted to thread). This was until Koolranch gave me a not working 15-91 to take parts off. I swapped the entire section where the dial for thread tension and it works at all thread counts. I must have the thread tension dial messed up somewhere. Now I can use the dial when needed to adjust.

**miyanc** · 01-07-2016, 12:08

Also check out the article about proper ways to sew straps. I am sure there are many that will hold enough, but as gmcttr has posted the best way is peaks like a bad polygraph. I will try and find the post. I use the peak method and for ascetics I box them in. No bar tac or zigzag needed.

**coachsmith50** · 01-07-2016, 12:17

I have had this problem before also on an older machine. I never figured it out and got a new "computerized" injector a short time later. Great info about the top tension. I will drag the old machine out and see if it helps. I have not tried to sell it or give it away because I thought it was broken (and it may still be like miyanc had issues with). But great info. Thanks guys.

**ice man** · 01-07-2016, 12:22

Sounds like a top thread tension problem. Make sure your thread goes through that Hook thingy that goes up and down with each stitch. Don't know the technical term for that thing, but when my machine fouls up the under stitch, its usually 'cause the thread has jumped out of that thing.

**miyanc** · 01-07-2016, 13:04

here is the sewing article. It may be other places but this will do. http://caves.org/section/vertical/nhback/NH03.pdf its on page 12

**Ramblinrev** · 01-07-2016, 13:49

Originally Posted by ice man

Don't know the technical term for that thing,

It's called the "take up arm"

**foxrun** · 01-07-2016, 14:07

Originally Posted by mcswainm

Hi, I am new to this forum but have a little experience with sewing machines. Unlikely as it sounds, most of the time a mess on the bottom is caused by a problem up on the top side. Look closely at the thread and see if the loops and mess on the bottom are made up of the top thread. Easier if you you use two different colors. If it is the top thread that is making the mess it is likely a threading or tension problem as Ramblinrev stated. The top thread makes a loop that passes around the bobbin and then the loop must be pulled back up through the fabric with the take up lever. If there is not enough tension on the thread, the take up level will pull more more thread off the spool rather than pulling the loop back up through the material.
Hope this helps.

Thank you so much! I just learned something... I will try 2 diff colors and see what happens.

**tightwad** · 01-07-2016, 14:24

I agree, it's a top tension issue as stated by so many others. Two colors of thread is a good idea so you can confirm.

Originally Posted by miyanc

here is the sewing article. It may be other places but this will do. http://caves.org/section/vertical/nhback/NH03.pdf its on page 12

I tried some straps using that method...anyone have hints for getting even line spacing? sewing a blind V is kinda hard when trying to keep it pretty.

**foxrun** · 01-07-2016, 20:03

Thanks everyone for your input. I rethreaded the machine with a diff color on top and held the ends. Turned out much better. I will not underestimate the power of rethreading the machine. Holding the ends also made it much better too. Thank you all. Case closed.