Makerspace Staff Guide: Equipment Maintenance

If your needle breaks during use, remove the broken needle and discard in a designated sharps container - makerspace staff can show you where this is in each space.

 A needle can break due to a variety of causes, including:

• Incorrect needle type or installation issue - Follow the machine's guide to replace the needle, making sure that the needle type is correct for the fabric and thread you are using.
• Needle is bent or blunt - Check your needle before installing to make sure it is not bent or blunt. Replace as needed.
• Upper thread tension is too tight - Check and adjust the thread tension if necessary.
• Using incorrect presser foot - Make sure the presser foot installed on the machine is the correct one for the stitch you are using.
• Bobbin is incorrect type for machine - Check that the type of bobbin installed on the machine is correct.
• Damaged bobbin case, presser foot, or needle plate - Report any damage to the machine to makerspace staff.
• Pulling fabric too much - While sewing, allow the feed dogs to pull the fabric and do not apply force.

​Common causes of the upper thread breaking are:

• Upper thread incorrectly threaded - Check the machine’s guide and redo the upper threading.
• Thread has knots or tangles - Remove any knots and tangles from the upper thread and check the bobbin case for tangles as well.
• Incorrect needle type or installation - Follow the machine's guide to replace the needle, making sure that the needle type is correct for the fabric and thread you are using.
• Needle is bent or blunt - Check your needle before installing to make sure it is not bent or blunt. Replace as needed.
• Upper thread tension is too tight - Check and adjust the thread tension if necessary.
• Damaged bobbin case, presser foot, or needle plate - Report any damage to the machine to makerspace staff.
• Bobbin is incorrect type for machine - Check that the type of bobbin installed on the machine is correct.

Lower thread tangling on the underside of fabric, or breaking is commonly caused by:

• Bobbin thread not wound properly - If bobbin thread looks tangled or messy, remove the thread from the bobbin and follow the machine’s guide to wind the bobbin again.
• Thread is tangled in bobbin case or was not inserted correctly - Remove bobbin from case, clean the case of any tangled thread, and reinsert the bobbin following the machine’s guide.
• Bobbin is incorrect type for machine - Check that the type of bobbin installed on the machine is correct.
• Bobbin is scratched or does not rotate smoothly - Replace the bobbin and give any damaged bobbins to staff.

If you encounter issues winding the bobbin thread neatly, start by checking these two common issues:

• Threading for bobbin winding is incorrect - Undo the threading and follow the machine’s guide to rethread the bobbin.
• Bobbin is incorrect type for machine - Check that the type of bobbin installed on the machine is correct.

These are common causes of the machine skipping stitches while sewing:

• Upper and / or lower thread incorrectly threaded - Check the machine’s guide and redo the upper and lower threading.
• Incorrect needle type or installation - Follow the machine's guide to replace the needle, making sure that the needle type is correct for the fabric and thread you are using.
• Needle is bent or blunt - Check your needle before installing to make sure it is not bent or blunt. Replace as needed.
• The bobbin case is dusty - Follow the machine’s guide to clean out the bobbin case. If further cleaning is required, notify staff.

Common reasons a stitch is not turning out as expected:

• Presser foot is incorrect for selected stitch - Change the presser foot to the one required for the thread.
• Upper thread tension is not correct - Check and adjust the thread tension if necessary.
• Thread has knots or tangles - Remove any knots and tangles from the upper thread and check the bobbin case for tangles as well.
• Needs stabilizer - For certain stitches / fabrics, a stabilizer may be recommended.

Causes for fabric puckering/wrinkling while sewing include:

• Upper and/or lower thread incorrectly threaded - Check the machine’s guide and redo the upper and lower threading.
• Spool not secured properly - Make sure the spool is properly fitted and necessary spool caps are used.
• Needs stabilizer - For certain stitches/fabrics, a stabilizer may be recommended.
• Incorrect needle type or installation - Follow the machine's guide to replace the needle, making sure that the needle type is correct for the fabric and thread you are using.
• Needle is bent or blunt - Check your needle before installing to make sure it is not bent or blunt. Replace as needed.
• Upper thread tension is not correct - Check and adjust the thread tension if necessary.

If the fabric will not feed while sewing, it may be one of the following issues:

• Feed dogs are lowered - Move the feed dog position lever to raise the feed dogs. It will take a couple rotations of the machine for the feed dogs to come back up.
• Stitch is too fine - Increase the length of the stitch.
• Incorrect needle type - Follow the machine's guide to replace the needle, making sure that the needle type is correct for the fabric and thread you are using.
• Thread has knots or tangles - Remove any knots and tangles from the upper thread and check the bobbin case for tangles as well.

If you are using a machine with a needle auto-threader and it is not working, it could be one of two issues:

• Incorrect needle installation - Follow the machine's guide to reinstall the needle properly.
• Needle position is too low - Raise the needle to its highest position using the hand wheel, or, if applicable, needle position button.