Sewing issues

[Datahiker]

I've been trying to get my Singer 99K working and failing miserably. The most I've been able to do is sew about an inch, then everything binds up and stops. The stitches on top look ok but the bottom is a complete mess and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'll try to take pictures tonight.

I know I have the machine threaded correctly. There's a part in the instructions where it talks about manually bringing the needle down to catch the bottom thread, then putting the fabric in and manually lowering the needle into it before sewing. That's where I think things are going haywire. I'm having to cut my test fabric out because thread ends up everywhere. It could be the bobbin tension but I doubt it since I bought it used and haven't changed any settings.

At this point I'm frustrated enough to go buy a cheap machine just to see if it's me or the machine.

[Jaxx]

Sounds like you need to adjust the tension and or clean your bobbin case and bobbin housing. Sometimes the bobbin housing gets gummed up with dust , fabric, lint etc. You still may need to adjust the tension even if you haven't used the machine for awhile. I had to adjust mine before after storage . Good luck!

[Ofemur]

Are you trying to sew your hammock material? While you are trying to get it to work, you may want to get some regular cotton fabric scraps and use them. If you don't have any scraps, quilting fat quarters are easy to get and work with.

[MomMeck]

Do you have a drop in bobbin or must you place it in bobbin case? If you have a bobbin case check the tension of the case. To do this load your bobbin in the case, Then hold by the thread and the bobbin and case should drop approx 4-6 inches before stopping. If it does not drop your tension on the bobbin case is to tight.

[tightwad]

Check your top tension...I found that if too tight the needle would come up the thread instead of bringing it up, resulting in a mess underneath as extra thread was left there.

[braves12]

I had the same thing happen to my singer. I took all the thread out of the bobbin, then rethreaded it and the top and it worked like a charm. Hope this helps.

[Ramblinrev]

The biggest problem is the top tension. For some reason it is too loose. That's too loose. Instead of pulling up the loop, the take up arm strips the thread off the spool leaving the loop down under. When you thread the machine make sure the needle is in the highest position, as well as the take up arm. Raise the presser foot. All those release the tensikon plates allowing the thread to properly engage. Leave the bobbin alone unless you know precisely what you and doing and why. The bobbin tension plays no part in the problem you are describing. The 99 is a real work horse. It should serve you well if it is properly maintained.

[echinotrix]

I have a Singer too, rethreading everything (!) often helps with these issues. Sometimes the thread looses its path in the bobbin or wraps around the needle. If you already tried rethreading several times, adjust the tension of your top thread (see previous post).

[BanjoPicker]

A couple things to try would be to clean out any lint, excess thread, etc from the place where the bobbin goes, and to make sure to oil the machine in all of the recommended places.

[Datahiker]

Thanks for the quick responses, everyone! I just found a sewing forum that also recommended adjusting the top tension, so I'll play with that tonight and see what happens. The top tension knob doesn't have any dials/numbers so it will be trial and error. As for the stitch control all I have is a knob, so that should be interesting once I get more comfortable with it.