Sewing Machine Problems - Skipped Stitches?

[jellyfish]

Not yet. With the bobbin binding I was hoping I may have averted something more serious

It is possible that the bobbin case is just crooked.

[buds007]

I took the bobbin out of the machine and tested it binding in my hand.

[jellyfish]

Maybe if you take it out and put it back in, it will work itself into the right spot

[jellyfish]

I took the bobbin out of the machine and tested it binding in my hand.

That is very odd.

I wonder if it is out of balance.

Do you have another bobbin?

[buds007]

I'm not sure I understand. I might be using the wrong word. The plastic bobbin that I wound my thread onto didn't wind properly. When I hold the bobbin between my fingers and pull the string it stops like the thread is crossed or something. If I pull a bit harder on it it'll come free and keep spinning.

[jellyfish]

I'm not sure I understand. I might be using the wrong word. The plastic bobbin that I wound my thread onto didn't wind properly. When I hold the bobbin between my fingers and pull the string it stops like the thread is crossed or something. If I pull a bit harder on it it'll come free and keep spinning.

I think I understand.

Rewind that bobbin with thread. If you have another bobbin, you can transfer the thread from one bobbin to the other.

[slugbait]

I read somewhere that it's best to wind a bobbin slowly to prevent sewing issues. I do this and haven't had skipped stitches.

[Charliev]

Sorry, my two cents worth again. When you make your first stitch the bobbin thread is captured in the material and held there by the stitch. At that point the needle hook comes by and picks up the top thread and wraps it around the bobbin case therby capturing the bobbin thread inside the loop. Then the needle bar rises and along with the lift arm pulls the loop out from the bobbin area up against the material. In order to skip a stitch the needle hook has to miss the top thread. That can happen for several reasons. Timing, needle two far from needle, or maybe a bent or buggered up hook point. I just don't see how a bobbin issue could cause missed stitches because that bobbin thread is where it should be because it is held by the previous stitch, it can't go anywhere. It can break. Ut the you have no stitches. Bobbin problems will cause birds nest, bad stitches and I don't know what else but the hook is not picking up the top thread to miss a stitch. I may be totally wrong but that is the way i see it from the way a sewing machine works

[Charliev]

Try this. Thread your machine as normal. Put your bobbin in but do not pull up the thread. Now hold the bobbin thread in your hand, it doesn't matter where, pull it up over your shoulder , left, right or hold it straight up over the bobbin. Now turn your hand wheel. The top thread will capture the bobbin thread making a stitch. It will capture that bobbin thread no matter what unless the thread is broken. Now it may not be able to pull the bobbin thread up to the material but it will try and if it can not you will get jams or broken thread.

[Mileage]

I had this problem today and from some experimenting and reading this I thnk I know what is wrong, at least on my machine.

Basically I think the fabric is too light for the needle that Im using. So after the needle punches the whole, there is not enough friction for the thread to stay below the fabric making a loop for the bobbin hook to pick up.

I tried changing to heavier fabric - old cotton t shirt and it sewed perfectly at all speeds on multiple runs. With the 0.9oz fabric again I started getting missed stitches again.

So I think I need to find a finer needle (10) and see if that helps on the fine fabrics. Also probably need to experiment with thread tension again to find the balance for the fabric/needle combo