Sewing machine blip

[Nana]

I was going 'L' for leather trying to finish an art piece as the 3rd one for the Open exhibition. I work confidently with my old Bernina as it's strong & sturdy. I got half way through & the cotton kept breaking. I must have threaded it every 6secs or so.

Then the bobbin 'exploded' with the needle stuck downwards. Now I've since looked it up on Pinterest. There are loads of explanations ...mostly about tension. I'm so puzzled how I find out if it's the screw in the bobbin I need to slacken or tighten or the tension wheel on the machine. Helpppppp!!!!.

[Oma]

Mine once did that and I tried everything it said in instruction book but I just couldn't get it to work I did get the needle out but it just tangled the threads and the needle kept breaking when I tried again , ,,had to give in and get a man who fixed sewing machines in , it wasn't the spool or anything like that it was something to do with the needle mechanism in the top of the machine

[Daisy]

Nana - I can't help, but wondering if Google can - have Bernina got a Help forum or similar?

[Enfys]

Can't help, Nana, I'm a very basic sewer. Hope you can get it sorted out, frustrating when you're in the middle of something. Would be interested to hear what the problem is.

[Grauntie Mag]

Was the needle bent Nana? Strange that the machine should cough in the middle of a project. Did you put a new needle in? I assume you rethreaded the whole thing when the thread kept breaking. Personally I would leave the tension well alone until you have tried everything else. Just a thought, check the thread reel. The thread may be catching on a nick at the side of the reel. Did you put the 'stopper' on after the reel, and is it too tight? Sounds like an 'upper' machine problem.

[Gemini]

I can't help as I couldn't even thread the machines in needlework lessons at school, Grauntie! I hope you can get it fixed.

[Plantaholic]

I does sound like an upper thread tension as Grauntie says, I wouldn't touch the bobbin tension. I presume you tried a new reel of thread, checked for fluff, changed needle etc.Does the thread feel tight when you pull the upper thread through the needle. I really can't offer much advice, hope you have managed to solve the problem so that you can finish your project.

[Qwerty]

..........Pass sorry

[Nana]

Love it Qwerty. 😂
I have done everything you've all suggested. Thanks for trying to help. Plant, you did make a good point tho' when you asked if the thread felt tight when I pulled it towards the needle. It did. I'm at a loss on any tensions ...upper or lower, so I don't know what this means.

You'd laugh tho'. I drew from a pic of my GS onto material & did free machine embroidery. I've done this technique loads of times so I don't know why the machine played up this time. I was so near the deadline for handing in my entries that I left it half finished/started (depending on whether your an optimist or pessimist) with a few cotton threads hanging & called the piece "I'll finish this later". I'll let you know if it gets accepted.

[Grauntie Mag]

Brilliant Nana! Sounds like a winner to me. Good luck.🍀

[Oma]

Oh that's a brilliant idea Nana so original deserves to win

[Plantaholic]

I would take off the upper tension and then re-set it, if it is leaving the cotton reel okay and then is tight after threading I think it is more likely to be the top tension which is causing the problem.

Good luck with the entry

[Nana]

It's my old Bernina, Plant. There's a tension 'wheel' with a - & + and I have no idea about it. I presume if it's too tight I tweak it more on the minus side. Eeek.😉

[Plantaholic]

Just give it a try, it can be reversed if that doesn't solve the problem. It might have to go to hospital.

[Nana]

Thanks Plant. I would just hate to break it. Wouldn't be the 1st time it's been poorly.😉