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Your Sewing Machine Is Not Threaded Correctly
Even people who have been sewing for years sometimes thread their sewing machines incorrectly. This is the first thing you should check if your sewing machine is not working properly or your stitches do not look right.
Unthread your sewing machine and rethread it from the beginning. Make sure your thread take-up lever is in its highest position, attach your spool of thread, and then pull your thread through your tension discs and thread guides according to the instructions in your user manual. Then, pull your thread through the eye of your needle and leave a four-inch tail of thread.
Your Thread Tails Are Too Short
If the thread tail that comes out of your bobbin is shorter than two inches, it can get sucked into your sewing machine when you begin to sew or not get grabbed by your upper thread. Start with at least three- to four-inch thread tails or hold the thread tails until you have sewn a couple of stitches.
Your Needle Is Not Inserted Correctly
A little screw holds your needle in place as you sew. Over time, the screw can loosen and cause your needle to fall out a bit. You also might bump the screw and loosen it. If your needle is not being held in all the way, it won’t be in the right place to grab your bobbin thread. Make sure your needle is inserted all the way up and tightened as much as possible.
Also, make sure not to insert your needle backward on your sewing machine. The top shank of the needle is rounded with one flat side. The flat side should face toward the back of your sewing machine when you insert it. If you insert your needle the wrong way, it can hit your bobbin case or throat plate and break.
Your Bobbin Case Is Full of Lint
Lint builds up in your bobbin case as you sew. It can get in the way of your needle and prevent the hook in your bobbin case from forming stitches properly. Clean your sewing machine frequently to ensure your sewing machine can pick up your bobbin thread.
Your Bobbin Is Not Wound Correctly
Most sewing machines have a bobbin winding mechanism. After several years of sewing, you may need to replace the washer on your bobbin winder for it to work properly. Look at your bobbin after you wind it to make sure your thread is wound evenly. If it does not look right, you may need to have your sewing machine serviced by a repair technician. You can also get a free-standing bobbin winder if your bobbin winder is broken.
Another thing to look out for is a knot in your bobbin thread. This can happen if you wind your bobbin by hand instead of using an automatic bobbin winder. Also, never wind your bobbin too full because it can prevent it from spinning freely in your bobbin case. Both these things can cause your bobbin thread to break or not get picked up by your upper thread.
Your Bobbin Is Not Inserted Correctly
If your sewing machine is not picking up your bobbin thread, check to see if your bobbin is inserted properly. Some sewing machines require the thread to go clockwise in your bobbin case, and some require it to go counterclockwise. Check your user manual to see which direction is required for your sewing machine.
You Are Not Using the Correct Bobbin
All sewing machine bobbins look similar, but there is a slight variation in their size from brand to brand. Make sure that you only use bobbins designed specifically for your sewing machine. If you use the wrong size, your sewing machine might not grab your bobbin thread.
Your Bobbin Is Warped or Damaged
Plastic bobbins can get warped by heat. If this happens, they will no longer fit in your sewing machine or work properly. Make sure you store plastic bobbins in a cool, dry place to prevent warping. If your sewing machine does not pick up your bobbin thread, try winding a new bobbin and discard the old one. This is often a simple fix to the problem.
Your Hook Timing Is Off
When your needle goes down, the hook system on your sewing machine creates a loop to form a stitch. It also grabs your bobbin thread. If this does not happen, your hook timing is off. You can check by slowly lowering your needle through your needle plate and watching for the moment when it starts to go back up. This is when the loop should form.
You can try to fix the problem yourself or take your sewing machine to a repair technician to have your hook timing reset. This is something that is checked whenever you take your sewing machine in for regular maintenance. Remember to always turn your handwheel toward you to avoid messing up the timing of your machine.
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Good list of suggestions. I am trying them now.
I am sewing my quilt I have sandwiched my three layers with glue spray instead of pining ,now my top thread wont pick up the bobbin thread.is it because of basting with the spray?