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Sometimes sewing is dangerous. Your needle can snap off and go flying. It’s frustrating when this keeps happening to you. Here are ten reasons why your needle can break while you sew, and what to do about each one.
Contents
Your Sewing Machine Is Not Threaded Correctly
Even people who have been sewing for years sometimes thread their sewing machine incorrectly. This is the first thing you should check if your needle keeps breaking while you sew. If your thread does not line up through your tension discs and thread guides properly, your thread can tighten up and pull on the eye of your needle, causing it to break.
Unthread your sewing machine and rethread it from the beginning. Don’t simply replace the broken needle and only rethread through the eye. 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 under the presser foot.
Your Thread Tension Is Too Tight
Your thread tension should be adjusted for different weights of fabric and thread. Make sure that you are using the same weight thread in both your bobbin and upper thread. If you don’t, the tension can be uneven and pull on the eye of your needle, causing it to break.
Sewing machine manufacturers suggest that you don’t mess with your bobbin thread tension too much, but you should adjust your upper thread tension if your thread keeps breaking while you sew. If the tension is too tight, it can pull your thread and break it. Turn your tension dial counterclockwise to loosen it. If you can’t seem to get your tension right, a sewing machine repair technician can reset your bobbin tension.
Your Thread Is Not on the Spool Pin Securely
Some sewing machines require a spool cap or stopper to prevent your spool of thread from bouncing while you sew. You can throw off your sewing machine’s tension if you don’t use a spool cap, and this can pull on the eye of your needle and cause it to break. When you place your thread on your spool pin, attach your stopper securely. However, make sure your thread can still come off easily.
It doesn’t usually matter if your spool of thread is placed on your sewing machine clockwise or counterclockwise but watch for the little slit/snag on your spool of thread. The slit is used to keep track of the end of your thread when it is stored, but your thread can get stuck in the slit when you start to sew. This can pull on the eye of your needle and cause it to break.
You Are Not Using the Correct Needle
Sewing machine manufacturers recommend that you change your needle before every project. That way your needle is sharp and can pierce your fabric easily. Dull needles can get caught on your fabric and break. This is more likely to happen when you’re sewing through thick fabric like corduroy or denim. Leather is so thick it requires a special needle.
Keep in mind that certain fabrics require certain types of needles. For example, a ballpoint needle is better for knit fabric than a sharp needle because it won’t snag and make your fabric run. If in doubt, use a universal needle.
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. This is a problem because if your needle is not held in all the way, it can hit your bobbin case and break. 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 Needle Is Not in the Correct Position
If your needle breaks immediately after you insert a new one, turn your handwheel to slowly bring your needle down and see if it hits your throat plate or presser foot. This is a common problem if you are not using the standard presser foot. You can manually adjust the position of your needle by changing the width setting on your sewing machine. Most sewing machines also have a needle position lever where you can choose center, left, or right.
Your Needle Is Damaged, Bent, or Dull
Over time, your sewing machine needle can get damaged or bent, especially if you are sewing through thick fabric. If your needle gets too bent, it can hit your feed dogs, throat plate, or bobbin case, and break. To avoid bending your needle, try to slow down while you’re sewing or use a sharper needle.
Sewing machine needles also have natural flaws or burs that happen during manufacturing. You will occasionally come across a needle that is bent or damaged before you insert it into your machine. This isn’t very common, but it does happen. It’s a good idea to always have replacement sewing machine needles on hand.
Your Bobbin Case Is Full of Lint
Lint builds up in your bobbin case as you sew. If you have not cleaned your sewing machine in a while, the lint can cause your needle to jam and break. Clean your sewing machine frequently to ensure the bobbin case is not dirty and your needle can go up and down smoothly.
You Are Sewing Over Pins
You’re supposed to remove pins from your fabric just before they go under your presser foot so that your needle does not hit them. If your needle hits a pin just right, it can break. However, typically what happens when you sew over pins is that your needle gets bent. Eventually, that bent needle will hit your bobbin case, feed dogs, or needle plate, and break because it is out of alignment.
You Are Pulling on Your Fabric as You Sew
Never pull on your fabric as you feed it through your sewing machine. Your feed dogs will do all the work for you so that your stitches come out even. If you pull on your fabric, your needle can bend and break. This is difficult if you’re sewing through multiple layers of fabric, but just take it slow and try not to pull. A walking foot attachment can also help.
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why does my needle keep breaking with a presser quilting foot on it.
Why my needle breaks down
very good
What can I do my sewing machine needle don’t line up with the holes on the bottom what can I do I don’t have no where to take it we’re I live to fix it
Look for a button that lets you reposition your needle. Some sewing machines have one. It’s also possible your needle bar or your needle have come loose so they don’t line up properly.
please give me a phone number for a singer repair person to come to my home in webster n,y, or rochester new york .. to come to my home to fix my singer sewing machine. the bobbin has something to do with the needle breaking. my sewing machine is zig zag model number 788.
Why is my needle breaking while I’m trying to quilt my quilt ?