Tighter Stitch With Sewing Machine

[Kustom]

That top stitch looks great, the bottom not so much. When I go around corners it gets a little wonky. Is there a way to get a tighter bottom stitch with a sewing machine? Is that my problem?

Thanks, Steve

[CowboyBob]

I don't know what wonky means but if you want a tighter stitch it's the needle threadd that needs to be tightened & it will pull the bobbin thread up.

Bob

[Kustom]

I don't know what wonky means but if you want a tighter stitch it's the needle threadd that needs to be tightened & it will pull the bobbin thread up.

Bob

I did that of course but it didn't help tighten up the bottom that much, It just pulled the bottom thread through the top. I played around with the bobbin tension and that seemed to help, but I still get a non-uniform stitch every so often.

Wonky: http://www.urbandict....php?term=wonky

[Mongo]

It sounds like your on the right track playing with the your tension adjustments. Here are some other ideas you may check. No one told me this stuff when I first started using a leather sewing machine, so I don’t mean to be insulting if these seem way too obvious.

• Are you using one size smaller thread (than your top thread) on your bobbin? This can really help draw the bobbin thread up into the stitching hole.
• Change your needle. If your machine has been working fine up until now, putting in a new needle can magically cure all kinds of problems.
• Clean and oil where the bobbin shuttle rotates in the machine.
• Check how the thread is wound in your bobbin. It can get jammed up and not spool off consistently.

If all else fails, call Steve at the Leather Machine Company (Cobra Sewing Machines). He will be glad to help you even if your using a different brand of machine.

[Wizcrafts]

I did that of course but it didn't help tighten up the bottom that much, It just pulled the bottom thread through the top. I played around with the bobbin tension and that seemed to help, but I still get a non-uniform stitch every so often.

Here are some possible causes of the bad stitches.

• The bobbin may be warped or have a sharp edge or gouge that causes the thread to hang as it passes that point.
• The bobbin case may be the wrong case for your machine.
• The bobbin case may have a nick where the bobbin thread feeds through the slot and under the spring.
• The bobbin case spring may be bent up too much and does not provide normal, smooth pressure to the bobbin thread.
• The bobbin case spring may have a rough spot on it.
• The shuttle pick-up point may be damaged by the needle hitting it and could cause the thread to bind as it goes around the bobbin case.
• The needle may be too big for the thread and work being sewn.
• The needle may have a nick on the point.
• The needle may be bent or have leather burned onto it.
• The top thread may be feeding improperly, or catching on the regulator spring shaft instead of feeding around the disk, or could be doubling over the thread guides or a thread post with holes.
• The top thread might be twisted around the loop in the thread stand.
• The top thread might be getting caught under the bottom of the spool, on the thread stand.
• The thread may be defective.
• The leather may have tough or weak areas inside it that affect the stitch quality.

Check all of these items to eliminate them or confirm one or more as the cause. A sewing machine is designed to allow you to balance the top and bottom tensions to achieve a perfect stitch, as long as you stay within the range of thread sizes and needles recommended for that machine. Are you using thread sizes that your machine is made to handle?

[Mongo]

Wizcraft,

You list some great things to check. I've had stitching problems caused by thread under my top spool and thread that had slipped out of a tensioning disk. On my latest machine, I was constantly having problems until I repositioned my whole thread stand assembly. It was originally on such an angle that my top thread never would spool off consistently.

[Wizcrafts]

I sometimes have my top thread twist off of the regulator spring and disk and form a turn over its shaft. This causes a neat filigree effect as the top thread pretty much seizes and the stitch length becomes 32 to the inch. This is the disk with a take-up spring, typically under the main thread tension disks. When I mentioned checking the top thread to ensure that it is feeding properly, it was from experience.

[Kustom]

Thanks guys, that is a lot of help. I have it sorted out now by adjusting the bobbin tension. I really like how the stitches are looking now. I remember this thread the next time it messes up.

Steve