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Why Your Stitching Is Loose When Machine Embroidering

 This article is brought to you by Lizzsews.

Is your stitching loose? Is nothing you're doing working? Does it look like the photo below? Here's how you can fix it!


The bobbin isn’t in place correctly

Make sure that you are not putting the bobbin upside down. 


The bobbin isn’t threaded properly

Check that the bobbin thread is going through all the little thread guides. Try taking the bobbin out and rethreading it. 

The thread isn’t being given enough time before going through the thread guides

If you are using the built-in thread holder on your machine, the thread most likely is not being given enough time before going through the thread guides. To fix this, try using a thread stand.


The upper thread isn’t threaded properly 

Check that the thread is in all the thread guides, don't miss the #6 thread guide that is just above the needle. The best way to fix this one is to slowly rethread the machine and make sure the thread is going through all of the thread guides.


The race needs to be cleaned

If you’ve been using your machine for a long time, it’s probably time to clean out the race. 

I tend to clean out the race every time my bobbin thread runs out, it’s a good way to gage it. 


Something is in the upper thread path

There might be something, like a little piece of thread, stuck in the upper thread path. You can clean the upper thread path by using the little cleaning brush or even a make-up brush. 

Threading with the presser foot down

When you’re threading the machine, you want to make sure that the presser foot is up. If the presser foot is down when you are threading the machine, it will mess up the tension and can cause various problems including skipped stitches and thread shredding. 


Project/fabric/stabilizer isn’t hooped properly

Your hoop might be too loose, which will cause your fabric and stabilizer to shift while you’re embroidering. 

The hoop might be upside down, this will also mess will the tightness of your project.


Recommended read: How to hoop fabric for machine embroidery

Wrong stabilizer for the project 

Sometimes it can be hard to know what stabilizer you should use for your projects, if your project is over 10,000 stitches you should double up on your stabilizer. 


The needle isn’t in place correctly 

If the needle isn't in place correctly, your stitches might not work, your needle might bend and could even break.


Dull needle

A dull needle can cause needle breakage. It could also cause your machine to become louder as it is doing more work when there’s a dull needle rather than a sharp needle. 


If none of these work for you, it might be time for you to get your machine serviced. 

Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think! And don't forget to subscribe to get notified for my next blog post.

Are you still having problems? Recommended read: Machine embroidery troubleshooting fixes guide

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