Sewing question...

[kaligal]

I'm trying to teach myself to sew and I have an idiot for a teacher.

I can't seem to make the thread stay in the needle.

I'm also not sure if the bobbinn thread is supposed to be threaded through the needle in addition to the thread from the spool on top. Maybe this is why the thread doesn't stay in the needle.

In any event, I've got everything cut and pieced and pressed and fused and am ready to go. But every time I try to actually SEW, the thread just falls out of the needle.

Any idea what I'm doing wrong???

Thanks to anyone who even got through all that.

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

No the bobbin thread does not thread through the needle. Just pull it out and rest it on the sewing plate on the underside of your fabric.

Make sure you have enough thread pulled through the needle. It can be REALLY long if it's easier for you. You can cut it later. If it keeps pulling out your tension maybe too tight.

 

[Nicolepa]

Your top thread is probably too short. You should have an inch or two (depending on machine) once you thread it thru the needle. The bottom thread should not be threaded thru the needle. Just brough up fromt he bottom of the machine. (Some machines don't require that but it never hurts to do it.)

 

[dawson5]

as far as the thread not staying in the needle, there could be two other things. Are you sure you have it threaded right? Also, mine has a tension setting, you might have it a bit too tight.

 

[Muushka]

You don't have an idiot for a teacher!

If it was me, I would stop by one of the sewing machine stores and ask for a demonstration.

But in case you don't want to do that, my tip is once you thread the needle, hold the thread between your fingers and turn the wheel that makes the needle go up and down. That will allow the needle to snag the thread that is in the bobbin. Then pull them both to about the same length, maybe an inch or two, and always keep track of the two threads. Hold them every time you remove the fabric, start the machine. Even when the needle is going into the fabric. Good luck!

 

[Imzadi]

You always have to have about a 3" tail of thread behind the needle for excess. Even after you have cut the thread after you sew a section. I generally pull the sewn section away from the machine 3" and then cut the thread close to the material. get in the habit of this, and you will always have that tail.

If you don't, as you make the first stitch and the needle goes up & down, the tension from the machine pulls at the thread and pulls it out of the needle if there isn't any excess. If you leave the 3" tail, as the needle pulls the thread, there is enough so that it doesn't get pulled out. Maybe, 2" get pulled back in, but there is still enough left that it doesn't pull out of the needle.

Also, once the machine is threaded and the bobbin thread is on top, pull both threads toward the back of the machine. The tails should be behind the the machine, in the direction the fabric flows through. This way they don't get tangled around the needle as you start sewing.

 

[Imzadi]

Oh, and you shouldn't call your teacher an idiot. She may hear you.

And actually, she may turn out to be your best friend some day.

 

[Macca1111]

There's also a whole thread dedicated to these creative endeavors, just below the CB. It's called the creative community, and there are separate forums for Arts and Crafts and Scrapbooking and such. The answers above are all good, but if you're looking for anything in the future you can try there too.