URGENT! I need help from someone who knows the basics of using a sewing machine

[laurajetter]

I am making 3 Halloween costumes and I HAVE to work on them ASAP, I was hoping to work on them tonight. The problem is the last time I used a sewing machine was in the 7th grade...I'm 29 now. I have a new machine I haven't used yet, but I have been following the manual step by step and everything has been very straight forward. The sewing I need to do is extremely basic and I remember that I found sewing in the 7th grade to be fun and easy once I learned how to do it. Anyway, I have everything set up and am ready to test out my first stitches on a scrap of fabric. The problem is, when I depress the foot pedal, the only thing that happens is that the machine makes a buzzing sound--The needle doesn't move at all. I rechecked everything I did up until this point: wound the bobbin, inserted the bobbin, threaded the machine, drew up the bobbin thread, pulled both the bobbin and needle threads under and behind the presser foot, inserted the fabric, lowered the needle, and lowered the presser foot. The manual said to pull out the handwheel when winding the bobbin but to remember to push it back in before sewing. I did push it in, and it makes the buzzing sound even when it's pushed in. Just for the heck of it, I pulled it out and pressed the foot pedal to see what would happen--When it's pulled out, in the bobbin-winding mode, it makes a higher pitched whirring sound, just like it did when I wound the bobbin. When pushed in, it makes more of just a loud buzzing sound.

I had made all the settings on the machine exactly to what the manual recommended. I have a Kenmore, model # 385.16120200.

Is there anyone out there who might know a possible reason why the machine won't sew? I have a feeling it is something so simple, but I just don't know enough to figure out what's wrong.

Thank you, I really appreciate this...I have no one else to turn to!!!!

-Laura

 

[KathyTX]

Hmm... Can you TURN the handwheel at all? Just a little?

Where's JFulcer when you need him? He's the resident sewing wizard!

 

[laurajetter]

Yeah, I can turn the handwheel and move the needle up and down with the knob, however it does seem rather tight. I didn't think anything of it because I just figured that's how it's supposed to be but my DH said he thought he remembered his mother's sewing machine being easier to turn the knob.

Any other thoughts, anyone?

-Laura

 

[TerryKitten]

did you re-ingage the clutch (i think thats the word) after you made the bobbon of thead? on my kenmore you need to push in the round thing on the right side to engage the clutch that makes the neddle go up/down. you (or someone else) may have pulled it out when you fill a bobbin.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I don't have a lot of patience with the mechanics of setting up the sewing machine. My DH loads it up for me and I just drive. Isn't that crazy?

Is your tension too tight? It kinda sounds like it to me.

Is the needle moving at all when you accelerate? Are you getting any stitches at all?

 

[KathyTX]

The clutch- on my old White machine, that's a small wheel in the center of the handwheel that you loosen (disengage) to fill the bobbin, and then have to tighten when you're done. If you don't, the motor won't turn the handwheel thingy that makes the needle go up and down. The motor would hum, but not drive the needle...

Terry's right- that sounds like the probable culprit to me, too.

 

[Amberle3]

I've got 3 sewing machines here (and a serger) and they're all a little different in how they work. The "newest" of the bunch always surprises me when I use it, because I have to press down much farther on the peddle than I think I should be. So maybe you're just not pressing down enough?

 

[laurajetter]

Okay, I checked out some of the suggestions you all made.

- I tried decreasing the tension to the lightest, no change.

- The needle does not move in the slightest. The buzzing sound is coming from the right side of the machine; there is no noise whatsoever from the left side where the needle mechanism is.

- I have tried a very light touch on the pedal all the way to flooring it. Not even a hint of the needle moving.

- I understand the clutch concept and that doesn't seem to be the problem. On mine, you pull it outward to disengage the clutch when winding the bobbin and you push it back in to re-engage it when using the needle. When pulled out, it just makes a high-pitched whirring sound, like it's trying to wind the bobbin. When pushed in, it makes the loud buzzing sound I am referring to. It gets slightly louder as I press harder on the pedal.

-Laura

 

[dancergirl]

no help, but lots of PD!!

I told my mom today that a friend and I wanted to make Tinker Bell Costumes, easy, right?!
WRONG!!
We dont want to have to put a zipper in, and since I would like it by 5 tomorrow, I dont know what we are going to do! We can't seem to get it tight enough around the waist, but still able to put on and off, im pretty sure we are gong to have to do something with a button or hook, or something!

Good Luck!!!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Can you tell if the sound is coming from the motor?

 

[KathyTX]

 

[battricia]

I'm not sure if this is the same as the 'clutch' but, does the bobbin wind from the top of the machine? If so, when you put the bobbin on, and pushed it to the right, did you forget to push it back toward the left to pull the bobbin off? If so that might be the problem? Also there might be some string that might be clogging up the bobbin mechanism, that's usually why a machine gets tight like that. Even if you haven't ever used the machine, check and make sure there's no cought threads in there.

tricia.

 

[mtblujeans]

How thick are the layers of fabric you are sewing through?

What size needle is in the machine?

I does sound like you did not tighten the "clutch" back down (or tighten the knob back up) after you filled your bobbin. But, the above questions could give a clue, too....

 

[Nancy]

I'd check the bobbin case. Make sure there is no threads stuck in there or wound around the mechanism. Usually that is what happens to mine when it refuses to move. For some reason the bobbin gets all screwed up and jams up everything...it does the same thing...lots of noise, but no movement.

Also, are you using the correct bobbin for the machine? I bought bobbins and when I went to use them the machine wouldn't work because they were not bobbins for my type of machines. I always assumed bobbins were bobbins...I found out that's not so.

 

[laurajetter]

Am I allowed to bump myself? I was hoping for maybe another opinion or two. If so, BUMP!

- I checked the bobbin thingy to make sure it was pushed to the correct side and it still doesn't work.

- I am using the bobbin that came with the machine, and the needle that was already in place.

- The sound is coming from the motor. My dh looked at it and said he thinks that because the knob seems pretty tight when we turn it, that the motor doesn't have enough power to move the needle up and down. With our limited knowledge, we think the knob should move a lot more loosely than it does. Does anyone know easily is the knob supposed to move?

- I will try checking for thread that might be jamming the bobbin. This was a floor model we got on a discount...now I'm wondering if there was something wrong with it. Or even if it does work fine, maybe you all are right about a thread being stuck in there even though I haven't successfully used it yet; it could be leftover from the store's usage.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS...it has been helping me narrow down what the problem is... or at least what it isn't!!!

-Laura

 

[Nancy]

the knob should turn pretty easily. Mine moves very easy if I move it by hand. I had to use tweezers to get thread out of my bobbin case it was wound around so tightly...and not in an easy location either!

Good luck...I used to sew my girls costumes all the time when they were little. We are just getting back into sewing now...but now it is costumes for Anime conventions!

 

[battricia]

Mine moves easily also. Something is definately jamming the motor some how. Definately check the bobbin mechanism, if you can, take the whole thing apart and clean it out (The machine should have come w/ some screw drivers and a brush), also even if lint is just stuck in there it might stop the machine from working. Good luck!

tricia.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by KathyTX
Hmm... Can you TURN the handwheel at all? Just a little?

Where's JFulcer when you need him? He's the resident sewing wizard!

Man that is scary when people first think 'jfulcer' when there is a sewing problem. I am SURE there are DISers here that are much better at sewing than I am (oh, and I was on Jury Duty, so didn't see this till today...)

Of course, having said that here's what I think:

1) Make sure you have wound the thread EXACTLY as shown. The thread on mine goes two totally different paths for sewing and filling the bobbins. If you have it wrong, and try to sew and it binds up, it will do exactly as you describe. Did you try it without any thread in it at all? (including an empty/no bobbin?) This would eliminate binding as an issue.

2) I agree with the clutch issue. Maybe yours had multiple clutch positions? I searched for an online manual but couldn't find one.

3) Return it to the store (ask them for help there?). If it's brand new, just go get a different one.

 

[JoAnna Hensley]

I am making 3 Halloween costumes and I HAVE to work on them ASAP, I was hoping to work on them tonight. The problem is the last time I used a sewing machine was in the 7th grade...I'm 29 now. I have a new machine I haven't used yet, but I have been following the manual step by step and everything has been very straight forward. The sewing I need to do is extremely basic and I remember that I found sewing in the 7th grade to be fun and easy once I learned how to do it. Anyway, I have everything set up and am ready to test out my first stitches on a scrap of fabric. The problem is, when I depress the foot pedal, the only thing that happens is that the machine makes a buzzing sound--The needle doesn't move at all. I rechecked everything I did up until this point: wound the bobbin, inserted the bobbin, threaded the machine, drew up the bobbin thread, pulled both the bobbin and needle threads under and behind the presser foot, inserted the fabric, lowered the needle, and lowered the presser foot. The manual said to pull out the handwheel when winding the bobbin but to remember to push it back in before sewing. I did push it in, and it makes the buzzing sound even when it's pushed in. Just for the heck of it, I pulled it out and pressed the foot pedal to see what would happen--When it's pulled out, in the bobbin-winding mode, it makes a higher pitched whirring sound, just like it did when I wound the bobbin. When pushed in, it makes more of just a loud buzzing sound.

I had made all the settings on the machine exactly to what the manual recommended. I have a Kenmore, model # 385.16120200.

Is there anyone out there who might know a possible reason why the machine won't sew? I have a feeling it is something so simple, but I just don't know enough to figure out what's wrong.

Thank you, I really appreciate this...I have no one else to turn to!!!!

-Laura

Did you ever get an answer to this problem? I am having the same issue on my brother XL-3030... it winds very tight and just makes a humming sound when I press the pedal.

Thanks
JoAnna

 

[NYCgrrl]

Did you ever get an answer to this problem? I am having the same issue on my brother XL-3030... it winds very tight and just makes a humming sound when I press the pedal.

Thanks
JoAnna

Is this a mechanical or electronic machine(the Brother)? I never take my mechanical machines to the shop since there is little that needs repair/maintenance that you cannot care for yourself. For starters, I'd check if the feed dog(s) is/are in the proper position as well as the bobbin case. Oh and make sure the threaded bobbin is facing in the right direction which is generally looks like a backwards "9". I own Singers and a Kenmore but no Brother so am not sure if there are any proprietary changes in the layout.

There's an article in Threads magazine about machine repairs/maintenance....I'll see if you can find it.

ETA:

https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2008/11/08/preventive-sewing-machine-maintenance

OK...this one is more general but I know there is another article probably from the '90's that is much more comprehensive. I C + P'd it once to a cyber friend and hope she still has it. Will give her a call after dinner is over in her time zone. Wish I was better at explaining things but there is a reason I never considered a career as a teacher, LOL