Tips & Tricks | Find out what happened to your Bobbin

How to Fix Bobbin Tension

If you sew, you know what I’m talking about when I say ‘my bobbin just blew up!’ We’ve all been there.

Threads everywhere, fabric eaten, and/or a jammed needle.

Oh the joy that results from this sight! #sarcasm

Well, today we are talking about the source of a #Bobbin Explosion {ha!} and what you can do to fix it. compiled all the possible causes and solutions that we can think of for this predicament. The tricky thing is, there’s not just one solution or one reason a bobbin does this. So we created a list of possible culprits. This is a great post to save for later!

What to do When Your Bobbin Explodes

1. The tension might be off on your sewing machine. Slightly adjust the tension.
2. Clean the inside of your sewing machine to get out all the dust bunnies and little threads in there.
3.  The bobbin may not be inserted into the housing correctly. Take out the bobbin and carefully reinsert it.
4. The threads may not be in the right place. Rethread your sewing machine.
5. The bobbin may not have been wound properly with correct tension. Remove thread from the bobbin and rewind.
6. Make sure you inserted your bobbin to spin in the correct direction. Most sewing machines will have the bobbin spin clockwise, but refer to your owners manual because some machines require a counter-clockwise spin.
7. The tension on the bobbin may not be correct. When the bobbin tension is correct, you should be able to hold the bobbin thread up in one hand and the bobbin will descend a few inches and stop. If the bobbin instantly drops all the way to the floor or table, the bobbin tension is too loose. If this is the case, use the small screw on the side of the case to tighten it. If it doesn’t descend at all, it’s too tight. Adjust the little screw on the casing to loosen the tension. Remember Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty.
8. Change your needle. Sometimes needles get a bend or a slight bur and need to be replace. Sewing needles should be replaced after 4-6 hours of sewing.
9. Try using a different type of thread. Threads are made from natural and synthetic materials and some machines just don’t play well with some types of threads.
10.  Make sure your bobbin and needle are the correct size for your sewing machine. Off brand or generic needles and bobbins can easily cause tension problems.
11. Make sure to hold both threads when you start to sew.
12.  Always use the same thread on top and bottom.
13.  Oil your machine. Sometimes a little oil is all it needs.
14.  All else fails, take it to a repair shop. Sewing machines are like cars and they need an occasional tune up.

I hope this post helps you find a solution and helps you figure out how to fix bobbin tension in your sewing machine!