I am no fashion designer, but I know pretty much everything that goes into styling a cloth. If you ask meabout it, I have a lot to say. Starting from laying, marking, cutting, and stitching, this does not even include the post-production activities. Obviously, the last thing a fashion designer would want to experience is a delay.
Unfortunately, delay cannot be entirely avoided. One of the most frustrating experiences a sewer may have is a delay caused by unthreading of the needle. If you have had a similar experience in the past, I bet you will be interested in knowing, “why does your needle keep unthreading?” This article will provide you with the answer, so keep on reading for details!
Why is my needle not threading?
1. Wrong thread tension placement
When the thread tension is inappropriately fixed, one of the issues that may arise is that the needle of the sewing machine will keep unthreading.
The best way of setting the thread tension is not setting it too high or too low to avoid continuous needle unthreading.
Before you get back to your sewing, make sure the tension is adjusted in both directions and that it perfectly fits. You must do this to ensure a smooth, hitch-free sewing experience.
2. Check the spool
Anytime you have issues with needle unthreading, your first course of action should be to check the placement of the spool because if it is incorrectly placed or you use the wrong spool size, the thread may keep on jumping out of the needle.
You should check that the spool is perfectly fitted. That is, it must be of the right size and must not be shaking while spinning.
3. Insufficient thread
Before you start sewing, always make sure that you have pulled the right amount of the thread that will be enough for you to complete your project because failure to do so may lead to needle unthreading.
For a smooth sewing session, make sure to pull at least 10 to 15 centimeters of thread from both the bobbin and upper line.
4. Check the needle
Sometimes when you are having issues with needle unthreading, you don’t have to be looking for possible faulty parts or installations. The needle might be the source of the problem.
To make your sewing go well, the needle has to be perfectly fitted in such a way that it is well erect. If the needle is slightly bent, it will affect the smooth running of the project.
After checking, if you discover that the needle you are using is bent, change it immediately to a new one.
Why does my serger needle keep unthreading?
If the needle of your serger machine keeps unthreading, check the needle, thread tension, spool, the amount of thread you are working with, and the footer of your sewing machine. Check details about these suggestions in the previous section of this article.
Why is my needle hitting the needle plate?
Small needle
If the needle of your sewing machine keeps hitting the needle plate anytime you sew, there’s a big possibility that the needle you are using is shorter than the standard.
Apart from this, if you are working with a small needle, you will also notice that your needle breaks a lot. If this is what you have been noticing with your sewing machine, you can address the issue by changing the needle to a bigger size.
Needle not penetrating
Have you ever encountered this expression, “what you see might be deceiving”? Well, you may have seen a practical example of the allusion while sewing, just that you don’t know it.
When you are sewing, and you keep hearing a sound like a loud thumping noise, this is an indication that instead of penetrating the layers of the fabric to sew, the needle is only pushing up the fabric through the machine without sewing. This may cause the needle to hit the needle plate and break later on as the impact intensifies.
Loose Needle screw
To ensure smooth and effortless sewing, one of the things that must be done is tightening the needle screw of the machine. A tightly fitted needle screen will prevent the excess thread from passing through the needle hole.
When this occurs, you will notice that your machine is making unusual noise, and the needle will not advance to sew. This may also cause the needle to hit the needle plate, and if not corrected, the needle may break.
Other reasons why the needle of your sewing machine may be hitting the needle plate include;
- Improper installation of the needle.
- The needle might be bent.
- You are using the wrong needle for the wrong fabric.
- You have over-tightened the upper tension of your machine.
- You are pulling the fabric too hard
Why does my needle thread keep breaking?
Unbalanced thread tension
Although not everybody knows this, one of the major reasons why your needle thread keeps breaking is the lack of flexibility in your machine tension settings.
Most sewers leave their machine tensions in the default settings without any adjustment. Unknown to them, different fabrics require different tension settings. Hence, your needle thread will keep breaking if the tension is either too high or low for the fabric you are sewing.
Damaged needle
If you are the type that works a lot with thick fabrics, the damaged needle is something that you will experience frequently.
After several uses on these fabrics, the needle may become duller or bend, and when this happens, the automatic needle threader will not line up as it should, thereby causing the thread to keep breaking.
Low-grade thread
As a fashion designer, the last thing you should be bothered about is the cost you expend on the materials you use in sewing your fabric. Although as a new entrant in the industry, it is understandable if you are, using quality material will impact positively on your business.
When you use cheap thread to sew, asides from the fact that they cause clothes to rip easily, they can also frustrate your progress while sewing by breaking.
Why does my needle keep getting stuck?
If your needle keeps getting stuck while sewing, there’s a great possibility that something is wrong with your needle. Check to see whether it is bent, broken, or incorrectly inserted. This is an easy fix for the situation. Other reasons may include;
- Your machine may need to be lubricated.
- Your machine is dirty and needs to be cleaned.
- Improper threading.
