Sewing Machine is Not Catching Any Stitches? Here’s What to Do

If your sewing machine is not catching stitches, there could be several reasons. The most common issue is that the thread may be too short, or it may have been incorrectly threaded through the needle and tension discs. Keep reading to find out more about how to fix the problem.

Key Takeaways

Here are important tips to solve this problem:

• The needle is not inserted properly.
• The needle may be bent or dull, or it may have been dropped and bent again.
• The wrong type of needle for your project could also cause this problem.
• The thread tension is too tight or loose on the machine, and the thread may not be threaded correctly with the Bobbin.

Your Needle is Not Inserted Correctly.

If your needle is not inserted correctly, it will cause the machine to catch stitches. Many different factors can cause this:

• The needle is not inserted into the needle bar.
• The angle at which you insert your needle differs from what manufacturers recommend.
• You insert your needle at an angle other than what they recommend (or if there are no instructions on how to do so).

The needle is bent or worn out. The machine is not threaded properly, which can cause it to catch stitches. Your Bobbin may be empty or damaged, causing the machine to skip stitches. You may have jammed your needle into your fabric by accident; if this happens, you should look at how deep your needle goes into the fabric when sewing.

Your Needle May Be Bent or Dull

The needle is the most common cause of stitches that don’t catch. If your needle is bent or dull, it can cause the fabric to drag across itself and prevent the thread from being pulled through smoothly. To ensure this doesn’t happen:

• Make sure you have a sharp point on your needle
• Insert it at a 90-degree angle to the thread (not perpendicular) when sewing together two pieces of fabric together

As you sew, ensure the needle is going through both pieces of fabric. If it catches on something like a buttonhole or your machine head, re-thread the needle and try again.

You Are Not Using the Correct Type of Needle for Your Sewing Project.

When sewing, using the right needle for your project is vital. You must use a large-eye needle if you are sewing heavy material like denim or leather. Use a smaller needle to sew delicate fabrics such as silk. In addition, make sure that your needle is not bent or broken.

Thread Tension That is Too Tight or Too Loose

A loose thread creates many problems, so ensuring your sewing machine has the correct tension is crucial.

The easiest way to check for this problem is by playing around with your machine and seeing if you can get the needle to catch any stitches. If it doesn’t, your Bobbin or spool might be too much tension. You should also try adjusting the screw that adjusts how tight or loose each thread is threaded through its spool before you start working with it on another project so that it feels suitable for what you’re doing right now with this particular project.

The Bobbin is Not Placed Into the Machine Properly.

If you’re having trouble with your sewing machine, the first thing to do is ensure that the Bobbin is placed in the correct position. The most common mistake when putting a new bobbin into a machine is not winding it immediately. This can happen if you don’t know how to incorporate your bobbins or if they are damaged and need winding before use.

Your Stitch Length or Width is Set Incorrectly.

If you’re using a needle threader, ensure it’s set correctly. The first time you sew, use the instructions in your sewing machine manual to help you find and select the appropriate settings on your machine.

If you’re using an in-line power foot or an automatic buttonholer, be sure that this feature isn’t turned off or disabled; if it is disabled (and sometimes even if it isn’t), then you’ll need to turn it back on so that stitches are caught properly by your machine.

You Have a Timing Problem With Your Sewing Machine.

The timing is the speed at which the sewing machine operates. The timing belt is a rubber belt that runs the length of the machine, and it controls how fast or slows you can sew. If your timing is off, your stitches won’t be appropriately placed on your fabric because they won’t go as fast as they should.