I cannot get the bobbin to stay in my sewing machine

Question

I have a Singer Sew Simple machine and when I start to sew the thread from the bobbin tangles and the whole bobbin holder falls out of the machine. There is only one way it fits so I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong unless I have the tension setting wrong. I am trying to sew a light weight fleece. Can anyone give me tips on how to thread a sewing machine to avoid this issue?

Bonnie D · Answer

Try another bobbin.

Bonnie D · Answer

Evidently my first answer didn't make it! Could be the way the bobbin is wound. Are you coming over or under with the thread?

Kelley M · Answer

Most of the time if it is tangling like that, it needs a new needle.  I know that sounds strange but if the needle is bent or dull it will grab too much bobbin thread. So change your needle first to the right size needle.  Next, make sure your bobbin is wound and the thread is coming out the right direction. It should be going over the top to the left on most machines...then the bobbin goes into the bobbin holder and into the sewing machine.

Kelley M · Answer

If you are using really cheap old thread, that can cause a problem too.  Try a test on some cotton fabric to be sure your machine doesn't need some oil. If all this doesn't work and you have gone thru your manual and nothing in there works, you might want to find a place to get it repaired.

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

Fleece is tricky to sew! As Kelley suggested a new needle could help solve this issue. You also want to start with the lowest tension setting and practice sewing on a scrap pieces. Also read the manual and note that sewing machines need maintenance. I have a singer and about once a year I take it apart and blow out the dust and lightly oil it per manual directions. 
good luck!

MKay · Answer

Could be the tension for the bobbin...?

Kerri Yandell · Answer

You may have put the bobbin in the metal retainer backwards. When you put the thread in the metal retainer, where the thin piece of metal is, the thread should be facing backwards.

April E · Answer

New needle, check your tension, also make sure your bobbin is wound neatly.

Leslie · Answer

You may have loaded the bobbin backwards, put the bobbin in the bobbin case backwards, put the sewing macine needle in backwards, accidentally changed the bobbin tension, or even had the spool of thread upside down when rolled onto the bobbin. Good luck. That is frustrating.

Neva Dew · Answer

One other tip -when you start a seam always hold the thread tails to prevent them from balling up. I think all the ideas listed here are very good ones. If none of these do the trick: #1 -take the machine in for service, or #2 - time to get a new machine!

Susan Bishop · Answer

You have to mind your p's and q's. Hold up your bobbin with the thread hanging down. Does the bobbin and thread look like a p or a q? Most machines like the q better than the p, but try both and see which one works better. Once you've determined whether your machine is a p or a q, put the bobbin in the holder and dangle it from the thread. If the bobbin and holder slide freely, like a yo yo unwinding, the tension is too loose. If the bobbin does not move, even if you jiggle the thread, it's too tight. You want the bobbin and case to hang without moving, then slide down just a tiny bit when you jiggle it.

Elly · Answer

Hi, I think that  1 you put the bobbin wrongly into the machine 
  2 it could also be  the tension of the tread though you already tested this
3 because you are wring with light weight fleece it could be that when you put the fabric just at the edge  (fabric) under the machine the bobbing starts the bobbin  tangles so you can solve this to put the fabric  with a bit more space around the needle . Hope you understand what  I mean 
Then before you start sewing it is handy to start of with the needle into  the fabric sometimes this gives problems as well and gives also tangles from biobbing
Hope  I gave you the right tips☺☺☺

Annie Sebastian · Answer

I  had this same trouble and after struggling with  it for weeks, I took it  to  the service  center. The solution  was  simple. .
Check the  size of the  bobbin, if it even  a fraction  of  a millimetre bigger  or smaller  than the  bobbin  case then a sea of problems emerge.I learned it the hard way.  Hope  this helps !!!

Jane R. · Answer

Make sure you are using the right needle for your fabric. That could cause this problem.

Cheryl Leger · Answer

I had the needle threaded incorrectly.  Thanks for your help.  I made two dog blankets for my two doxies and so far no complaint😉

Dee · Answer

Sometimes ...it's actually the type of bobbin used...,metal vs. plastic. I had a machine that said it could use either type, however, I found that it really wanted only the metal type (in the correct size of course). Once I change all of my bobbins to metal - no more issues! Hope this helps.

17335038 · Answer

I had the same problem only sort of in reverse. My new sewing machine manual said that the machine could take both metal and plastic bobbins but When I tried using metal ones, it wouldn't sew properly. Now I use only good quality plastic, and yes, only the correct size. All bobbins are Not created equally.

17335038 · Answer

Also, always make sure that you use quality brand name thread. Cheap thread is not spun evenly, in tension or in thickness, which leads to breakage, stretching and bunching up.

I cannot get the bobbin to stay in my sewing machine

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I cannot get the bobbin to stay in my sewing machine

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