have a Viking SE the bobbin thread shows on top of embroidery design, have try all different stablizers and it still shows, any help is very helpful.

I have the Designer SE and did have tension problems at first. If you have not downloaded the latest update, do it before you do anything else. This corrected most of the tension problems that we were having. My machine is perfect now. Also, do not touch the tension on your bobbin case. When you thread your bobbin, place your finger on top of the bobbin to hold it still and make sure you hear a click as you pull the bobbin thread into the tension area on your bobbin case. Without this click, you have no bobbin tension. Trying to change the bobbin tension yourself will make all your stitches off and may be very difficult to reset without a trip to your dealer. If your bobbin thread still shows try loosening your top tension until you get an even stitch. Your dealer can make these adjustments permanent, but we can only reset tension each time we turn on our machines. There is also a great Designer SE Yahoo site with lots of great troubleshooting. Good Luck!

1 comment

by larainec 18 Feb 2008

It might be as simple as re-reading the instructions for inserting the bobbin in the holder Be sure to hold the bobbin down with one hand while threading it with the other or having the bobbin in upside down---thread unwinding the wrong way! Can you tell that I made both of those mistakes? Good luck to you

you ladys are correct it is the bobbin tention also make sure you have tenstion on the bobbin thread as you thread a new bobdin spool in your machine also there is on some machines has addjustment on the bobbin shuttle changing the brand and thickness of your bobbin thread will affect your tention while sowing good luck also check your user manual or dealer that sold you your machine should be of some help good luck happy sowing

Chris, how very disappointing for you, I hate it when that happens, the only times that has happened to me was 1)my first effort at free-standing lace and no-one told me to use the same thread as on the top, and 2)the other time was when I accidently? (not easy on my machine) altered the tension and didn't notice. Hope you get it sorted soon, so that you can can do what we all love doing most - embroider! Have a fun day.

I don't have that machine, but have had that problem & tension has corrected it. Don't give up Heres a flower for you

I have an SE. It does sound like thread tension. On the screen you have an oval shape that has a + & - symbol with a center section that shows threads. It should be on the right of the screen close to the bottom above the bobbin and park hoop symbols. Sometimes you need to change the tension when using special threads or very thin or very heary fabric. Use that to see if that helps. The User Guide is also very helpful. (Mine stays close to the machine!)Call your dealer this this doesn't work. My dealer has talked me through a couple of problems when I didn't understand.

1 comment

by wilder 16 Feb 2008

I have the designer SE and have had the same problem. Tension was the answer for me and also I put the same color of thread in the bobbin. Between the two of these it worked. Also make sure you have the right needle and a new one.

Is this something that has just begun to occur (as in, it didn't happen before?)or is this a brand new machine that is sewing out improperly?

2 comments

by clawton 16 Feb 2008

Good questions to consider.

by shirlener88 02 Apr 2008

did you just buy new bobbin thread - some are different - even though they say they are the same - the are not.

If the bobbin thread shows on top it is a matter of tension and has nothing to do with the stabiliser. I have the Designer I. Yours is more advanced, your contol panel is different, but you can lower the tension of the upper thread with the aid of your control panel, go to 'set' and lower the tension 1 or 2 steps, make a test and if necessary lower it another step. Works well with mine. In my case the machine returns to its normal setting once I switch it off. I think that's not the case with the SE. But you should check your manual. If that does not work, ask your dealer for advise. He can make a more permanent change by going to the dealer's panel, which you can't access (and he won't tell you how he does it). Hope this works for you.