by bikermomfl 22 Jan 2012

Ok ladies I have a question for you - any idea why when stitching words most of the time my designer 1 does perfect, then sometimes it'll knot up on the back side, stick in the same place and cause a real mess. I've changed the needle, the needle typ, different bobbin thread, different bobbin, extra stablizer and nothing seems to help. Any thoughts?

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by gerryb 22 Jan 2012

Even with my Diamond, I have trouble sometimes with the satin stitches. Have found if I let the thread run thru my hand so it's just a little bit tight, it works. BUT if you are doing something that's lots of stitches, this can be hard! Also sat my thread on the floor other day to see if that helped & it did! We really should not have these problems with the price we pay for those machines!! Let us know what happens.

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by hightechgrammy 22 Jan 2012

My machine's tension is really tricky. Sometimes I'll stitch one thing and it is perfect, while the next has this nest of thread underneath. What I have found is, I haven't really grabbed the tension on top. Now, when it doesn't seem to have the tension it needs, I do 2-3 stitches of the color, then thread the needle, start the color over and it stitches great. It's all an upper tension thing when the mess is on the bottom - for me at least...

1 comment
bikermomfl by bikermomfl 22 Jan 2012

thanks I'll try that..

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by philippa 22 Jan 2012

I have had this happen on very dense stitch counts and found that doubling up on the stabilizer always sorted out the problem. I also prefer to cut the threads rather than leave the machine to deal with thread ends underneath (am assuming you also have a thread cutter...) Also, cotton thread seems to exude a vast amount of fluff - which doesn't help.

1 comment
bikermomfl by bikermomfl 22 Jan 2012

I like the sound of doubling the stablizer, I'll try it and let you know.....

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by devon 22 Jan 2012

This is what I have learned at work....if the problem is on the bottom it is the top tension and if the problem is on top it is the bottom tension. Hope this helps. DeVon

4 comments
zoefzoef by zoefzoef 22 Jan 2012

okay did not know that. Thanks for the info !

lflanders by lflanders 22 Jan 2012

I have 2 BabyLocks and the newer one was giving me a fit several months back. I called the dealer here in the Atlanta area and I was told the same thing that devon just said she was told. My machine had to be worked on anyway but I did get that info over the phone...

lflanders by lflanders 22 Jan 2012

I was also told that when adjusting the bobbin turn the screw only a 4th turn at the time ...right tight left loose. The way they said it was righty tighty-- lefty loosy. I had to laugh even though I was very upset at the time! I felt like I was back in kindergarten.

lflanders by lflanders 22 Jan 2012

in kindergarten.

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by susiesembroidery 22 Jan 2012

Good luck with your machine's performance. Please follow the very good tips below, since I would recommend the one of the upper thread tension as well. It really works. Thanks for the question. ****

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by jwilcocks 22 Jan 2012

I also had it one time. This might work for you. Thread the embroidery cotton again.
I hope it works for you

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by linda8450 22 Jan 2012

Just a note re canned air...take a look at this site! Linda

1 comment
susiesembroidery by susiesembroidery 22 Jan 2012

Thank you, this is a real eye opener for those people who have used canned air. I also clean my machine every other bobbin change and always clean and oil it well every night, after finishing my work. Then it stays fresh and lovely for the next workday. Thanks for this site.

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by linda8450 22 Jan 2012

I have upgraded to the Diamond and that removable panel is not on the older D1 or SE models! The Saphire (only sew/no ME) has it and it is a time saver. Just pull toward you on the lower part of where the take up lever is and it pops off.
Re thread problem: Two things, The "take up lever" that is the last thing you thread on the top (before heading to the needle area) sometimes jumps track and the thread ends up going straight from the tension disks to the needle area (ask how handy that removeable panel is now!) and can cause all kinds of havoc. Usually looks like a birds nest of TOP thread, and if you have used the thread cutter it looks like spaghetti pieces! You know the whole bobbin area has to be dismantled and cleaned then.
Second, I have gotten into the habit of holding the top thread (loosely, don't pull tight or you will break needles, wanna know how I know that?). The machine will either cut your thread and you can pull the ends away, or it will stop and you can cut it, depending how you have it set. For some reason these machines suck too much top thread down on occasion, and it causes all that thread to grow a nest. This little trick seems to help alot, and makes the knots on the back less messy. Linda

3 comments
linda8450 by linda8450 22 Jan 2012

Sorry I forgot on the first part of my answer, the take up lever can be threaded "backwards" and that seems to help. Thread through all the steps to the discs, then instead of going up and over from the right to the left, go to the left and over and down on the right side of the lever (dealer showed me this) and it seems to help keep it from jumping off. LInda

linda8450 by linda8450 22 Jan 2012

and down on the right, this seems to help keep it from jumping out of the lever (dealer showed me this. Linda

meganne by meganne 23 Jan 2012

Yes I was doing that reverse threading on my Diamond but then the mechanic added a little gadget to the take up lever now the thread never jumps out. Great gadget!

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by leenova54 22 Jan 2012

Even my regular old Kenmore sewing machine will do that to me and make me mad. It is all metal, durable and will probably last my life time and many more but it'll knot it all up on the under side too.

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by noah 22 Jan 2012

TO ME IT CAN'T HELP ITSELF IT SEEMS TO MISS A BEAT ,MAKE A LOOP AND THEN A MESS .I FIND I NEED TO CLEAN MINE WITH MY AIR COMPRESURER AT THAT POINT

2 comments
linda8450 by linda8450 22 Jan 2012

I would take a look at this link before you use canned air again! http://bearhugquiltworks.blogspot...

lflanders by lflanders 22 Jan 2012

Canned air just pushes the lint and dust in tighter and closer places that makes the repair man have to take the machine apart to get to the tight spots! I was warned to never use air to clean the machines.

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by meganne 22 Jan 2012

What can happen, if it is a satin stitch design and the satin stitch is too long for the machine to recognise, it will play up like this.
Otherwise I am not sure what could do this but here is a check list.
New needle.
Needle size.
Top Tension.
Bobbin Tension.
Quality of thread.
Fabric.
Stabiliser.
Machine's registration may need adjustment.
Sorry I can't think of other causes, maybe if you go to Superior threads. com you may find an answer, they seem to have lots of info there.

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by michele921 22 Jan 2012

when my D1 is doing that I find it is my uppper tension. even when I think I have threaded right. I always put the foot down and give a tug on the thread if it pulls through the tension is off. In fact mine is in the shop for just this reason lost the upper tension totally this time LOL. Was taught if it is knotting on the bottom it is the top tension knotting on the top it is the bobbin, oppisite of were the goof up is.

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by mops Moderator 22 Jan 2012

I've had that problem with my Designer1 at times. It just seemed suddenly to gobble up a lot of thread and create a mess at the back. Problem turned out to be caused by some thread caught between and around the tension disks. Problem with the D1 is you can't reach and clean those disks yourself without opening up the machine. So I got into the habit of threading through dental floss and moving it backward and forward every time I had had a thread broken. That helped a lot to keep the disks clean.

4 comments
michele921 by michele921 22 Jan 2012

I do the floss thing too didn't work this time had to go in to the shop :(

meganne by meganne 22 Jan 2012

My Viking salesman showed me how to access the tension discs on the Diamond, it does have a panel that comes off.
Now I'm not saying the other Vikings do too, but it is worth investigating as it has saved me a lot of money on services, being able to access it to clean the discs properly.

meganne by meganne 22 Jan 2012

access the discs to clean them properly.
I'll try & take photo's tomorrow to show you. It's too late now.

michele921 by michele921 22 Jan 2012

would love to see how that works hopefully we can do it on our D1's too

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by pennifold 22 Jan 2012

Hi Karen, I know Meg has the Designer 1, hopefully she will be able to assist you in this problem.


Love Chris

2 comments
meganne by meganne 22 Jan 2012

HUH!!! I have the Diamond.

pennifold by pennifold 22 Jan 2012

Sorry didn't read that one right! love Chris

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