Bev i havent been a target from my machine .... but i do know it has an evil eye sometmes when it doesnt want to do something, and it gets real cranky.. So far a safe work environment . :)

I haven't been injured thankfully, but I also have a piece of needle somewhere in my sewing room that I have never found. I felt it hit my arm and fall, but no matter how much I looked and ran the magnet around the floor I didn't find it. Hopefully it has gone up the vacuum cleaner by now! It has made me a little cautious about sitting close to the machine while watching a design stitch out though.

I have never been injured by machine either. I am glad you didn't get it in your eye. I don't like the machines that the thread lays on the side. on my janome there is an option to lay it on it's side or stand it up I don't know why, it doesn't work laying down. I usually use a thread stand beside that machine. if I am embroidering with it.

Bev - I had problems with the thread wrapping around and breaking on my new brother (but thankfully no needles breaking - glad no one was hurt!!)

I was told to push the spool cap on as far as it will go (the disk that goes on after the spool). This has fixed the problem for me :) All the best.

Bev, glad you are OK. When I had a brother machine I used a thread stand too. Helen

Bev, A week or so ago, the same thing happened to me. I was busy watching something on TV and the thread got caught and snap the needle went. Put another needle in and went on watching the same program on TV and snap another needle gone. When I went to get another realised I didn't have anymore of the correct needles. I had plenty of others. Lyn

I've had that happen a number of times (but not with the flying needle aspect thank goodness). My brother dealer showed me two different little gadgets you can buy that makes the thread feed differently and it will prevent that situation from happening. Sorry I don't have the names or any links to send you to, but your local dealer will be able to help you out. One was $7-$10 and the nicer one was about $30.00. ~Rita

Does the thread stands help in this problem that Bev has. I too have a Brother 750D and my spool holder is on its side and it get tangle. I tried turing it around and trying different spool ends, still doesn't help. Any other suggestions on spools?

I have that problem sometimes. Although my needle never went flying, the thread just broke. Try putting a larger disk at the end and make sure everything is snug so there is no room for the thread to go between the spool and the disk. If you are using the 1500 yard sulky (they look like a mini cone sort of) you need to put them on a different type of spool holder because they are not really made to be sideways. I have the Brother thread stand.

How about a thread net over the thread?

I have a Brother with side spool and I had the thread get caught up once but it just bent my needle. I worry that if I stand it up in a can or jar like some people do that it will end up a tangled mess and I worry that if I use some kind of stand that holds the spool up at machine height the spool won't spin and that will hang it up.

I have never been injured by my machine. I have always used the thread stand beside my machine - most of my thread are in the larger cones and it is necessary for me to use the stand. Good luck with the stand - I hope you never find the needle end - with your feet.

I too have a brother and had a similar incident. No one got hurt, but, my cat who used to sit near by almost got it. I got a thread stand and it seems to have cleared up the problem. =0)

I was having the same kind of problem, and usually with my nice Florianni thread. They would get caught up between the top of the spool and the spool cap. So... I took a piece of sticky tack and put it at the base of the thread to hold it tightly to the thread holder without using the thread cap. It works great. I got the tip of the day from Em Library for that one. I've used the same bubble gum sized piece for about 6 months now, and it hasn't lost its flavor yet :-)

Gee, I didn't know anyone still used the thread stand on their actual machine! LOL. Most people I know seem to stand the thread next to the machine and find that works best. I've been known to stand some cones in a lid from a jar so that the thread on a very full cone can't snag if it slips down over the side, as well. A friends husband made a number of little wire things with a coil of wire at each end, based on a popular item from sewing suppliers. This has one coil end on the upright thread stand and the other end hangs over the side/top of the machine to direct the thread towards wherever you have your cone or reel of thread. It works great. Although we're not supposed to have strong magnets too near our electronic gadgets, I'd be using one to go search for your missing-in-action needle, Bev! I also use it when I drop metal bobbins from my older Pfaff down the side of the machine where I can't reach them & same with my small scissors :)

While we are on thread stands, I recently saw someone else's -similar to the Martha Pullen one I have, which had part above the holes at the top for passing thread through, sawed from the top so that you can just lay the thread over the top into the holes without having to put so much effort into threading into the holes. Great idea, I thought, and much quicker with lots of thread changes!

I use thread nets on my spools, it helps keep the thread from unravelling too fast and then keeps the loose end in place when not in use.

I also prefer to use a thread stand as I can line up all my colours in order of stitching and move each one up as it's needed.

Hugs n roses, Meganne

Well BEV,THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT READINGS HERE,BUT I HALF TO SAY NOT ONCE BUT TWICE AS I WAS CLIPPING THREADS WHILE THE MACHINE EMB. THE NEEDLE WENT RIGHT THROUGH MY WHOLE FINGER .I HOPE THERE ISN'T A THRID TIME LOL CAROLYN

Very glad you were not hurt.

Good idea, I almost always use mine too.

Hi there Bev.
when I first got my 6 needle machine
I was applique a very small area,
Thinking I had the machine set on needle 1
i continued while needle 6 came down
and went straight through my fingernail and back up again..
my son was sitting near by.. and carefully
pulled the thread back through my finger
he thought it was some magic trick and brilliant
funny.. I was amazed.. glad I had new fresh needles on beacause No actual damage done, and of course
all his friends knew within an hour lol..
I felt no pain just quite stupid lol..
Big hugs from London
Maria xx

I just got a thread stand. It works great and no more flying needles to duck.I feel so much better now.
Bev

I use to have the same problem with my Brother ULT. I now use 2 different methods. A thread stand works well but I also purchased a guide from 'Wonder Thread Guide' and it works very well and is much smaller than using the stand.

http://wonderthreadguide.com/

Marcelle
http://embroideryavenue.com/
http://embroidery.gotop100.com/

Bev,
I got so tired of the thread tangling, as you are speaking of, that I tried the larger plastic cover that
fits at the top of the spool. This helped, but I have been so pleased with the single thread spool holder I purchased at Hancock fabrics for $10! I stitch everything using it now, placing it about a foot behind my machine directly in line with the threading slot. Works great!
Angel