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Troubleshooting
 Q: My machine is jammed.
A: A jammed machine is caused by thread being caught in the hook. Remove the upper thread and bobbin case, turn the handwheel backward and forward by hand and remove any thread in the bobbin case area.
Q: My machine is noisier than usual.
A: Check to see that lint or oil has not collected on the hook or needle bar. Always use a good quality sewing machine oil. A damaged needle can also be the cause of a noisy machine - insert a new needle.
Q: My machine will not sew over the thick seams of jeans hems.
A: Skipped stitches and broken needles can happen when stitching over the thick flat-fell seams of jeans. This occurs when the presser foot is not level enough to provide traction for the feed dogs. A little gadget called a Jean-a-ma-jig by Dritz® or the Hump Jumper® fits all machines and will level the foot for smooth continuous stitching.
Q: My needle keeps breaking.
A: Needle breakage is usually caused by a damaged needle or one that is the incorrect size for the fabric. Remove and reinsert a new needle, making sure that the flat side goes toward the back of the machine. Make sure the needle size is appropriate for the fabric (more info...). Also check the attachment of the presser foot to see that the needle is not striking it.
Q: My stitches are too loose.
A: To correct loose stitches, try the following: (1) Balance the thread tension. If the stitches are loose on top of the fabric, decrease the tension to the next lower number. If they are loose on the underside set the tension to the next higher number. (2) Make sure the needle/upper thread follows the threading path. (3) Check to see that the bobbin case is threaded properly. (4) Use a different size needle. For fine fabrics, use a smaller needle (size 9, 11); medium-weight fabrics require a size 14 or 16. And use a size 18 or "Denim" needle for heavy corduroy or denim
Q: My stitches are uneven.
A: Poor quality or old thread is usually the cause for uneven stitches. You could also see uneven stiches if the fabric has been pulled. Never pull on the fabric while sewing - let it be taken up by the machine. Also check to see that the bobbin is threaded correctly in the bobbin case.
Q: Why is the thread bunching-up under my fabric?
A: "Birdnesting" occurs when there is no tension on the needle thread to pull the bobbin thread. This is easily corrected by rethreading the machine, following the threading path carefully and making sure the thread is fully engaged in the tension mechanism.
Q: The feed dogs do not come up when I raise them.
A: In order to raise the feed dogs, follow these steps: First, lift the presser foot; next, push the feed dog lever to the raised position; finally, turn the handwheel towards you until you hear the feed dogs snap into place.
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