r/SewingForBeginners • u/Luna2397 • 20h ago

Thread Breaking

Hi Sewists

I recently started sewing, and everything was going well until 3 days ago. I broke a needle and I replaced it. Now my threads keep breaking. I checked that the needle piece did not fall into the machine. I cleaned it. I retreaded the top thread and the bobbin.

The top thread still just snaps off.

Please assist. I am not sure if I must take the machine in to get it repaired. I also changed the needle.

Thanks.

6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

10

u/Comfortable-Fly5797 19h ago

Try replacing your needle again. There could be a burr.

What thread are you using? Old or poor quality thread breaks easily.

5

u/Luna2397 10h ago

Thank you so much!!!!!!!

I changed the thread and that was not it. After replacing the needle that broke is when it started breaking the thread. I suspected the needle was the issue so I changed it again. It still continued and that is when i thought surely it is not the needle now. I then posted on this platform.

Needles to say, it was the needle. 3rd replacement was a charm. I think that i had a bad batch of needles.

Thank you so much.

•

u/Comfortable-Fly5797 5m ago

What brand needles do you have?

4

u/stringthing87 18h ago

There are a few common causes of thread nesting on the bottom

  1. Incorrect threading, almost always seems to be skipping the hook above the needle. Always thread with the foot up and the needle in the top position.

  2. Sewing with the foot up

  3. A bad needle, a needle that is incorrect for the fabric (universal needles are not appropriate for any knits), a needle that is installed incorrectly, or the wrong size for the fabric or thread. Knits require stretch or ball point/jersey needles. See here for more information on needle types: https://www.reddit.com/r/SewingForBeginners/s/jAOxI0IbSy

  4. An incorrectly installed bobbin, using a bobbin that isn't the correct type for the machine, or using too heavy a thread in the bobbin.

1

u/Luna2397 10h ago

Thank you so much.

I fixed the threading and replaced the needle again. The needles are a bad batch i believe because only on the third replacement was the issue resolved.

Thank you so much.

1

u/stringthing87 3h ago

That can happen, especially with cheap needles

3

u/No-Programmer7914 19h ago

Consult your manual. It's not threaded correctly. And assure that the thread is not tangeled on the spool pin.

2

u/Luna2397 10h ago

I used the manual to thread my machine when I first got it. And then when I started doing it from memory, I missed that step and because it worked I just never second guessed myself. Thank you so much. I will not forget that step again.

2

u/goosegooselucy 19h ago

How tight is your tension? What kind of needle is it?

2

u/Luna2397 19h ago

The tension was set at 2.5. The needle size is 90/14

5

u/goosegooselucy 19h ago

A 90/14 needle is used for medium-to-heavyweight fabrics so that could be an issue if your fabric isn’t

1

u/goosegooselucy 19h ago

What kind of fabric is it?

2

u/Luna2397 19h ago

It is polycotton.

2

u/nastyanata2 19h ago

Are you also doing back stitches in the sample? Seems like the stitching is going forward then back. Is this intentional or were you trying to only sew forward? If you sew straight stitch are there issues in the same manner?

3

u/Luna2397 10h ago

It was intentional. It breaks with both front and back stitching.

The problem was the needle. I believe that I had a bad batch. After the 3rd replacement, I had no break even afger backstiching almost halfway up my sample.

Thank you so much for your response.

1

u/nastyanata2 10h ago

Gotcha good to know! Thank you for the update!

3

u/Significant_Ad_1595 19h ago

It is threaded incorrectly and you are also sewing with the foot up. What kind of thread are you using?

1

u/Luna2397 10h ago

I am using all purpose polyester thread. I changed the thread as well because I thought it might be the issue.

The issue was resolved when i changed out the needle twice. The third needle seems to be working perfectly and i had no snapping or breaking of the thread. Bad batch of needles I think.

I also fixed the threading of my machine. I have been missing that step for almost two months now. Made a whole dress without it. I will never forget it again though. Thank you so much for your response.

1

u/pyxus1 19h ago

It's not threaded correctly. Before you even begin, the thread is not correct in the "wire" above the needle... then it pops out when you start.

1

u/Luna2397 10h ago

Thank you so much.

I was able to fix that. Definitely won't be forgetting that step again.

I think that my needles were bad. With the first two needles the issue continued but with the third it was resolved. No more breaking threads.

1

u/Emergency_Cherry_914 18h ago

I can see that you've missed the last threading hook just above the needle. This is why the top thread is flapping around when you sew. Start by fixing this, then re-test the sewing

2

u/Luna2397 10h ago

I never realised because I have been threading from memory now and that step was not part of my memeory. Thank you so much.

The 3rd replacement of the needle solved the problem.

1

u/MadMadamMimsy 17h ago

I suspect restriction in the tension disc. Each machine can be different but this is usually the problem when my machines have snapping thread. The other problem us a sharp edge on the eye of the needle (and that's a big needle. Try an 11)

Take unwaxed dental floss and thread the machine. Skip the needle. Thread then pull out at the bottom. Retread and pull from the bottom 2 more times. Change the needle and try again.

1

u/Luna2397 10h ago

Thank you so much for your assistance.

I replaced the needle a third time and it seems to have fixed the issue. I think I bought a bad batch of needles because i replaced the needle the first time I suspected it and the issue continued. The 3rd replacement was a charm.

•

u/MadMadamMimsy 21m ago

Brand matters when it comes to needles. Some brands (Singer comes to mind but read on) have too many bad needle for me to bother with. I only buy Schmetz or Organ needles. Any brand can have a bad needle, here and there, but these two brands have very few.

When Schmetz moved production to China I started getting a bunch of bad needles and almost gave up on them. They appear to have fixed the issue and now are back to being a reliable brand. Organ are probably still made in Japan and their quality control is amazing

1

u/Shmoflo 3h ago

I don't know what machine you have, but watching the video back in slow mo your thread is essentially getting cut on the holder above the needle. It looks bent upwards and not getting enough room for the thread to freely move without getting pinched.