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How to Fix a Jammed Sewing Machine

24 Comments

How to Fix a Jammed Sewing Machine

It happens from time to time.

You’re sewing away happily, perhaps hoping to get a project finished before your baby wakes up, or before you have to pick the kids up from school, or before midnight because you need to sleep!

You can just imagine how lovely the thing you are working on will be when it’s finished and you’re so nearly there.

Then the machine jams. Perhaps the thread breaks. You press the pedal again and it’s still jammed. It’s making an awful noise and it’s possibly chewing a hole in your sewing.

So what do you do?how to fix a jammed sewing machine

What to Check When You Have a Jammed Sewing Machine

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First of all, gently turn the wheel to raise the needle and carefully remove the thing you were sewing. You might need to snip away at caught threads with a small pair of scissors. Remove all the bits of thread. If some of them are stuck, you will need to go straight to #2.

1. Rethread the sewing machine. Even if you are sure you have threaded it correctly, the thread might have got caught up somewhere, or it might not be in the right place between the tensions disks.

Also check your thread. If you are using cheap thread, this might be the problem. I would always recommend using Gutermann thread, although some of the cheaper bands might be alright to use. If you compare Gutermann thread with cheaper thread, the Gutermann thread is perfectly smooth and an even thickness all the way along. Cheaper threads are often uneven, with patches where they are thinner and others where they are a lot thicker. The thicker patches can result in the thread snagging and the thinner areas are more likely to snap, causing you problems.

Try again on a scrap piece of fabric. This may well have fixed the problem. If not, try the other things below.

2. When you bought your sewing machine, it probably came with a little screwdriver and a couple of brushes. You’re going to need those now!

If you don’t have them because you’ve lost them or you bought your sewing machine second hand and the previous owner lost them, don’t worry. You can use a small screwdriver and a small, clean, dry paint brush or make up brush.

Remove the plate, bobbin and its holder. Using the little brush gently remove all the fluff and bits of thread.how to fix a jammed sewing machine

3. Take a look at the bobbin. Make sure that the thread is wound correctly and is not caught up, loose or tangled. Check that there are no thread ends protruding out of the holes in the top. If there are, cut them off. The best thing to do with bobbins is to have one for each colour of thread. I used to wind several different threads onto 3 or 4 bobbins and this caused me problems! Bobbins are not expensive; I bought this from Amazon which comes with its own case.

4. Replace the bobbin holder and the bobbin. Make sure that the bobbin turns in the right direction and that the thread is in the right place in the holder.

5. Check the needle. If it is even just slightly bent, replace it. If you are sewing with thick fabric, check that you are using the correct needle. If in doubt, swap it for another one!how to fix a jammed sewing machine

6. Check that the stitch you have chosen is compatible with the foot and the fabric you are using.

7. Check the tension. Usually it will need to be on about 4, but you might need to adjust it for different types of fabric.how to fix a jammed sewing machine

Hopefully that will fix your jammed sewing machine. If not, your sewing machine might need a trip to a repair person.

Happy sewing!

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24 Comments

  2. I have an Ambition Essential. It’s 1 1/2 years old. Jamming occurs after it has been sewing fine for several pieces. It looks as if the thread in bobbin area has become tangled on opposite side from where it feeds into feed dogs. This happens often. the Pfaff people say return it to dealer but every time I have gone to them for help they have been no help. Very condescending. Any suggestions?

    Reply

  3. Hello Anna, I’m hoping you still read the comments on this blog as I need your help!

    Machine keeps jamming, I don’t even get a stitch in and it jams every time. I take off the cover and it always seems to be caught under the bobbin carrier. This has just started to happen as I sat down to sew today after a few months break. I can’t seem to figure it out.

    I noticed your blog as the picture of your machine is identical to my machine, but I haven’t been able to find the model on the internet (looking for a manual as I got it second hand.) What make an model is yours?

    Hope I hear from you!

    Reply

    1. My machine’s a Silver e something, I can’t remember and I’m on holiday so I can’t check. The manual is online but it wasn’t easy to find. I don’t have it on my phone and again if I was at home I could look on my laptop but I don’t have it with me.

      I think what I would do is change the needle and rethread the machine (more issues than you might think are caused by a bent or blunt needle). If that didn’t work, I’d check the thread to see whether it’s snagging, and check that the bobbin is wound correctly. Failing that i’d take the bobbin bit apart and give it a good clean.

      My sewing machine wasn’t working properly a few weeks ago, and it turned out that the hooky thing that goes up and down was bent. Straightening it out fixed the problem.

      If none of that works, it might need a sewing machine repair person.

      Hope you can get it fixed xx

      Reply

  4. I had problems like that, plus bird nests underneath. I found later I was threading the machine wrong!!! Thread the machine with the pressure foot UP, only then put the pressure foot down to thread the needle. I don’t know when I changed the habit, I think it was when I was changing the cottons to do the embroidery colour change over, I may have found it easier somehow, but that was when the trouble started. The pressure foot up opened the tension mechanism to allow the cotton to go through and the pressure foot down ‘clamped’ the cotton to activate the tension.

    Reply

    1. The bird’s nest thing is a nightmare. I didn’t know that about the pressure foot! Something worth remembering 🙂

      Reply
  5. Pingback: A Guide to Sewing Machine Needles - Tea and a Sewing Machine

  6. Hi there
    My Needle is stuck!
    Its still cought down there
    I cant even remove the fabric i have been working on before the jam
    S o s

    Reply

  9. Oh this is so helpful! Thanks for your great instructions! Thank you so much for sharing at my craft party on Thursday! I pin all your posts! Would love to see your newest posts this week, which starts at 7pm EST.

    Reply

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