Why does the thread break in the sewing machine and what to do with it?

A sewing machine is not only the work tool of a professional tailor. Many housewives have long appreciated the benefits of owning this technical device, which allows them to independently perform minor repairs of clothing, making bedding, and maybe even mastering the more complex basics of sewing art. Therefore, the situation when the thread breaks in the machine becomes very unpleasant. This affects the quality of work and spoils the mood. What can be the causes of such trouble and how to deal with them - read below.

Let's look at the most common causes of a break in a sewing machine. There are actually a lot of them.

The situation in which the machine is just a victim of circumstances. Inspect the thread: uneven thickness, lumps, knots - all this will tell you that you purchased a poor quality product. The machine will break such a thread over and over again.

There may be several.

• Incorrect installation. Each needle designed for the sewing machine has a special groove stretched along its entire length. Regardless of the brand of the device, this groove should “look” in the same direction as the needle thread guide. If the location is correct, the thread moves freely when sewing and does not break. Check that the needle is fully inserted, securely fastened with the screw. The correctness of its installation will also tell you the passage of its "nose" near the recess.
• Defective needle. If there are sharp edges in the hole where the thread is inserted, this means that each time you sew, the thread will be cut off. Therefore, such a needle will have to be thrown away. Also make sure that the needle is not crooked or damaged.
• Invalid needle selection. All needles have different thicknesses. One sews silk well, the other - jeans. If you do not take this point into account and do not change the needle when replacing the fabric, you may also encounter a broken thread.
• Needle plate flaws. If you operate your sewing machine often enough, without paying attention to the correct installation and centering of the needle, a situation may arise when it touches the needle plate and scratches it. Over time, these scratches will lead to the fact that when sewing the line will begin to "go" to the side, the thread will begin to break, the quality of work will deteriorate.

The only right decision is to install the needle as it should, so that it enters the hole provided for this and does not come into contact with the needle plate.

There may also be several options for malfunctions.

One of the most common causes of breakage of the upper thread is the incorrect installation of the spring in the tension regulator. Please note that the wide curls of the spring should be closer to the body of the machine. Check the ease of its movement in the axis of the regulator (this is such a rod with a thread). There are situations when its slot is excessively squeezed from the edge, and the tension cannot be adjusted. Way out: insert a screwdriver into this slot and slightly expand its edges to provide a more free spring travel.

Different sewing machines have a different device for adjusting the tension of the upper thread, but the principle of operation is the same. When the presser foot fully rises, the spring should “wring out”, release the pressure of the washers and release the thread from tension. When you assemble or disassemble the tensioner, note for yourself that the pusher should be located in the slit of the axis of the regulator, "turning" in your direction with the tapered side. The squeezing washer should not be turned upside down, the shaft should not be nicked. When installing the compensation spring, adjust the optimum pulling force.

note that when the presser foot is fully raised, the washers must unclench the thread, allowing it to stretch freely. If the tension adjuster starts to stagger, the screw holding it may have loosened.

This part of the sewing machine is responsible for the formation of stitches. If it is not there, the upper thread sags, the thread begins to loop, and then breaks. If you find such a problem, you will have to disassemble the tensioner and insert the necessary part, then install it again.

Unfortunately, the above list is far from a complete list of the reasons for the breakage of the thread in the sewing machine. Consider others.

• The pusher is not installed correctly. This can happen if you disassemble the device for any purpose, but assembled incorrectly. Look how you installed the pusher: if the flattened side is turned to the lever, then rearrange it.
• Notches, surface irregularities. A sewing machine is an aggregate that has its expiration date. If it is passed down from generation to generation, then it begins to undergo natural wear and tear. The thread glides over the surface - a groove appears on the part, preventing it from sliding freely. To eliminate this error, replace the bobbin case or sand the surface.
• Incorrectly selected spare parts. If you observe that the bobbin case is skewed during operation, it is difficult to fix it, which means that it is not suitable for construction. Read the recommendations for the selection of parts and consumables specifically for your model of sewing machine.
• The bobbin case is not adjusted. There is a small screw on this part. How much it is tightened affects the breakage of the upper or lower thread. Remove the cap, make sure it is clean, loosen it slightly, reinstall. Please note: experts advise you to pre-check the tensioner of the upper thread, and if this is not the case, then do the bobbin case.
• The shuttle is defective. This is one of the most important parts of a sewing machine. If it is installed incorrectly or has defects, the upper thread is not tensioned correctly, as a result of which it breaks. Therefore, make sure that the shuttle and the needle always work in concert, in unison.
• Lack of lubrication. Such a reason is also possible. Most often occurs when the machine is operated, but the lubrication of components and parts is neglected.
• Incorrect thread installation. If you were in a hurry and, threading a thread, missed a hole or groove, pull it out and start doing it all over again.

It should be clarified right away - we are not talking about global repair of the device, but about eliminating minor troubles due to which your sewing machine breaks the thread.

First of all, do not forget that a problem is always easier to prevent than to fix. It means that routine inspection, timely lubrication of parts, selection of high-quality thread for sewing, periodic replacement of needles should not become an accident, but a regularity.

But if the problem is caused not by lack of care, but still by some kind of breakdown, then It’s worth a look at the list of possible troubles that you can try to eliminate.

• Incorrect installation of conical spring or tensioner spring. Disassemble, reinstall (or change if worn) the part and reassemble everything.
• Pusher work bad. Install it, as expected, if worn - buy a new one.
• Stopper squeezing washers. Reduce the rim of the washer or purchase a part without bead.
• Absence / breakage of the compensation spring. Get a new part, install by adjusting the tension.
• If there are scratches on the surface of the foot / needle plate, grind them with tools or replace.
• Streamlining of the bobbin case is broken: the screw is distorted, barbs have appeared. The cap must be either repaired (if possible) or completely replaced.

The following is a small thread tension adjustment guide.

• Find the tension adjuster. On all machines it is located in different places, so if you do not know where it is, look in the user manual. If you don’t have one, then look for a digital knob that has nothing to do with choosing the type or size of stitches.
• To increase the thread tension, turn this knob to increase the digital display. To begin with, rearrange it by 1/2 division or by 1 digit and check on a piece of matter which screed turned out. Adjustment must be made until the upper thread stops “peeping” from the back of the tie.
• To reduce the tension, you have to turn the regulator in the opposite direction - in the direction of smaller numbers. Repeat the adjustment until a completely aligned screed appears.

If your sewing machine periodically breaks the thread, interfering with work and spoiling the result, check and exclude all the above-mentioned causes of the unit malfunction.

See why the thread breaks in the sewing machine and what to do about it in the next video.