How to fix thread nests and tangles?

So you’re in the middle of sewing, your machine makes an almighty awful noise, and you notice a big tangle of threads which looks a little like a birds nest under your fabric. What do you do?

Well there’s a few solutions, which I’ll go through in order of difficulty.

1. Make sure you thread with your presser foot up. The thread plates are loose when the foot is up, and tight when down. If you don’t do this, chances are that tension isn’t being applied to your thread properly.

   

2. Check your tension. I have an electronic machine which is meant to automatically set that. However when using, for example, topstitching thread, I need to manually set it a little higher.
3. Try not to start sewing right at the edge of your fabric. The teeth that move your fabric along need something to cling to. Many stitches over the same stretch of fabric results in a big fat mess.
4. Check your needle. Are you using the right kind for your fabric? Make sure you are using a fine needle for fine fabric, jeans for jeans etc.
5. Clean your machine. Unscrew the base plate and give it a good clean. If you can also clean under your bobbin holder. I usually use a little brush that came with my machine. Some people use compressed air, but it’s expensive and I’ve heard that it can just blow dust further into your machine.

   

   
   

   

If all these fail, consider what you are trying to do with your machine, if you’re trying to sew some intricate detail on chiffon with a top stitching thread, that simply isn’t going to work.

I hope this helps. If you’ve found this helpful, or if you have any of your own helpful tips, leave a comment below.