• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

SewingMachinify

Making Life Easier

  • Sewing Machines
    • Sewing Machine For
      • best sewing machine for heavy and thick fabrics
      • Best Sewing Machine For Making Clothes
      • Best Sewing Machines for Advanced Sewers
      • Best Sewing Machine for Jeans
      • Best Sewing Machine for Leather
    • Best Sewing Machine
    • Best Budget Sewing Machines
    • Best Portable Sewing Machine
    • Best Rated Sewing Machine
    • Best Embroidery Sewing Machine
    • Best Mechanical Sewing Machines
    • Small Machine
      • Best Mini Sewing Machine
      • Best Portable Sewing Machine
      • Best Sewing Machine for Kids
      • Best Sewing Machine Under 100$
      • Best Handheld Sewing Machines
      • Best Sewing Machine for Beginner Quilters
    • Brands
      • Best Brother Sewing Machine 2021
      • Best Janome Sewing Machines
      • Best Singer Sewing Machines
  • Quilting Machine
    • Best Sewing Machines for Quilting
    • Best Sewing Machine for Beginner Quilters
    • Best Sewing Machine for Quilting under 500$
  • About Us
  • Affiliate Disclosure

Why is My Sewing Machine Jamming

by Joseph Nichols | Last Updated February 8, 2022

Why is My Sewing Machine JammingYou probably have a sewing machine that keeps jamming, well, you are not the only one that faces problems associated with stitching.

There are some common problems with sewing machines that people mostly face.

If you experience a sewing machine that keeps jamming while stitching, possible reasons are tangling, skipped stitches,

Or issues with the fabric, thread, feed mechanism. Just go through the article for further detail.

The need to understand the reason behind jamming is quite important because it would enable you to do everything possible to prevent further instances.

Plus, a little basic know-how to act quickly without getting angry or panicked would allow you to efficiently resolve a jamming problem as soon as it happens.

Especially for the novice, it seems quite hard to tackle the jamming problem due to insufficient knowledge about handling stitching.

Well, this article would be really helpful in solving common jamming problems at home without hiring any mechanic.

5 common reasons behind sewing machine jamming

In sewing work, it does not matter whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned expert, a jammed sewing machine is quite a common problem for all.

The obvious reasons are related to maintenance issues, or in some cases, the parts are damaged.

It could possibly be due to the use of faulty needles or entangled threads.

Regardless of the reason behind the machine jamming, the reasons mentioned below about jamming would help you to locate yours.

Improper or skipped stitches

Skipping stitches is the result of using the wrong type of needle for the fabric you are sewing.

Just keep a basic rule in mind, woven fabric requires a sharp needle and a knit fabric requires a ballpoint needle.

Plus, it’s also important to make sure that you are allowing the machine to feed the fabric and not forcing the fabric through the sewing process.

Skipped stitches can also cause a problem if the needle is bent, which usually occurs if you are forcing the fabric, and not letting the machine feed it automatically.

The best thing is that a sewing machine needle is the tiniest and one of the most inexpensive parts of a sewing machine to replace.

So, it would be better to spend some time understanding everything about sewing machine needles.

Jammed threads

Well, this is a very obvious problem for a sewing machine.

The first step toward a solution is to remove any fabric you were trying to sew.

You need to gently tug at the fabric and lift it enough that you can easily snip at the threads and then pull the fabric free of the machine.

The next step requires you to carefully remove all the jammed threads.

This would be done by removing the throat plate, bobbin, and any other parts to free any jammed threads and get the machine sewing again.

But again, before you start sewing, don’t forget to check your sewing machine needle.

It’s important because even a slightly bent needle can cause a thread jam.

Constant thread breaking

There is a possibility that the thread keeps breaking right when you prepare to start sewing and put your foot on the pedal.

It is obviously frustrating to experience the thread breaking time and again especially when you are trying to stitch something in a hurry.

If the threading is not the reason for the jamming problem, the thread breakage has some other reasons and solutions.

Well, the chances are high that the poor threading issues might cause the problem.

Rethread that top thread of the machine. So you see it’s due to the obstruction behind the failure of the machine to function.

For example, the spool or laser cord might hold its thread improperly and result in difficult movement.

Motor failure

This problem in a sewing machine is not commonly found but if the motor suddenly stops running completely or does not start, the possible reason might be the faulty motor.

Normally, a faulty motor is the most common issue with the motor belt or electrical parts.

When you observe closely, you would easily be able to find loose or broken wires between the motor and the foot pedal that need to be fixed.

In order to repair it, unplug the machine from the power source.

See, if there’re any loose or broken parts in the motor belt, get it replaced.

Then, check the wires between the motor and the foot pedal and use the multimeter for having an idea about wire connections that reach the foot pedal.

The foot pedal might need a replacement if the connectivity indicates negative.

If the motor brake is constantly making a humming noise and not functioning, it just simply means that the motor belt of your machine is way too tight.

Issues with handwheel movement

Well, a handwheel of any sewing machine has the ability to move without facing any difficulty or exertion.

If it’s getting hard for you to move that handwheel, there is surely a problem. In most cases, a handwheel turns difficult to move due to the stuck.

You just need to check that whether the fabric or needle has got stuck in the machine.

Do make sure that the thread should go in smoothly all throughout and form a tangly midway. Completely rethread the machine once you are confident about the issue of tangled thread.

Filed Under: Guides

About Joseph Nichols

Joseph is a fashion designer and he loves sewing. He's been sewing wonderful designs and different stuff for around 6 years. Here he's sharing his knowledge about Sewing Machinery and helping his readers to decide the best choice.

Recent Posts

  • How To Gather Fabric With A Sewing Machine
  • How Can I Tell How Old My Singer Sewing Machine Is
  • How To Finish A Quilt With A Sewing Machine
  • How To Quilt a Blanket With Sewing Machine
  • How To Free Motion Quilt On A Regular Sewing Machine
  • How To Fix Sewing Machine Not Picking Up Bobbin Thread
  • How To Use Needle Threader On a Sewing Machine
  • How To Backstitch On A Sewing Machine
  • How To Fix Sewing Machine Timing
  • How To Use An Older Singer Sewing Machine
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • About Us

Copyright © 2023