My embroidery machine has suddenly started making really messy satin stitches. I have tried all the usual fixes, re-threading, changing the needle and bobbin, cleaning, oiling and checking the tension. But nothing seems to help. Do any of you fellow embroiderers have any idea what it could be? I can’t afford a service at the mo so would be most grateful for any help.
Donna x
I’ve no experience with embroidery machines but found this trouble shooting guide online hopefully it might be of use.
Whilst searching for that I found a forum with people complaining that their machines played up after changing bobbin thread manufacturers - have you changed thread manufacturer recently? If you have it might be worth switching back.
Sasha
1 Like
I’ve looked through all the googled trouble shooting guides and have been using all the same thread, bobbin thread, needles and stabilisers. Nothing has changed, I’m embroidering on the same tea towels which I have done hundreds of. I really think it’s going to have to go into the shop unless I can come up with something 
which means closing up my shop for at least a week. What a pain 
I had trouble with my sewing machine last week, its a Brother, so I emailed their help line and got the info I wanted. So if it’s a Brother, Janome etc. they should have a help line either to email or phone. It might be a possibility for you. Is it anything to do with the tension. I haven’t got an embroidery machine but have been looking at them on youtube lately just in case I decide to buy one.
I hope you get it fixed soon, as we do depend on our machines
1 Like
In that case I’m all out of ideas - trouble shooting my tools normally consists of ‘user error - go for cup of tea’, not a lot of things to go wrong with a hammer or pliers. I’m not sure feeding your machine a cup of tea will help.
Hope you get it sorted soon.
1 Like
I don’t know, a cup of tea might help, it’s definitely got personality, in fact I’d go so far as to say it’s a bit of a drama queen lol You should see the mess it makes whenever I turn my back on it 
@memicrafts Marg I hadn’t thought about the helpline, I’ll google to see if I can find an email for Janome 
Have you tried cleaning out the upper tension discs? With my Brother machine you can remove a section of the casing to get at the discs in case there is any thread caught in there. I don’t know if you can do that with your Janome…if not I was once recommended to just run some un-waxed dental floss through the discs to try and clean them. If there is the tiniest bit of thread stuck in there, it can cause havoc!
1 Like
Thank you Kin @KBCreations I got the dental floss on the tension discs, as you cant open them up on my machine 
and I think it may have done the trick. 
1 Like
I hope it has worked for you…these embroidery machines can be proper Diva’s when they want to be!
1 Like
Oh they really can! I think mine has heard I’m saving up for a Brother Innovis and is just acting out lol
I bought the V3 in May last year…loving it. I was thinking of selling my older one, but keeping it as a back up. It was useful at Christmas when I could have both of them on the go! x
1 Like
That what I’m hoping to do next Christmas. I was working 12 hour day’s last year with just the one machine, so the idea is to have two and the Brother machines have a huge hoop my poor little machine only goes up to 14 x 14 cm 
Yes, I do love the big hoop. I bought the recent upgrade too which gives you up 8" x 12"…now it needs to earn it’s keep!
1 Like
Wow! That’s massive!! 
I should think it’ll earn it’s keep in no time My imagination is going wild with the possibilities lol
1 Like
Sometimes a new needle helps. Sewing machines and machine embroidery is fraught for me! I am going on a machine embroidery day in April to see if I can crack it. Hope you manage to get an answer. Barnyards of York do newsletters, sell all manner of sewing sundries and were very helpful when I asked a question. If you join up for their newsletter you can also get a free pack of needles on the reception of the third newsletter.
I love my embroidery machines…I bought my first one about 15 years ago now and there is a learning curve to them. People think it’s easy…just push a button and it does it for you, but it’s not quite that simple! I have upgraded a couple of times since then, but still get disasters occasionally!
2 Likes
I think I have a phobia because it is a ‘machine’, Though I used to make all my own clothes years ago.
Machine embroidery is a skill!
1 Like
I have finally found out what it was, after months of struggling One tiny little screw which holds the arm steady had come loose, I tightened it up and now it’s sewing perfectly again
2 Likes
Good…I’m glad you got it sorted…
x
1 Like
Glad you’re now sorted Donna. Marg. x
1 Like