Dealing with sewing thread bunching up underneath your fabric can be frustrating and can ruin the look of your carefully
stitched project. This issue, known as a bird’s nest or thread nesting, occurs when the upper thread gets tangled
with the lower thread, resulting in messy, tangled threads beneath your fabric.
Fortunately, there are several reasons why this might be happening and simple solutions to prevent or fix it. By following
a few essential tips, you’ll be able to avoid thread bunching up and improve the overall quality of your sewing.
1. Check your thread tension
Improper thread tension is the most common cause of thread bunching up. Ensure that your upper and lower thread
tensions are balanced correctly. Adjust the tension using the tension control dial according to your machine’s
manual instructions.
2. Use the correct thread size and type
Ensure you are using the appropriate thread size and type for your fabric and needle. Using the wrong thread can
cause tension problems and lead to thread bunching up. Use lighter threads for delicate fabrics and thicker threads
for thicker materials.
3. Clean and maintain your sewing machine
A dirty or poorly maintained sewing machine can affect the thread’s smooth flow, leading to thread bunching up problems.
Regularly clean lint from your bobbin case, feed dogs, and the machine’s internal parts. Additionally, oil your
machine as per the manufacturer’s recommendations.
4. Check your needle
An old or damaged needle can cause various sewing issues, including thread bunching up. Use a new needle that is compatible
with the fabric you’re sewing and replace it after every 8-10 hours of sewing to prevent thread problems.
5. Thread your machine correctly
Ensure that the upper thread is properly threaded through all necessary guides and the bobbin is correctly inserted.
Incorrect threading can lead to thread tension problems and contribute to the bunching up issue.
By following these simple tips, you can overcome the issue of sewing thread bunching up underneath your fabric. Remember
to check your thread tension, use the correct thread size and type, clean and maintain your sewing machine, check
your needle, and thread your machine correctly. If you continue to experience problems, it may be beneficial to
consult your sewing machine’s manual or seek assistance from a qualified technician.
Sounds like you might need to adjust the tension of your bobbin.
My suggestion: Have you tried checking the threading to make sure it’s correct? If not, that could be the cause of the bunching.
If the bobbin tension is too loose this would also cause bunching.
Maybe try tightening it!
You could also try using a different bobbin, as some thread can be thicker or thinner than others and this could be impacting how it’s catching on the bobbin. Definitely experiment with different tensions and bobbins to figure out what works best for the material you’re stitching.
That sounds like a tension issue. Ensure the tension for both your upper and lower threads are on the appropriate settings – this should solve the bunches. If not, you can also try playing with different bobbin threads and tensions to see if that helps!
If the tension settings and threading are correct, check the needle – it may mean the needle size is not correct for the type of thread being used.
Adjusting the tension of the top thread could be the solution. It might also help to use a different needle type, since the wrong needle size might be causing the thread to bunch.