Bird Nesting . . .

I have a very plain Singer sewing machine, and while a little contrary, it has always worked pretty well.  Lately, though it has been jamming and making bird-nests with the bottom thread.  I pull it off, and it has just completely screwed up! The top stitches look normal, but the bottom have skipped and are frazzled and jumbled together.  I have done everything the manual said, adjusted thread tension, re-threaded both top and bottom, changed the needle, but NOTHING helps. Does anyone know what is causing this bird nesting and how to fix it?

Thanks!

Have you tried holding onto the top and bobbin threads for the first few stitches? l have found this to be helpful sometimes.

My machine was doing this exact thing last week and when I adjusted the tension that seemed to help.   This isn't the only time I experienced this, though, and the first time it happened I had the machine serviced and my repairman said it was out of alignment.  Possibly from me jamming nearly 8 layers of corduroy and canvas through it? Nah! Good luck!

Have you messed with the tension?  Checked that the needle is in correctly, it's sharp and it's the right needle for the fabric?  and if you're able, take the needle plate off and look for a build up of lint underneath.  You may need to check the bobbin tension-  but usually if I'm getting tangles on the bottom it's either a lint build up or needle thread tension.

You don't mention the model, but If it is a drop-in bobbin, I suspect that the bobbin case isn't seated properly.  Crack the manual.

Is the machine creating a "bird's nest" the entire length of your stitching or just at the beginning of the stitching line?  If it's only towards the beginning....I think you should make sure you are holding both threads when you first start stitiching so that they do not get sucked down into the bobbin area.  If the problem is the entire length of the stitch then it is probably some sort of tension issue.  Do you have the bobbin properly seated and turning in the correct direction for your machine?  And are you sure the top thread is threaded properly?  Just some thoughts for you.

Cindy
http://sew-blessed.blogspot.com/

My machine was doing this a while back (I too have a Singer, but a newer model with embroidery machine.)  I checked all the tensions and all of that too with no change.  Then my bobbin casing just jumped out of the machine in the middle of stitching!  I freaked out then calmed down and worked to figure it out since I was making something I HAD to have done by the morning!  I got out my machine oil and with the bobbin area taken apart and bobbin casing out I oiled it and wiped it all clean.  I went ahead and oiled the rest of the machine and put it back together and it's worked fine since then.  (crossing my fingers and knocking on wood!)
  You might try cleaning it all out and oiling it if you haven't already!  GOOD LUCK!  It's so frustrating when confusing things happen to slow down sewing!

Thanks to everyone! I took all of your advice and now the machine is running perfectly! It ended up being the bobbin thread tension, in case you're the type that needs to know how something ends (I know I am).  I had tested it the way the manual said to, but the manual wasn't very specific on how it should act, so I thought it was OK. After all of your advice didn't work, and I almost ruined a project, I decided to just take a screw driver to it (I almost took a hammer to it, but the husband talked me out of it).  I tightened the bobbin screw and now it works like a charm.  Thanks for all your help and encouragement . . . I really needed it!

I was going to say something with the bobbin thread. Make sure its properly wound or you get stuff like this happening!

I am glad I found this discussion thread! I am having the same problem with my very basic Janome machine. I will try all these suggestions. Thanks!

My Kenmore tends to do that when it needs to be cleaned out. Usually I laugh at how much lint has gotten jammed in around the bobbin and below the bobbin. It always seems to make every thing all better!