How to Adjust the Tension on your Sewing Machine

Is your machine sewing properly? Are the stitches too loose? Are there loops of thread below the fabric?

Check for the following:

• Bobbin is wound correctly and inserted correctly.

• Top thread is threaded correctly.

• Needle is inserted correctly.

• Presser foot is up when threading the machine.

• You are holding on to both threads when you start to sew the seam, for at least 4 or 5 stitches.

• The presser foot is down when you start to sew the seam.

• Feed dogs are up when you are sewing.

• The tension is correct when you sew.

Side note on tension - if your machine sews zigzag stitches, try this: put one color thread in the bobbin and a different color thread for the needle. Set the basic zigzag stitch to width = 3 and length = 3 (if your machine is not numbered this way, make the width and length the same). Sew about 2 or 3 inches, then stop and look underneath the fabric behind the needle. If lots of the top thread is showing underneath, tighten the upper tension a little bit. Keep doing this until you can sort-of see the top thread under the fabric at the ends of each stitch, but can NOT see the bottom thread at the top of the fabric.