Why Does My Sewing Machine Keep Jamming?

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Being a beginner or advanced sewer doesn’t make it less frustrating when your sewing machine gets jammed and you are stuck between a project. That dreaded moment when you devotedly press the machine pedal but it fails to make a sound or move can be totally annoying. In most cases, the sewing machine produces some quality stitches before things get all tangled up and you cannot proceed with your sewing process. 

If you have been a victim and you’ve got your project delayed due to this aggravating situation, understanding the main reasons behind this sudden jam is important as it allows you to take precautionary measures and gets you fully prepared to provide the right solution if it ever happens again without getting panicked and frustrated. 

Why Does My Sewing Machine Keep Jamming?

There are multiple reasons why your sewing machine gets jammed. This unwanted scenario can come into play while working on wrong and complicated projects such as sewing denim or other heavyweight fabrics with a small needle. Improper maintenance can also be the cause as well. In a situation where you are sewing with a broken presser foot, your sewing machine is expected to clamp in between a project with time. 

In this article, we will be explicitly explaining the reasons why your sewing machine has been consistently getting jammed and how it can be prevented and fixed. Read along and find out.

1. Lack of Tension On The Upper Thread

While you might have been making assumptions that the jamming has been caused by something big and trivia, an insufficient tension on the upper thread might be the reason for this setback. When the tension is not adequate enough to pull the thread through your fabric perfectly, the machine gets jammed and stitches become tangled.

Rethreading your needle would solve this problem. All you have to do is to lift up the presser foot and perfectly re-thread the needle as instructed by the machine’s manufacturer.

2. When Your Machine Gets Clogged

Constant maintenance of your sewing machine is essential to prevent events like this to happen. Your sewing machine can easily get jammed due to excess dust, lint, and other forms of debris. When your machine is not frequently cleaned to prevent this dust and gunk from getting stuck in your machine they can come back and cause unwanted issues to your sewing machine.

When facing a situation like this, the machine should be turned off, and make sure it gets un-threaded and cleaned comprehensively. It is also important to perform the oiling on the necessary metal parts of the machine.

All particles stuck in the bobbin compartment should be blown out, a canned air would make the process smooth and easy. Following these steps and ensuring your sewing machine gets periodically cleaned and oil would put your machine in a good shape for smooth operation.

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3. Deformed and Broken Needles

A bent or broken needle produces an imperfect stitch and eventually losses its piercing quality when it stops going through your fabrics. A needle in these conditions would prevent your machine from working properly and might eventually stop working totally. 

When experiencing such a situation, you should pause work on your project and give your needle a thorough inspection. If it turns out the needle is deformed or has been broken, you can easily replace the damaged needle with a perfect new one. 

It is important to take note and use the appropriate needle size that compliments your sewing machine and project as well as it might make your machine jam consistently. 

4. Feed Dogs Malfunctioning

When your machine feed dogs are not properly functioning, your sewing machine can easily get jammed. The feed dog is the small teeth that are strategically placed under the needle and presser foot. They are tasked with pulling your fabric when sewing to ensure a smooth sewing process. When the feed dogs get filled with excessive dust, lint, and other forms of debris, the machine tends to malfunction.

To solve this problem, it is required to stop all forms of work you’re doing on the machine and give the feed dogs a proper cleaning by lifting up the presser foot. It is also important to examine the feed dogs and make sure they are properly positioned to ensure a precise grip of fabrics.

You should also inspect the presser foot ensuring it is not set too low over the feed dogs as that might also be the cause of the malfunction. Make sure both mechanisms are perfectly positioned before proceeding with your project.

5. Low-Quality Thread

While you might not have been paying close attention to your thread quality when sewing, a low-quality thread is capable of causing some unimagined problems to both your machine and project. Low-quality thread shreds easily and can effortlessly get stuck in your machine mechanics which can in turn lead to your machine getting jammed preventing you from working.

It can also reduce the performance of your machine thanks to its constant break and knot which causes improper stitch patterns, slows down your machine, and can eventually wreck your project.  This can be easily prevented by purchasing good-quality thread endorsed and recommended by the machine’s manufacturer. It ensures smooth stitching and an excellent sewing result. 

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6. When The Needle Fails To Move

It is unwantedly common for your machine’s needle to suddenly stop moving while working. No matter how much you try, the needle remains stagnant and refuses to respond. There are several factors that might have been the cause of such situations. They include a disconnected clutch, a broken driver’s belt, and when the needle size is not a perfect match for the sewing machine.

A total inspection is required in such a scenario, if you discover that your sewing machine has failed to remain in sewing mode, the issue must have been from the clutch and can be properly fixed. You have to ensure the hand wheel is free then you can push the bobbin winder. Doing this will return the sewing machine back to bobbin winder mode and the needle will start to function properly. 

If the driver’s belt is the cause of the jamming, it is required to be replaced. You should also purchase a perfect needle size to complement your sewing machine and fabric if you discover the unmatched needle to be the problem.

7. When The Motor Fails To Function

In a case where the machine’s motor fails to start or suddenly stops to run, there might have been a problem with the motor belt or its electrical parts. you would realize this to have been the case when you discover broken wires between the motor and foot pedal during the inspection.

To solve this, you should first unplug the sewing machine from power and ensure the broken motor belt parts get replaced. You should also assess the wire connections that go to the foot pedal using the multimeter and if it reads negative, the foot pedal will have to be replaced. 

In some situations when the motor belt is extremely tight, the motor brake will refuse to run and keep on making some humming noise. The motor belt will have to be loosened, cleaned, and oiled so that it can operate properly.

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Conclusion

By going through this article, we hope you have gotten a perfect answer to your curiosity about why your machine keeps on jamming. perform an extensive inspection and if you discovered the problem to have been among the above-listed reasons, follow the necessary steps, fix up your sewing machine and continue sewing.

If all the above-listed reasons and solutions don’t work out, it is advisable to get the sewing machine for a proper repair. You can as well purchase a new sewing machine if you can’t go through the stress of repairing it.