13 July 2018
 Categories: , Blog

If you use your sewing machine on a regular basis, whether for minor fabric repairs or to flex your creative muscle in clothing design, then it can be quite frustrating when it suddenly ceases to feed fabric. If your interest in sewing was sparked recently, you might be worried that your machine is broken. However, before you rush it off for overlocker repairs, you should try to troubleshoot the cause, since sometimes it is a minor problem impeding the operation of your machine. The following are a few of the possible reasons why your sewing machine is experiencing a fabric-feeding issue. 

You have maladjusted the stitch length

One of the common reasons why your sewing machine will start to experience fabric-feeding problems is that the stitch length has been changed. Usually, this will happen when you were previously using your sewing machine to create buttonholes and then inadvertently forgot to re-adjust the stitch length to the appropriate measurement. When the stitch length is at nil, your fabric will not move in any direction, and you will be unable to get any sewing done.

Your feed dogs are in the downward position

If you have recently engaged in a sewing project that required you to keep your sewing machine's feed dogs in a downward position, for example when sewing a quilt, then this could be what is preventing the machine from feeding fabric. Luckily, if this is the issue, it can easily be remedied by merely raising these parts a few millimetres over the sewing plate, and your machine should be able to feed fabric as usual.

Your presser foot has been raised

A typical mistake that sewing newbies make is forgetting to return the presser foot down before they start to sew. When the presser foot is in the upward position, it means that your feed dogs will not be able to hold the fabric in place, and you will end up struggling to feed the machine your fabric. As a newbie, it is advisable to pick up the habit of always lowering the presser foot before you start your project, and you will not be inconvenienced.

Your thread tension is excessive

Nobody likes to sew with a thread that has some slack, but this does not mean you should go overboard with tightening the tension either. When the thread tension is excessive, it becomes difficult for the sewing machine to manoeuvre it. Hence, it impedes on the sewing machine's ability to feed the fabric. It is recommended to try loosening this tension and see if your sewing machine will begin to function per normal.