Quilt in a Day Forums

Hi all,

I'm new to quilting and sewing and am having a sewing machine problem that is stumping me. I'm using a Singer model 9008 (I believe) and the problem is that I just changed the bobbin (don't think I changed anything else!) and now all of a sudden there literally handfulls of thread hanging off the back of the piece, and the seams are completely loose.....seems like a tension problem to me, but I can't find where there's a place to adjust the tension on the machine. The machine is my mom's and she doesn't have the manual anymore, furthermore the one online is more a parts inventory than anything actually resembling a manual. Any ideas would be much appreciated,
Thanks in advance!
David

My first shot at troubleshooting this problem is:

Is the thread in the bobbin though all the tensions guides on the shuttle - what the bobbin slides into - there is usually a small slit in the case that the thread goes through before you bring it through the throat plate. If that thread is not caught in that tension it could give you the loops you are describing.

Second - if you did not touch any dials - try re- threading the entire machine - from the bobbin to the top thread - you may have missed a tension place somewhere - mine will loop like that if I have missed a top thread tension.

Don't turn any tension dials until you have a written down copy of where they are now - this gives you a place to come back to when you make changes. Only make one change at a time - try it and if it did not work - go to the original setting and try again.

When all else fails - take it to your local sewing machine shop and they can help you - even if it is an older machine. Just don't let them talk you into a new one - LOL - the old ones work fine - most of the time!
Jana
Any more questions - just ask - glad to try and help

Hi Jana,

Thanks so much! That worked like a charm (rethreading the machine). I think alot of my confusion results from the bobbin, i.e. I know they're probably all different, but I've looked online and it looks like one just winds the thread around it a few times and then gets the machine to finish the job, my bobbin has an upper and lower little hole in it, and I was wondering am I supposed to bring the thread through either of those holes? Also, when I put the successfully wound bobbin back in the machine does it need to follow and guides similar to the top thread or as long as the top thread picks it up and pulls it through the plate it's all good? I know all the machines have little differences, but any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Best,
David

Sorry I don't have a bobbin that winds in the case - I have a Pfaff machine - but my husband who is an old engineer has a saying - if it ain't broke - don't fix it - so if it is working you got it - have fun sewing! It is wonderful to make quilts - I am addicted to it! LOL
Jana

David, it's hard to know what kind of bobbin set up you have...can you post a picture of it?? Or tell us what kind of machine you have?? But Jana's description of the bobbin and bobbin case with the slit is very good.
At any rate, if it's working now don't mess with it! lol!! Jana's hubby is right!

this is a great place to start looking... I googled Singer 9008 hope they can answer your questions....

http://www.sewusa.com/Threading_Diagram ... eading.htm

Oh my gosh, sounds like a real pain in the petunia.
I have a Kenmore, and the only time I had that problem, I had to take it to a repair shop. come to find out I'd actually broken a "piece" down inside the bobbin case. Once it was replaced, everything worked great.
I hope you get it figured out. I understand how frustrating it is not understand why your machine won't cooperate. Good luck.