Fix Sewing Machine Problems: Troubleshooting Chart & Steps

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Most sewing machine problems are threading, needle or lint problems, and you can fix them in minutes. To fix sewing machine problems like these, start with three steps in this order: rethread the top thread with the presser foot raised, put in a new needle that suits the fabric, and clean the lint out of the bobbin area. That sequence solves thread nests, skipped stitches and most tension trouble.

The chart and fixes below come from the troubleshooting sections of Brother, SINGER and Janome manuals, which agree on almost every cause. If a fix here doesn't work, the last section explains when it's time for professional repair.

How to Fix Sewing Machine Problems: The 5-Minute Reset

Before you look up a specific symptom, do this. It fixes more problems than everything else combined.

Turn off the machine and raise the needle to its highest position by turning the handwheel toward you.
Remove the top thread completely, cutting it near the spool and pulling it out through the needle end, not backward through the tension discs.
Raise the presser foot, then rethread from the spool. Brother's manuals start upper threading with "Raise the presser foot lever," because the tension discs only open when the foot is up. Threading with the foot down is the classic cause of loops under the fabric.
Take out the bobbin, check it's wound evenly, and reinsert it the way the diagram on your machine shows. Our bobbin threading guide shows drop-in and front-loading bobbins.
Put in a new needle, pushed up as far as it will go, with the flat side facing the back on most home machines.
Sew a test line on a scrap of the same fabric you're using.

Sewing Machine Troubleshooting Chart

Problem	Most likely causes	What to do
Thread nest under the fabric	Upper threading is wrong	Remove the tangle; rethread the top thread with the presser foot up
Bobbin thread shows on top	Bobbin is threaded or inserted wrong; top tension too tight	Reinsert the bobbin; return tension to the default setting
Top thread shows underneath, loops below	Upper threading wrong; top tension too loose	Rethread; then tighten top tension a step
Skipped stitches	Bent, dull or wrong needle; threading; lint	New needle suited to the fabric; rethread; clean under the needle plate
Upper thread breaks	Threading; tension too tight; needle too small for the thread; damaged needle	Rethread; loosen tension; use a larger needle
Bobbin thread breaks	Bobbin threaded wrong; lint in bobbin case; damaged or wrong bobbin	Rethread the bobbin; clean; use the bobbin made for your machine
Needle breaks	Needle loose or bent; wrong foot for the stitch; pulling fabric; tension too tight	Reinsert and tighten; match foot and stitch; let the feed dogs pull
Puckered seams	Tension too tight; needle too heavy; stitch too long for the fabric	Loosen tension; finer needle; shorter stitch
Fabric won't feed	Feed dogs lowered; lint packed in feed dogs; presser foot pressure too low	Raise the feed dogs; clean; increase pressure if your machine has a dial
Machine won't run	Not plugged in or switched on; bobbin winder engaged; thread caught in hook	Check power; return the bobbin winder; clear the hook
Noisy or high-pitched	Lint in feed dogs or bobbin case; damaged needle; wrong bobbin	Clean; replace needle; use the correct bobbin

Thread Bunching Under the Fabric (Bird's Nest)

This is the number one beginner problem, and the cause is almost always the top thread, even though the mess is on the bottom. Brother's CS7000X manual is blunt about it: when thread tangles on the wrong side of the fabric, the cause is incorrect upper threading, because the upper thread "cannot be firmly pulled up."

To fix it:

Stop sewing and turn off the machine.
Lift the fabric and cut the tangled threads underneath. Brother says to cut the thread with scissors if the tangle won't come free.
Remove the needle plate if needed and pick out any thread caught in the bobbin case.
Rethread the top thread completely, with the presser foot up, making sure it passes through the take-up lever.

The other common trigger is starting a seam without holding the thread tails. Hold both the top and bobbin tails lightly behind the foot for the first two or three stitches.

Tension Problems: Loops, Pulled Threads and Wavy Seams

A balanced stitch looks the same on both sides, with the threads locking inside the fabric. When one thread shows on the wrong side, tension or threading is off.

Brother's manual gives a useful order of operations: check the threading first, because if the upper threading or bobbin threading is wrong, the tension cannot be adjusted correctly. Return the dial to its default (4 on the Brother CS7000X), rethread, and test again.

Only then adjust:

Bobbin thread showing on top: loosen the top tension. On Brother machines, that means turning the dial counterclockwise, to a lower number.
Top thread showing underneath: tighten the top tension, clockwise, to a higher number.
Loops below the fabric: Janome's HD3000 chart lists the needle thread tension being too loose, or a needle too heavy or too fine for the thread.

Change one setting at a time, and test on a scrap of the fabric you're actually sewing. Brother notes the right tension differs by fabric and thread.

Skipped Stitches

Skipped stitches mean the hook isn't catching the top thread loop. In order of likelihood:

The needle. A bent, dull or incorrectly inserted needle is the top cause in every manual. Replace it.
The wrong needle type. Knits and stretch fabrics need a ballpoint or stretch needle. Janome's HD3000 manual specifically lists not using its blue-tipped needle for stretch, very fine and synthetic fabrics. See our sewing machine needle sizes chart to match needle to fabric.
Threading. Rethread top and bobbin.
Lint. Brother lists dust under the needle plate or in the bobbin case as a cause. Clean it out.
Presser foot pressure. On machines with a pressure dial, Janome lists pressure that's too weak.

The Needle Keeps Breaking

The manuals share a list, and almost all of it is fixable:

The needle isn't pushed fully up, or the needle clamp screw is loose.
The needle is bent or the point is damaged. SINGER's Heavy Duty 4452 manual suggests replacing the needle after an average of 16 hours of sewing.
The needle is too fine for the fabric, such as a size 70/10 on denim.
The presser foot doesn't suit the stitch. A zigzag stitch with a narrow zipper foot can drive the needle into the foot.
The upper tension is too tight.
You're pulling or pushing the fabric. Brother says to guide it lightly; Janome adds not pulling the fabric to the rear when you finish sewing.
The stitch dial was turned with the needle in the fabric, which Janome's HD3000 chart lists.

Safety note: after any needle strike, check the needle plate and presser foot for burrs. Brother lists a scratched needle plate opening, presser foot or bobbin case as a cause of breaking thread, and as a service item.

Upper Thread or Bobbin Thread Keeps Breaking

Upper thread: rethread (check the spool isn't caught on its pin), loosen the tension, check for knots, and use a needle large enough for the thread. Brother adds that a spool fitted incorrectly or thread jumping out of its channel will snap the thread.

Bobbin thread: reinsert the bobbin case, check the bobbin is wound evenly, and clean lint from the bobbin holder. Brother and Janome both list a scratched or damaged bobbin, and a bobbin not designed for the machine. Use the bobbin class your manual specifies.

Fabric Won't Feed or Moves Unevenly

Feed dogs down? If you've used the drop-feed setting for free-motion work or button sewing, raise it again. Janome lists this exact cause. Brother's manuals have you slide the feed dog lever back and turn the handwheel to bring the feed dogs up.
Presser foot up? The fabric won't feed and you'll get a thread nest.
Lint packed in the feed dogs? Brush it out.
Stitch length at zero? Set a normal length, around 2.5 mm.
Pulling the fabric? Let the feed dogs do the work, and just guide.

The Machine Won't Run

Check the power cord, the foot controller connection and the power switch.
Bobbin winder still engaged? Brother and Janome both list a bobbin winder shaft left in the winding position as a reason the machine won't sew. Push it back.
Thread caught in the hook race? Janome lists this too. Remove the needle plate and clear it.
On computerized machines, read the screen. An error message or code usually points to the problem, and the manual lists what each one means.

Fabric Caught in the Machine (Jam)

Brother's manual gives a careful procedure. In short:

Stop and turn off the machine.
Raise the needle out of the fabric by turning the handwheel, then remove the needle.
Remove the presser foot and holder, untangling any thread around it first.
Lift the fabric and cut the threads below it.
Remove the needle plate cover, cut out tangled threads, and remove the bobbin and bobbin case.
Clean the race with the brush.
Reassemble, then turn the handwheel by hand to check the feed dogs move freely and the needle falls in the center of the needle plate opening.

Brother's advice if the fabric won't come out: don't force it. Contact an authorized service center instead. And because the needle may have been damaged, put in a new one.

Noise and a Stiff Handwheel

A new high-pitched noise usually means lint in the feed dogs or bobbin case, per Brother, or a damaged needle. Clean first. Our guide to sewing machine oil and maintenance walks through cleaning, and explains why many modern machines must never be oiled at home.

A handwheel that's hard to turn, or a grinding or knocking noise, is different. Brother's instruction is to stop using the machine and contact an authorized dealer or service center. Don't add oil to a machine whose manual says it must not be oiled by the user.

When You Need Sewing Machine Repair

Some problems aren't DIY. Take the machine to an authorized service center when:

the handwheel is stiff or the machine grinds or knocks;
the needle hits the needle plate after you've reassembled everything correctly (Brother lists this as a possible malfunction);
skipped stitches and thread breaks continue after a new needle, rethreading and cleaning, which can point to timing;
the bobbin case, needle plate or presser foot is scratched or burred;
a computerized machine shows an error your manual can't resolve.

Before booking, check your warranty. Brother lists a 25-year limited warranty on many of its home machines, structured in tiers, and SINGER uses tiered warranties too. A covered repair at an authorized center is usually the best route, and opening the machine yourself may affect coverage, so read the terms first. If the machine is old and out of warranty, a local independent repair shop can quote a service visit.

Common Mistakes When Fixing a Sewing Machine

Adjusting tension before rethreading. Brother says to check threading first.
Rethreading the bobbin when the nest is caused by the top thread.
Threading with the presser foot down.
Keeping a needle "until it breaks." Replace it regularly.
Forcing jammed fabric out.
Oiling a noisy machine whose manual says never to oil it.
Using generic bobbins that don't match your machine's class.

FAQ

Why is my thread bunching up under the fabric?

A tangle of thread on the underside, often called a bird's nest, is almost always an upper threading problem, not a bobbin problem. Brother's CS7000X manual gives incorrect upper threading as the cause. Remove the tangle, raise the presser foot, and rethread the top thread from the spool through every guide and the take-up lever.

Why does my sewing machine keep skipping stitches?

The usual causes are a bent, dull or wrong needle, incorrect threading, or lint under the needle plate. Change to a new needle that suits the fabric, rethread the machine, and brush out the bobbin area. Janome's HD3000 manual also recommends its blue-tipped needle for stretch, very fine and synthetic fabrics that skip stitches.

Why does my sewing machine needle keep breaking?

Brother, SINGER and Janome manuals list the same causes: a needle that isn't fully inserted, a loose needle clamp screw, a bent needle, a needle too fine for the fabric, the wrong presser foot for the stitch, upper tension that's too tight, or pulling the fabric while sewing. Fix those, and let the feed dogs move the fabric.

How do I fix a jammed sewing machine?

Stop, turn the machine off, raise the needle by turning the handwheel, and remove the needle and presser foot. Lift the fabric, cut the threads under it, then remove the needle plate and bobbin case and clear the tangled thread. Brother advises contacting a service center rather than forcing the fabric out if it still won't come free.

When should a sewing machine go in for repair?

Take it to an authorized service center if the handwheel is hard to turn, the machine makes a new grinding or knocking noise, the needle hits the needle plate after you've reassembled it, or problems continue after rethreading, a new needle and cleaning. Those can point to timing or internal issues the manuals reserve for technicians.

Keep Learning

If you're new to the controls, our step-by-step guide to how to use a sewing machine covers threading and starting a seam, and the parts of a sewing machine diagram shows where the take-up lever, tension dial and feed dogs are. If your current machine is beyond saving, see our best sewing machines for beginners.