About to toss my machine out the window!

[diosaperdida]

Help me before I throw my machine out the window!
I have had a Brother CS6000 since about January and have made exactly one thing with it..it isn't for lack of trying. My biggest frustration is that the needle come unthreaded every 5 minutes while sewing, and I have to stop and rethread.
I was having trouble with the fabric jamming up in the feed and the bobbin thread becoming a big tangle..but my Mom siggested I guide my fabric a bit more by pulling and that seems to be making it better...but still, I cant get anything done when the needle needs threaded every few minutes!

Today I had a new problem surface while using the foot to sew over the edge in a zigzag...instead of stitching it wrapped itself around the foot..I am thinking that it's doing that because I switched to high speed. I didnt have that problem when I was using the middle speed.

Anyone that can help me, I will be so grateful. I really WANT to sew!

And I dont know why I didnt think to ask on here long ago...

[Miss Mordoria]

Is the thread breaking causing it to become unthreaded or are your stitches coming out? If stitches are being made, where is the fabric puckering? The top or bottom?  What have you tried tension-wise?

[Marmish]

It sounds simple, but try different thread.  I also found this really good explanation of adjusting the tension http://www.sewalot.com/tension_adjustments.htm.

[diosaperdida]

Nope..the thread isnt breaking..just slipping out of the eye. And it doesn't make any stitches at all..because there isnt any thread in the needle..when the thread does stay put, it stitches normally..no puckering at all.
As for thread..I have used a variety of threads and the problem still exists.
I also think it's tension related but adjusting it isn't helping.
I dont know what tension-wise is.

Marmish..I will check out that link immediately.
Thanks to both!

[Miss Mordoria]

Are you holding the tails of the thread down  before you start sewing?  I know if I don't hold mine down the thread goes flying out of the needle.  I usually just hold it down for about the first 5 stitches then its good to go.

[diosaperdida]

I'm starting to think it's that simple..to answer your question...no..I also was not leaving a tail of at least 6 inches ..I am seriously embarressed     ...but at least asking led me to the sew a lot site.
Thanks so much guys..maybe I have it figured out finally.

[paroper]

WHen we finish a seam the needle can be located anywhere in the roation of the needle.  Some machines "now adays" continue the rotation until the needle is in its highest position, but not many machines do this.  When we started sewing in the 60's (yeah, I know, the DARK ages), the first thing we were taught was to advance our needle each time we finished a seam until the thread take up lever is just past the highest point.  You advance it with the hand wheel.  Then, when you start a new seam, if you will start with the hand wheel, it will also help prevent some typical problems at the needle level. Some people, in lieu of this, hold the top and bottom thread to the back and left of the machine neelde...both work fine but over the years I've just gotten in the habit of advancing the machine.  It is really amazing how much thread can be taken up by the take up lever when you first begin to sew.  

At the same time, it sounds like you may have an additional problem.  It is typical, but not so much common with someone who is sewing.  When you thread the machine, raise the presser foot.  In the line of threading the top thread you have at least 2 disks (some actually have 2 sets) that control the tension on the top thread.  When the presser foot is up, these are open and as you thread your machine, the natural pull of threading places the threads in the tension disks.  If you need to put the presser foot down to thread the actual needle that is not a problem IF you do it at the end of your threading.  Typically, when you are sewing and you finish a project you raise the presser foot so that when you thread the machine for the next project you don't have the problem of rethreading with the disks closed.  However, since you've been starting your sewing and the thread has been pulling out of the needle, you are probably not raising the presser foot to rethread (which is what happens in machine embroidery...and is a more typical problem with those users than those who are sewing.)  

One other thing that can complicate the situation is if your needle happens to be in backwards.  On most of our machines the scarf (the long tunnel in the back of the needle) goes to the back of the machine and it is threaded from the front to the back. There are a few exceptions, left to right, right to left.  You may want to make sure that the needle is inserted correctly for your mahine (check your manual).  The scarf is located on the same side as the flat side of the needle.  I once had an old Kenmore that threaded from right to left.  That particular machine was made for Kenmore by a commercial machine company.  All the Singers I have ever used, as well as Pfaff, and Bernina have had the thread go from front to back.  I understand that the position of the needle has a direct relationship to the position of the bobbin.  If your bobbin goes into the end of the machine I would suspect that the needle would be much different.

[ibelongtoneil]

Ok I have a brother xl-3010 and mine did the exat same thing.  I figured out  the reason mine was doing it was I was threading the needle the same way I was setting it up to wind the bobbin.  Excuse my lack of sewing knowledge as I try to explain this.... There is a litte silver knob that you sort of wrap the thread around when you're going to wind the bobbin, and it doesn't tell you not to put it through there when you're threading the needle.  you have to pull the thread straight down and go straight to step 3- mine has numbers on it to guide you through both processes.  Sorry I don't know what everything is called, I've only made skirt linings before so I'm really not the best person to help you out.

[diosaperdida]

Ibelongtoneil..I know exactly what you are talking about and had that problem before. But now I am extra sure that I dont do that.

paroper...I am certain that I raise the presser foot before threading. I actually remeber the advancing of the needle by turning the handwheel..I am almost 39 and was taught that in sewing class when I was 8..so I guess they had the same kinds of machines then.

Now I may indeed be have the needle in backwards and will double check...I get flustered both with threading and changing the needle as the machine those operations are set up for a right hander and I am a lefty.

Thanks again.

[McJulie-O]

So, does it work now?