Argh sewing machine gone crazy - help!

[rosali]

Hmm I'm not sure if I've put this in the right place but I'm working on a quilted advent calendar... been using a zigzag stitch and my machine has gone weird...

The top thread keeps coming out of the eye of the needle so I'll suddenlt realise I've been going along just making holes but no stitches AND the stitches keep changing to straight when though they're supposed to be zigzag or missing altogether

I've unthreaded and rethreaded the machine to no avail. The fabric I'm sewing through it slightly quilted but not the thickest thing I've ever stitched through

[Pheather]

Have you tried adjusting the tension?  That might cause the upper thread to come out.

[pokeedog]

I second the tension may need to be adjusted.

[Mrsblocko]

If adjusting the tension doesnt fix your problem, try a new bobbin.  Sometimes the stitching on my machine gets all wonky if I've wound the bobbin incorrectly, or just because it feels like it.  For whatever reason if I start fresh and rewind a new bobbin.  9 times out of 10 the problem gets resolved.

I hope your machine gets better!  I hate it when they go on the fritz like that.

[Jeannette]

Are you sure the top thread isn't breaking? Are you using a new spool of thread? Sometimes the tension on the outside of a spool of thread is tighter than the inside. So, sometimes it helps to throw the spool off of the machine into a bowl or something so that it has a longer "unwind" period. This worked recently for me when my thread kept breaking.

Good luck!!!
Jeannette

[rosali]

Thank you so much for your help ladies

What I had forgotten was that one of the layers I was sewing through had felt decoration on. Self-adhesive felt.
D'oh, the sticky side was obviously driving my poor machine crazy!

*Somewhat embarassed rosali*