why is my sewing machine needle not moving

There are several reasons why your sewing machine needle is not moving.

Make sure the machine and the foot pedal are securely plugged in.

The bobbin case is not installed correctly in the machine. Remove the bobbin and bobbin case from the machine and install them again following the instructions in the manual.

The needle size of your machine is different from that of your thread or fabric. Check your manual for recommended needle sizes, then change them accordingly.

The tension on your machine may be too tight or too loose. Adjust it following the instructions given in your manual.

Why does the needle get stuck?

Sometimes, you also have to move the reel support from front to back, ending up positioning it on the left. If it is not winding, there is probably a piece of thread or dust accumulated in the bobbin case. This is easy to fix on your own.

If you do not use your sewing machine for a long time (e.g., several months), it can happen that the needle gets stuck in the fabric because it has been left unused for a long time and some oil has dried up. In this case, you should oil it before using it again.

Why does the needle break?

The most common cause of needle breakage in sewing machines is that they are overloaded with work or do not have enough lubrication. The first step is to lubricate your sewing machine properly and then use it according to instructions. If you still have problems with broken needles, try changing them for a better quality set or use a different brand of needles that are compatible with your machine brand and model. The second thing you can do if none of these works for you is to replace your machine with one that has a better quality motor and more power than the one currently used by you.

How do you know if a needle is blunt?

If when you pass your fingers along it you feel roughness, your needle is blunt. If the needle doesn’t poke when you put your finger under it, it’s flat. Problems often caused by a worn needle: The thread is fraying or breaking as you sew; the stitching looks uneven and sloppy; the stitches are too small and close together; your threads are coming undone at the start of every seam (as opposed to just one end); there are holes in your fabric.

Why is the flywheel of my sewing machine stuck?

The cause may be your belt which is not tight enough. On the engine of your machine, you will find a screw which is used to adjust it: loosen it by pulling your engine down. Or probably by a blocking of the hook.

1st cause: displaced bobbin case.

2nd cause: broken clutch spring (the spring that holds the hook).

3rd cause: is a dirty or rusty hook.

Why does the needle not pick up the bobbin thread?

The needle may be damaged or incorrectly inserted. Install a new needle; the flat edge of the needle should be at the back.

The thread may be incorrectly put in the needle. Put the thread in the eye from the front to the back.

The thread is too thin, causing it to break easily when sewing. Use thicker threads for sewing.

Found related questions

Why does my Singer sewing machine not pick up the bobbin thread?

The needle may be damaged or incorrectly inserted. Install a new needle; the flat edge of the needle should be at the back.

The bobbin may be incorrectly put on the bobbin winder or there is no thread on the bobbin. Put the thread in the eye from the front to the back, then wind it around 180 degrees and wind again; use two hands to hold down both sides of the bobbin winding shaft, rotate it until it stops, then lift up one hand; repeat this action until you hear a “click” sound.

The thread may be tangled inside the machine. Push down on the presser foot lifter lever and turn off power before removing any tangled threads inside your machine.

How to disengage a sewing machine?

In the center of the flywheel of the sewing machine is a clutch system: this allows the bobbin to be made. To disengage, press down on the foot pedal, and then turn off the needle. Then release your foot from the pedal so that it does not fall back down by itself.

For some machines, it can be done by simply turning off the needle by hand and turning off the power supply switch. Other machines may require more complicated procedures, such as removing certain parts first before doing anything else.

Why does the sewing machine not move forward?

Your sewing machine might have jammed on a piece of lint or thread. Remove the fabric from under the presser foot and check for obstructions in the presser foot area of the machine bed. If there are none, then remove the needle and clean it with a lint brush or pipe cleaner.

If there is no lint or thread in this area, then check other areas of your machine such as inside the bobbin case or along any seam lines on the top of your fabric where debris could collect over time and cause problems.

Why does my sewing machine not sew?

The upper thread was not threaded correctly in the machine. Review the steps for threading the upper thread and thread the machine again.

Make sure that the needle bar thread guide is behind the needle bar.

Make sure that your sewing machine has been threaded correctly and that you have inserted a bobbin with a full bobbin winder.

If your machine is equipped with an automatic tension control dial (see illustration below), turn it to its highest setting and try sewing again. If this does not correct your problem, turn the dial down one notch at a time until you find a setting where your stitches will form properly.

When using multiple layers of fabric, make sure that only one layer feeds through at a time. Do not attempt to feed multiple layers through at once because they will pile up on top of each other, causing jamming or tearing of threads from excessive friction against each other and/or fabric layers.

What are the best sewing machine needles?

The best-known brands of needles in France: Schmetz (clearly the best on the market, I only use this brand to preserve my sewing machines), Prym, Bohin, Organ, YKK… Attention: the needles on the market or those whose box does not bear a mark.

Which needle to sew thick fabric?

A 90 needle is 90/100 millimeters. They are sold in sets or by size. Bottom line: the higher the number, the more the needle adapts to thicker fabrics. To sew a thick fabric like jeans, it is better to choose a thick needle (100 for example) that will not break.

How to center the needle?

Switch off the sewing machine. to the left and turn on the sewing machine. when the sewing machine starts. The initial needle position moves to the center.

If you need to center the needle before you start sewing, switch off your machine, move it back to the center, then turn it on again. This is usually done for topstitching or when sewing with a twin needle (two needles set in one clamp).

How to raise the needle of a sewing machine?

With the flat side of the needle facing the back of the machine, insert the needle until it touches the stopper. 

While holding the needle with your left hand, use the screwdriver to tighten the needle clamp screw by turning it clockwise. 

Once you’ve tightened it sufficiently, push down on both sides of the clamp to make sure that it’s secure.

How to repair the tension of a sewing machine?

Attention, when your sewing machine has two screws, it is the slotted screw. To increase the tension, just tighten the screw clockwise and vice versa, to decrease the tension you will need to loosen the screw counterclockwise.

What is the hook of a sewing machine?

The hook is a mechanical part of the sewing machine.

In particular, it is in perfect synchronization with the needle bar. Indeed, it is he who is responsible for catching the thread of the needle (or higher) and turning it around the bobbin in order to make the knot. It must therefore come at the right time.

The role of this part is essential in sewing. If you need to change your sewing machine, you must know how to replace him properly.

Why does the thread make loops?

Loops form on the surface of the fabric when the upper thread tension is too tight and the bobbin tension is too tight. The upper thread is pulled tight enough to make it curl around the bobbin threads.

Loops can also form when the upper thread tension is set too loose and there is not enough tension on the bobbin thread. This causes some of the bobbin thread to be pulled through at a slight angle, which causes loops.

The solution for both situations is to adjust your tension settings until you get rid of those pesky loops!

Why is the bobbin jammed?

This is caused by a problem with the upper thread threading. Remove the tangled thread, and then thread the upper thread correctly.

How to open a sewing machine?

If the control lever is fully engaged on the sewing function, you will have to open your machine. There is only in the case of an old Singer-type sewing machine where the steering wheel remains relatively accessible: it will be enough to unscrew the nut in the hollow of the steering wheel.