The Sewing Place
Machine Talk => Sewing Machines => Topic started by: annieeg on April 24, 2021, 12:35:12 PM
-
I noticed this morning that the stitch plate seems to have moved fractionally so that the needle is not aligned and is hitting the plate when stitching. I replaced the needle yesterday and have been using the machine since then yesterday with no problem, this only happened this morning.
Any ideas what the cause could be?
TIA
-
Sorry to say it is much more likely that the needle has moved and not the plate a photo might help.
if it is the needle holder that has moved it’s not a big job but probably require a trip to your dealer. I assume you have turned the machine off and back on again.
-
Is the needle bent? To try a new needle would be my first suggestion.
-
Have you been pressing any buttons? If you press the + or - for stitch width when you are using straight stitch it will move the needle position. It will return when you switch off.
-
Related question...is my Brother machine the only make where you can't manually adjust the needle position? You select a stitch and the machine positions the needle. To get a scant 1/4" I have to adjust the fabric position.
It's not just me....I showed @Stitches @Iminei and the lady in the Sewing Studio where I bought the machine.
I'm not bothered by it but just curious....
-
Thanks to everybody for your suggestions.
I'll sit down at the machine tomorrow and see if it's any better , after changing the needle.
-
@Lowena - I thought that about my Brother too, but when the needle is in the default straight stitch position (in my case, to the left) it's then possible to use the stitch width button to move it in increments rightwards. I only found that out by accident when I hit the wrong button when trying to change stitch length!
-
It was several years before I discovered that my Pfaff did that.
-
I got out my manual. It confirmed ( and I tried anyway ) that when using a straight stitch, as when piecing, you cannot alter the stitch width of the needle position.It's locked
With foot J ( which they specify for piecing ) you select stitch 30 and position your fabric to the edge of the inner plastic bit ( technical, moi?? ) to get 1/4" seam :thinking:
-
I got out my manual. It confirmed ( and I tried anyway ) that when using a straight stitch, as when piecing, you cannot alter the stitch width of the needle position.It's locked
You are not trying to alter the stitch width, only the position of where the straight stitch goes.
Of course you have to use a foot and needle plate suitable for zig-zag, even though the stitch width is set to 0. Either of those things might lock the needle position to the centre.
-
Brenda I have tried all the stitch positions on @Lowena 's machine and the needle does'tmove when in straight stitch it only moves when you change the stitch select button
-
@Stitches In that case @Lowena is probably right in that her machine is the only one - or at least very unusual - to not have that function. How would it cope with making piping where you need to be able to move the needle very close to the edge of the piping/zipper foot?
-
@BrendaP it doesn't like piping :D
I gave @Stitches free rein as she is a professional. I only resorted to my manual as a last resort....in case we'd missed something. We hadn't!
I'm not too bothered as I can get round the difficulties...although a thin flange is a bit like piping . I just wondered if the Brother machines were the only ones like this....I have a Brother Innovis 1800q.
-
Most of the Pfaffs have lots of needle positions, up to I think, 37. I shunt around on a daily basis.
-
I found an image of my machine's control panel. The stitch labelled 00 is the one you have to use if you're using the quilting foot because it only has a single small round hole in it. The stitch labelled 01 is the one the machine defaults to when you switch it on. In that stitch, and only that stitch, the buttons in the red box are the ones that permit fine adjustment of the needle position (up to 14 in this model). Does this help?
-
Thank you.
-
@Lowena .... Im now looking forward to the lil stitch sampler showing all the different positions stitched from a drawn line you will be producing! :devil:
-
Done it, checked it, binned it.
I only use....foot J, stitch 30 , fabric edge lined up with plastic inset.
Seems to work for 1/4" seam
-
Just to say that I have changed the needle and the problem seems to be resolved. I did several test runs of different stitches without a problem :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
-
@annieeg just check your needle plate hasn't suffered any damage as a result of the needle hitting it. Even the slightest scratch around the needle hole (if that the right term) could cause problems with thread braking.
-
@annieeg just check your needle plate hasn't suffered any damage as a result of the needle hitting it. Even the slightest scratch around the needle hole (if that the right term) could cause problems with thread braking.
On my old machine I had to replace the entire needle plate because of exactly that problem - it just shredded thread!
-
@sewmuchmore @HenriettaMaria
Thanks again for your input. As I say I've used the machine for a few hours since changing the needle and have had no breakage problems.
I'm thinking of putting this machine up for sale at a competitive price to reflect the thread cutter not functioning and the potential need to replace the stitch plate and am mulling it over. I don't quilt much and really don't need a larger machine. :thinking: :thinking:
-
@annieeg did you try putting a new blade in the tread cutter.?
-
@annieeg did you try putting a new blade in the tread cutter.?
No, I didn't - I'm too intimidated by the thought of it :scream:
-
No, I didn't - I'm too intimidated by the thought of it :scream:
It is literally a 1 minute job and you will be surprised what a difference a new blade will make. Or even just clean it. Watch this (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVfPKN0sScI) and you will see how easy it is.