The Sewing Place

Machine Talk => Overlockers & Coverstitchers => Topic started by: pip on November 07, 2019, 13:03:48 PM

Title: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: pip on November 07, 2019, 13:03:48 PM
Quite a few people advised me to spend some time learning how to thread it, but I said I'd wait till I actually needed to, as it had come already threaded. Well, today (or rather tomorrow) that time has come. I was using it on a little windcheater to make a little alteration, when the chain stopped coming through. Stupidly, instead of immediately stopping, I kept on, hoping it'd fix itself (silly), and then even tried pulling it through. On closer observation I found that there was a huge knotty mess jammed in the feed thing. Tried cutting through and gently pulling, then remembered something about removing the feed plate. Googled how to remove it, and remove the presser foot, got a torch and was able to get it out. No damage done hopefully. But the upper and lower loop are now unthreaded, so tomorrow is the day I get to have my first practise! I've had enough of it for tonight!
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: coffeeandcake on November 07, 2019, 13:10:22 PM
Stay relaxed while you do it, follow the instructions slowly and step-by-step and you'll be fine. 
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: Ploshkin on November 07, 2019, 13:16:44 PM
If I ever end up with a tangle I always cut off the 4 threads close to the needles and loopers so that there is no danger of bending or breaking anything when I'm removing the offending mess.
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: pip on November 08, 2019, 10:26:04 AM
Well I'm sad to report that I haven't got it back to normal yet. On the plus side, I was able to do the threading and to get to the awkward place at the back. But when I started it up it immediately started tangling again. I'm retracing the steps to see where I went wrong. Hope to have better news soon :o
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: Greybird on November 08, 2019, 10:33:07 AM
Don't forget to put the foot back down after your de-tangling. It won't run properly with it up.
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: Ploshkin on November 08, 2019, 12:02:37 PM
Double check that there are no bits of stray thread in the workings.  When you've threaded it don't run it immediately but turn the handwheel slowly several times while hanging on to the threads at the back and watch what it's doing first.  If it appears to be chaining ok then have a go with the foot pedal (slowly) still hanging on to the thread ends.
My machine isn't keen on chaining without a piece of fabric under the foot so I always use a piece.
The plus side of this is that if you have to try several times before it stops sulking you will be a whizz at threading  :)
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: jintie on November 08, 2019, 12:40:32 PM
Check that you are threading it in the correct order.
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: Iminei on November 08, 2019, 12:43:45 PM
The plus side of this is that if you have to try several times before it stops sulking you will be a whizz at threading

That worked with Elvis as well, when it kept running out of bobbin thread during a stitch, I got adept at stopping, changing the bobbin, restarting the the same place ... If you have to do something repeatedly you soon get used to doing it.
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: pip on November 08, 2019, 13:40:12 PM
Double check that there are no bits of stray thread in the workings.  When you've threaded it don't run it immediately but turn the handwheel slowly several times while hanging on to the threads at the back and watch what it's doing first.  If it appears to be chaining ok then have a go with the foot pedal (slowly) still hanging on to the thread ends.
My machine isn't keen on chaining without a piece of fabric under the foot so I always use a piece.
The plus side of this is that if you have to try several times before it stops sulking you will be a whizz at threading  :)

That's very helpful thanks, I'll do that. Yes that is a plus, all this struggling, tho time consuming, is demystifying the process.
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: pip on November 08, 2019, 13:41:47 PM
The plus side of this is that if you have to try several times before it stops sulking you will be a whizz at threading

That worked with Elvis as well, when it kept running out of bobbin thread during a stitch, I got adept at stopping, changing the bobbin, restarting the the same place ... If you have to do something repeatedly you soon get used to doing it.

That's true
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: pip on November 08, 2019, 13:46:34 PM
What really helped is that I used dental flosser loop device to get the thread through the openings. I wasn't very adept at using the tweezers but the loop worked very well (not for threading the needles though but that's not the main thing). I saw it on a youtube video when I was studying the process before my machine even arrived, and sent for a packet of them on ebay as we don't have them locally in the shops. They are brillliant :loveit:                                               
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: Elnnina on November 08, 2019, 14:34:30 PM
That was helpful for you pip, on some overlockers there is a little lever tucked away near where the lower blade is and if you press on this it beings forward that section of the looper for easier threading.

For those wondering about these Floss Threaders do go and ask your Dentist if they can get some for you - mine did - and mine are G.U.M. Floss Threaders and come five to a pack - mine are turquoise which makes it handy to see amongst the metal workings.  Cannot recall how much they were as I have had them for a few years.  Another gadget belonging to the dentistry department is a dental mirror - again from the dentist and this time I was given them free  - plastic ones - they use these when out on house calls.  These dental mirrors certainly enable you to get into small places to see what is going on.

Now pip, I hope your machine is going to work for you now, just take it nice and easy and enjoy getting to know your machine.
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: pip on November 08, 2019, 14:52:07 PM
Thanks Elnnina. The dental mirrors would be handy. The flossers I got on ebay were only about $4 for about 10. Now I have the machine all threaded for the 2nd time (getting easier) but will not turn it on till morning as I wouldn't like to go to bed on a disappointing note! I guess most of you are just getting up now, but I will say goodnite :)
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: pip on November 10, 2019, 02:04:43 AM
Happy to report I got it done. First time I carefully started up something was wrong again but I managed to see what the problem was, one little hole not threaded, and after fixing that it sewed perfectly. It was a good learning experience! Seems quite easy now, as many of you said.
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: Ploshkin on November 10, 2019, 07:33:43 AM
Well done @pip it was frustrating but a useful learning process I'm sure.
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: Nevis5 on November 10, 2019, 08:48:38 AM
Yay, well done @pip  for persevering and conquering it!  Enjoy your overlocker xx
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: rubywishes on November 11, 2019, 03:17:00 AM
@pip ...well done pip! It is a bit daunting isn't it but just think what a dab hand you are now at problem solving with it!

I nearly damaged my first overlocker within a few weeks of having it because I didn't read the instruction book properly: I ran it without any oil :o (manual said to "oil before first use"), and I also tried like a titan to pull the threads out backwards  :o the way you do when you finish sewing on your sewing machine and couldn't understand why the threads wouldn't release!...that poor overlocker!
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: So Chic on November 11, 2019, 13:08:01 PM
@rubywishes
I was told never to pull the threads out backwards on my sewing machine as this can cause damage to the machine.
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: rubywishes on November 11, 2019, 20:23:11 PM
@rubywishes
I was told never to pull the threads out backwards on my sewing machine as this can cause damage to the machine.
No, I don't mean through the machine backwards, I meant from the needle...you know when you have finished sewing and you draw your work and threads out behind the machine before snipping the threads.
Title: Re: Nearly ruined my lovely new overlocker today
Post by: pip on November 13, 2019, 10:59:53 AM
Ruby I'm glad I'm not the only one! It just takes a bit of adjustment to using an overlocker after a regular sewing machine, re pulling the thread at the end of doing a seam. Also I found I couldn't actually see what the needle and blade were doing and sometimes cut too much off. Consequently the little shorts I made for my 5 yr old grandson had to go to his 2 yr old sister instead!