Thread Nests (part 1)

You're stitching along fine. You switch to a new color thread. The machine sounds a bit different, maybe starts to strain. You stop and look under the hoop, only to find a huge nest of thread. Aack! What do you do now?

If the thread nest is really bad, you may not be able to easily remove the hoop from the machine. Use a sharp knife to cut the thread under the hoop, gently tugging at the hoop to pull it free from the machine. Remove the throat plate. (You may need to clip the threads above the plate to free it.) Remove the bobbin case, clipping any thread that still hangs onto the bobbin case. Use tweezers to grab any bits of thread. You may need to gently turn the fly wheel to loosen the thread nest. Stay calm. Bit by bit, you will be able to remove the thread. Use your lint brush to thoroughly clean the area. If your machine uses oil in the bobbin trace, give it a drop now.

If the thread nest caused the machine to stop and gave you a "blocked motor" error message, change the needle. You have probably already bent or dulled the old one.

If you have not damaged the fabric or pulled it from the hoop, you may be able to save your design. Clip the tangled threads from the underside. Remove the top threads in the area of the nest. This is tedious, but if you want to save the design, it can usually be saved. You can try using a disposable razor to shave the threads from the underside, taking great care not to cut the fabric. Use a bit of sticky tape to remove lint or bits of thread from the front of the fabric.

Once the embroidery is cleaned up, re-thread the machine, reinsert the bobbin and attach the hoop. If the stabilizer is damaged, slide an extra sheet of stabilizer under the hoop. Return to the beginning of the thread nest stitches (usually the start of a new color) and continue stitching.

Next issue: preventing thread nests

from Mary Jane Allen of Perfect Little Stitches

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