Troubleshooting my machine and frequent needle breaks. Everyone, I was making my dog a new bed this morning using fairly heavy upholstery fabric. When I got to the first 'cross seam', my needle broke. Yeah, I was expecting that, as I decided to 'finish off' the needle already in the machine. Went and grabbed one of the heavier denim needles and went back to work. Sewed about six inches and WHACK! I broke another. mumblegrumblesigh.... I put in another denim needle and traveled about 4 inches when .... you guessed it - broke another. At that point, I walked away for a minute. I have a Bernina 185ME, which is a real work horse. I had the pressure fairly tight on the foot, as the fabric kept wanting to pull away on me. I did not notice it pulling when it broke. I am sewing a regular straight stitch, using a regular (vs embroidery or bobbin work) bobbin casing. Plain old 40wt polyester thread. Any ideas? What might I have done?

I don't have a walking foot, although I won't deny I would love one. The fabric was pulling so hard that I told my husband I would be arrested for public drunkenness if I was seen staggering like that. The presser foot had very light tension and I tightened it enough to reduce the 'pull' without preventing movement through the needle. I don't believe it was too tight.

I opened the machine and MAN was it messy! That fabric, just in 65-70 inches had dumped a lot of junk in my bobbin area. YUCK! (would it be worth sewing with a piece of 'clean' cotton or something closest to the ....oh good grief, I forget what you call them....the bulldogs, of course(!)?

I powered the machine down, while I cleaned it out and decided to try again. I sewed five inches....10....15!....I think it's gonna make it!...down the remainder of that side and 1 and a half more. Wow....I think we've licked it! Don't jinx it, Rebecca, just keep moving. Took the top piece and started sewing...side one.....two....THREE! It did it!!

I'm thinking the reboot did the trick. While it was pretty nasty in there, there weren't any big balls or anything - just a layer of fuzz everwhere. When I ran over another seam, I slowed down and heard another WHACK but...the needle didn't break. When I was on the top piece, and back to the original troublemaking seam, I crawwwwwwled over that seam. I didn't hear the whack, and everything worked as it should. Man, that's some MEAN fabric! But, now have just the one side open to insert the mattress and batting and I will hand sew that side.

Well done, ladies! Thanks for your input. I was watching dollar signs fly around my head thinking about having to take it in for repair.

I love this site!!!

Rebecca

What about an upholstery needle?

1 comment

by maobfh 29 Jan 2012

Are there upholstery needles for sewing machines? I thought the denim needle was as strong as I could get. It would be awesome if such a thing existed!

Your thread tension my be too tight. It may be the reason the needles are breaking, as the thread "pulls" a bit too much it will bend the needle and "pop"...it breaks. I have had the same thing happen on my old Elna. Just play with the tension. It should make it better.

Leave it as it is. LOL LOL. hugs Marie

Several times I have had broken needles for apparently no reason...then I saw the THREAD was catching! That little bit of thread can break a needle! That is probably not your problem, but sew slowly & see if that's happening. Seems it's breaking even when it's not going over a seam? Also, turn it off & back on to let it recalabrate as when you hit that first seam, it may have knocked it off a little bit. Hope you can solve the problem! Let us know what it was.

Hmmm, just a guess for me, but will a walking foot help or to loosen the tension on the foot? I hope one of us can come up with the right answer for you.

I was almost concerned about posting this, after the discussion started by teddybear, then decided I didn't mind someone knowing I had a huge malamute rottweiler cross who loves me dearly and is well trained and a really smart dog. Who has 2.5 inch canines. Kekekekeke (don't come sneaking in my door uninvited!)