If you’ve ever owned a sewing machine, then chances are you’ve experienced this common problem. If the machine is stuck in reverse a lot of the time, it might be because the pressure foot is not in the correct position.
Since the pressure foot comes in various sizes, which one do you need? Here are some quick tips to help you sew with ease.
Oftentimes, a sewing machine in reverse is caused by a thread jam.
To fix this, you have to make sure there’s no thread stuck in the needle plate or bobbin area. Another possible cause could be that your needle is bent.
You can check by moving the needle left and right. If it’s bent, it won’t move, and you’ll need to replace it.
If it’s not bent, you can try to put the needle in the up position and turn on the sewing machine. It might free the thread, or it could just straighten out the needle.
Machine is stuck on reverse
If your sewing machine is stuck on reverse, don’t panic; it’s a common problem that can usually be solved easily. All you need is a screwdriver, a little time, and the willingness to get your hands dirty.
It’s no fun when your sewing machine gets jammed.
The good news is that most jams are easy to fix. If your sewing machine is jammed in reverse, however, it can be very frustrating.
There’s little worse than having to start over on a project because your sewing machine is stuck in reverse. Read on for some tips on what to do if your sewing machine is jammed in reverse.
Bobbin not threaded correctly
There are several reasons why your sewing machine is stuck in reverse, so first, you need to figure out if the problem is with your sewing machine or with your sewing project.
Once you’ve determined the problem is with your machine, you should check your bobbin cover and bobbin for the thread. If your bobbin is not threaded correctly, this can cause your machine to be stuck in reverse.
When you thread the bobbin, you need to make sure that the thread is coming out of the same side that the tension spring is attached.
If the thread is coming out of the opposite side, this will cause the machine to be stuck in reverse.
The most common cause of a sewing machine that won’t move forward is a bobbin that is not threaded correctly.
The bobbin is the small spool that feeds your thread into the machine. If the bobbin is not threaded correctly, the machine will eventually jam.
Make sure the bobbin matches your needle (in size, type, and color).
Then, thread the bobbin and wind thread through the bobbin. While doing so, make sure the thread feeds evenly through the thread guide and the needle hole.
To finish, tie a knot in the thread and cut it close to the knot.
Your Feed Dogs Are Jammed
If your sewing machine seems to be jammed on reverse, the problem could be with the feed dogs.
The feed dogs are what move the fabric through the machine, and they should lock into place when you switch it into reverse, but if they’re faulty, they may not do so.
If this is the case, the feed dogs will need to be repaired before you can go back to sewing.
The thread is twisted into an untwistable knot because the needle thread is caught between the feed dogs and the fabric.
This is usually caused by too much tension on the thread and the feed dogs getting caught on the fabric.
The feed dogs are located right under the needle area and are the fabric-grabbing piece located at the front of the machine on the left and right side of the needle.
Most home sewing machines have four feed dogs. It is important to carefully kill the power to your sewing machine when attempting to fix the issue.
Your Backstitch Lever Is Jammed
The last thing you want to do after spending all day on a backstitch is jamming your machine’s lever. When your machine’s backstitch lever sticks, it can be hard to see if the problem is the lever or the needle.
The key is to lift the lever to the highest point and then slowly lower it. If the lever sticks when you lower it, your machine’s needle is the problem and you’ll need to change it.
If the lever moves smoothly, the problem is with the lever. Either a gear on the shaft is broken and needs to be replaced or the shaft itself is damaged.
You’ve Selected a Buttonhole Stitch
Have you ever tried to sew a buttonhole? It is a process that involves more than just finding the right buttonhole foot, threading the machine, and sewing the buttonhole.
If you have ever sewn a buttonhole stitch, then you know how finicky it can be.
Sewing machines today are more advanced than they were a few years ago, but the buttonhole stitch can really frustrate you if you don’t know what to do.
The most common problem is that the machine gets stuck in reverse when trying to sew the buttonhole stitch.
Your Computer Software Is Malfunctioning
Computerized sewing machines have been around for decades, and they have been a huge boon to the sewing industry, letting those who might not be able to afford a personal sewing machine easily give it a try.
While computerization has some advantages, including being able to modify sewing patterns, there are some drawbacks as well, including the software being prone to malfunctions.
Re-attach the spring
If you have accidentally sewn something in reverse on your sewing machine, you can easily fix it by reattaching the spring.
While you don’t need to understand all the inner workings of a sewing machine, you do want to be able to reattach the spring when the sewing machine stuck in reverse.
In Conclusion
Few sewing machine malfunctions are more frustrating than when your machine is stuck in reverse. Whether you’re sewing a garment in a fabric you don’t want to tear, or you’re embroidering with thread that is too thick to go through the needle, you need to quickly fix the problem before you lose all your hard work.
But how do you do it? Knowing how to take apart and put back together your sewing machine can be the difference between a ruined project and a successful one.
