A sewing machine tension is an adjustable tool, and it can be knobs or dials that can control the tension or strength of the needle threads and bobbin threads separately.
It controls the tension of the threads for you to have and form strong and balanced stitches.
This sewing machine tension can be adjusted and can be tightened or loosened as you wish to achieve your desired stitch and overcast your pieces.
All sewing machines have dials and knobs that allow you to attune the thread tensions. Usually, it has numbers along with it.
The higher the number gets, the more tension pressure it brings up on the threads. For this reason, it feds lesser threads in the machine. The less pressure you generate, the more threads would be chowed by the machine.
This setting is only applicable to the thread spool at the top of your sewing machine. This can’t be done to the bobbin threads.
It would be better if you go to the repair shop in case you want your bobbin thread tension to be adjusted to see if there’s an underlying problem with the bobbin.
Good tension pressure is essential for sewing because it will determine and ensure the quality of your stitches and if it is strong and even.
The tension will also help the thread to flow easily and avoid being tangled up. If the tension is too tight, it tends to stop the thread from moving as you go along.
Before touching and turning your machine’s knobs and dials, you must know and identify which spool of thread should be adjusted.
Here’s how you should increase or decrease the tension of your threads:
By Adjusting the Top Tension
All the tension regulating knobs in every different machine is placed in different places. So first, you must know where it is.
The top tension regulating knob is the dial which has numbers along with it.
If your top tension pressure is too loose, rotate the knob in a manner that the numbers will increase.
Adjust it and test in on a piece of scrap fabric to see if you have already achieved your desired form of the stitch.
Continue adjusting it if you think both sides of what you are sewing is still uneven.
If your top tension is too tight, rotate the knob in a manner that the numbers are decreasing. Adjust it and test it in a piece of fabric to check if you have already achieved the look of the stitch you are going for.
Continue decreasing the number of the dial if it still looks imbalanced and too tight.
If you think there is nothing wrong with the top tension, but the stitches look uneven, you may want to look at your bobbin thread.
Check if there is a problem with the tension of your bobbin thread.
By Adjusting the Bobbin Tension
If possible, do not touch and adjust your bobbin tension. Always try to fix your top tension first.
You can adjust your bobbin thread tension if you are using a lighter or heavier thread than the usual ones.
Adjusting your bobbin tension may look as easy as it may seem. If you use heavier threads, rotate the dial to a higher number because it needs more pressure.
In case you are using lighter threads, rotate the dial to a lower number.
However, some machines tend to loosen its grip if you make too many adjustments with the screw of the bobbin thread.
You may want to determine if your bobbin is compatible for your machine. The bobbin case may also influence the tension of the thread if it has fallen and damaged.
Some people are afraid to adjust and regulate their bobbin’s tension, so they just choose to go to repair shops to have it adjusted.
Some Factors That Affect the Tension of Your Thread:
- Incorrect insertion of the bobbin
- Incompatible threads
- Filthy sewing machine (You may want to clean it and add a drop of oil to the hook)
- Broken machine parts
- Damaged Bobbin case
- Bent needles and bobbins
- Incorrect size of the needle
- Surfaces of fabrics
If you are hesitant to touch the knobs and dials in your machine, you may refer to the manual of your machine, or it is suggested, and it would be really a great help if you have it checked and repaired with the assistance of an expert in the repair shop.
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