You just found out that your sewing machine has too tight/loose tension, now what? Well, I am here to help you fix this problem. If you’re not sure if the tension needs fixed, refer to this blog post. Depending on your sewing machine, there are a few ways to adjust your tension. You may even have an upper and bobbin tension. I will go over the basics of changing your sewing machine tension, though you should always check your sewing machine manual for clarification.
Checking Sewing Machine Tension
First, you need to make a small sample project fabric so you can work on the tension. The tension is directly related to the thickness and type of fabric you are using. Make your sample by getting a small piece of scrap fabric and fold it to the thickness of your project (if you’re quilting, you should add the batting to this sample) It doesn’t need to be huge, but it does need to be big enough to hold a few lines of stitches, since it can take a few tries to get the tension right.
Adjusting Upper Tension
To adjust the upper tension, you will need to use your thread tension wheel. Depending on your machine, it will be anywhere on the front of the machine, and will have numbers on it. The lower the number, the lower the tension. Start by sewing on your sample project and slowly raise/lower the tension, each time you change it, sew a few inches to see if you’ve landed on the correct tension. It can take a few inches for the tension to adjust properly and it can take a few tries before you get it right, don’t get discouraged if this takes a few minutes.
Adjusting Bobbin Tension
There are two ways to adjust the bobbin tension depending on where your sewing machine has a bobbin case or not
Adjusting a sewing machine with a bobbin case
Get a small screwdriver and turn the screw pictured on your bobbin case to adjust tension. Loosen the screw to lower the tension. Tighten the screw to tighten the tension.
Adjusting a sewing machine without a bobbin case
This is a bit more complicated. You will need to lift the bobbin holder out of your sewing machine and find the small screw on the front of the bobbin holder. Get a screw driver and turn it tighter/looser to adjust the tension.
