What is jamming in sewing?

Answer 1

When someone experiences a "jam" while sewing, this usually refers to their sewing machine "jamming" or locking up.

A sewing machine has many moving parts. These can jam when fabric or thread gets caught in the parts, preventing them from moving. When the machine jams, it often makes loud straining or clicking noises as the gears attempt to keep moving.

If your sewing machine jams, immediately stop sewing. Carefully move your fabric out from under the needle. If the sewing machine jams with the needle down, carefully jiggle the fly wheel (the hand crank on the right side of the machine) back and forth to loosen the threads. This usually works, and allows you to lift the needle. Clip the threads, and move your project out of the way.

Unthread the machine by removing the top thread and the bobbin. Look for any stray threads in the bobbin housing, and remove them. Carefully rotate the fly wheel to check for any obstructions. These obstructions are usually around the bobbin and under the needle. If the fly wheel rotates fully without catching, then the obstructions have been cleared away. Re-thread the top thread and bobbin, and continue sewing.

Jams usually happen when the sewing machine is not threaded properly. Make sure that your top thread follows the proper path, and is fed through the tension disks at the top of the machine. Check your sewing machine manual to make sure that the thread feeds off your bobbin in the proper direction.

If you are still having problems with jamming in your sewing machine, oil the machine and replace the needle. The needle may be bent or have a bur that is causing the thread to catch, creating the jam. If, after re-threading your machine multiple times, oiling the machine, and replacing the needle, you still have problems with the machine jamming, take your machine in for service. The service tech will be able to find any problems and bring your machine back to working order.