Tips & Techniques

Thread Shredding and Skipped Stitches

If you have problems with your embroidery thread shredding, make sure you check and/or try the following:

Fold a dollar bill in half and swipe it through both sides of the tension disks.

Change the needle. It may be dull. Make sure you are using the proper needle for the project. If you are sewing on knit, make sure it is a stretch needle. For embroidery, I find the 75/11 is the one I use the most.

Make sure the presser foot is in the UP position so the tension disks will be open when you rethread, and hold the thread "taut" at the spool while threading through the tension and just before threading the take-up lever, tug a bit on the thread to make sure it "seats" in the tension disks.

A needle may have broken and hit the stitch plate by the opening and caused a burr. To repair, purchase a sheet of crocus cloth at the hardware store and cut a strip about 4" long X ¼" wide. Remove the plate and with the rough side of the crocus cloth against the plate, gently pull it back and forth through the hole to remove the burr.

If you have been using a spray adhesive or some brand of "sticky" type stabilizer, it may have gummed up the needle. When using these kinds of products, keep a bottle of Tri Flo next to your machine and put a tiny bit on your finger and wipe the needle regularly during embroidering to remove any gummy adhesive. Tri Flo can be purchased from many Viking dealers or from bicycle shops. Tri Flow is not the same as a thread lubricant.

Residue may also have gotten on the hook of the bobbin holder casing. The hook on the Designer 1 (and Viking's other top loading bobbins) is just under and to the right of the feed teeth. It is silver and pointed. Put a tiny bit of Tri Flo on a Q tip and wipe that hook. If you don't have Tri Flo on hand, put some denatured alcohol on the Q tip and wipe the hook.