Why Does Thread Keep Bunching Underneath | Thread bunching on bottom

When you sew, there’s always that one project that seems to drag out longer than expected. You start sewing your fabric together and it goes smoothly for a while, but then suddenly you have lots of little threads sticking out every which way!

Other times, they arise because the machine gets stuck in either stitch mode or needle position and needs to backtrack and re-thread itself. This is what happens if you run out of thread while stitching!

When this happens, the machine has to remove the old thread before it can put in the new one, so it comes up as a small looped piece. If this keeps happening, then the source of the problem is the thread. So, why is there still more thread after everything else?

This article will go into detail about the different types of stitches, how many strands each require, and why having an adequate supply of seam finish (or seaming) thread makes sure your seams stay smooth and tight. It also covers how to tell whether you are running low on yours. After reading this article you will be able to know, Why Does Thread Keep Bunching Underneath.

You are not using enough thread

We all have at least one favorite color that we seem to use for everything! That is totally okay, but it must be done with moderation.

Just because something looks cool does not mean you should use it every time you sew or craft. Using too much of a certain color can make your designs look more like someone painted them instead of creating their own style.

Thread is a very expensive material so it is important to only use what you need. Buying a small amount of each color type- cotton, silk, metallic – will help prevent wasted money.

Also, do not pull out as many balls of thread as you think you have used. Many sewing machines have a back box full of threads waiting to be pulled out.

You are not sewing the right distance apart

This is one of the most common beginner sewing mistakes that cause people to re-thread their machines or start over when they wash their machine down. People get confused as to what thread length should be, how fast your stitches should move, or whether their machine has enough thread.

If you have ever seen someone with a needle that keeps sticking through their fabric, you have probably noticed them pulling it out and starting the whole process over! That happens because they pulled out the wrong size needle, or shorted the stitch in the fabric.

When you cut off a piece of material, there usually left some threads hanging from the edge. These leftover fibers often become tangled up inside the throat of the machine. If this occurs while stitching, the machine will need to spend more time removing the obstruction before moving onto the next thing. Or worse, the machine could break down due to excessive stress on parts caused by the stuck thread.

This can happen if you put too many seams together or if you make large pieces of clothing. When cutting such big materials, always fold the raw edges under so that they do not get caught in the seam area. Also, check your machine’s manual about how to properly remove lint and fuzz from the machine.

You are not pressing your fabric properly

When you sew with top thread, there is an important reason that this can happen. You have to press your fabric down as you stitch it up so that the lower threads push out of the seam. This happens when you pull the sewing machine foot away after each row or round of stitching.

When you put pressure on the sewn piece while taking the next step, the lower layer of the seam will bunch up. This happens because the lower thread is less strong than the upper one, and will break down under stress.

This does not usually cause too much of a problem unless you notice it. If you do, try hand-sewing the rest of the project until the patch has dried and then reattach the pieces.

You are not flossing your needle enough

This could be due to your technique or the type of material you are stitching with. If you have trouble pulling the thread through, it may be because you are using too large a needle!

We suggest practicing with a smaller needle at first. That way, you will know if the stitch is not coming out properly before taking out bigger needles.

If this does not work, try washing the piece again so that the fabric softens a bit and see if that helps pull the thread through.

You are using the wrong type of needle

When you sew with a regular, heavy-duty machine needle, you may find that your fabric is getting stuck or thread keeps bunching up underneath the fabric as it sews. This can get annoying very quickly!

If this happens to you, then you will need to switch out your needles. It could be due to the length of the seam being longer than what the needle was designed for, or maybe the material is just thicker than normal and needs a heavier duty needle.

I have talked about buying new sewing machines before and how important it is to know your machine’s manual, so I will not go into detail about that here.

You need to use a different type of thread

For some people, they cannot seem to get their sewing machines to stop weaving in stuck threads under all of their fabric. This can be annoying as you have to keep pulling out new pieces and starting over!

This usually happens when there are too many loose threads left from before. When you sew your last piece onto another piece, there may not be enough pull to close it so it gets sewn together with lots of little strings or loops of thread. These tend to bunch up at the seam line and require more time to cut away.

If this is happening to you, then you will want to make sure you are using the right kind of stitching thread.

 There are two main types: heavy duty cotton floss and silk embroidery thread.

1. Heavy Duty Cotton Floss

These come either in 25 or 100 percent polyester. They are slightly thicker than normal white cotton floss and have much tighter twists. Because of the thickness, these take longer to work through your project and each individual loop needs to be pulled through separately.

   

   2. Silk Embroidery Thread

These are thinner and shorter than heavier weight cotton floss. Most silks are also 100 percent wool which makes them very durable and lasting. Due to its length, you have to coordinate how fast you stitch per row to avoid having holes where there are none.

You need to practice your sewing skills

Even though you may have spent hours creating your new wardrobe, there is one thing that can ruin all of your hard work — stitching.

Thread keeps bunching up underneath the fabric as you sew it. This happens when the thread gets stuck in the place where two pieces come together. When this occurs, the patchwork piece cannot be sewn properly, which could cause cracks or holes in the finished product.

If you are having trouble taming your seams, then it is time to take a look at the fabric you selected and see if there are any tips to fix this. If not, try another color combination until you find one that works!

Also, make sure that your machine has clear settings so that you do not have to check for knots and tangles every few minutes while you are sewing.

You should always check your work

Sometimes, even after you have cut all of your fabric and put it away, your machine will continue to pull up more thread. This happens because as you worked with each piece of material, there was still some leftover threads that needed to be clipped off.

These remaining pieces of thread get left behind when the sewing unit moves onto another area of fabric. Because this keeps happening over and over again, the needle eventually catches enough thread to create a knot.

This can occur not only while you are washing or prepping your fabrics for later use, but also during stitching processes.

If you ever find yourself in this situation, you should always check your work! Before starting to stitch next to the old stitch, make sure that you do not have any knots or tangles where two different colors meet.

If you do, remove both ends until they disappear completely, then start stitching without them. If possible, take out one side at a time so that you do not need to re-thread the whole project.