I read the FAQ and such as well as Googling, and I still can't figure out what's wrong. I have an Elna 2110, a couple years old, and as far as I can remember (...which doesn't mean much) I've never changed the needle before. A week or so ago, it broke, and so I swapped it with a random no-name needle I found in my collection. Since then, the upper thread has been constantly breaking within three stitches or less.
I adjusted the upper thread tension, I checked that the bobbin is threaded correctly, that the needle is inserted correctly, made sure to have the pressure foot up when I threaded the machine... nothing. I also tried changing the thread (several times) and oiling the machine before I realized the problems started with the needle change.
So... is my machine just so picky I need to buy needles especially made for it? (There's NO standard bobbin that works in it, as far as I know--had go back to the store we bought it at and get them there.) Do I just throw this one out and try all the other needles I can find? Unfortunately, they're probably all going to be from the same pack, and since I don't remember buying them they might well be 20+ years old, and... uh, well, is that bad?
Thanks in advance!
ETA: Problem solved! THE NEEDLE WAS DEFECTIVE; it looked fine, but on a whim I switched it out for one from the same blasted package and suddenly all is well. Okay then.
I adjusted the upper thread tension, I checked that the bobbin is threaded correctly, that the needle is inserted correctly, made sure to have the pressure foot up when I threaded the machine... nothing. I also tried changing the thread (several times) and oiling the machine before I realized the problems started with the needle change.
So... is my machine just so picky I need to buy needles especially made for it? (There's NO standard bobbin that works in it, as far as I know--had go back to the store we bought it at and get them there.) Do I just throw this one out and try all the other needles I can find? Unfortunately, they're probably all going to be from the same pack, and since I don't remember buying them they might well be 20+ years old, and... uh, well, is that bad?
Thanks in advance!
ETA: Problem solved! THE NEEDLE WAS DEFECTIVE; it looked fine, but on a whim I switched it out for one from the same blasted package and suddenly all is well. Okay then.
Looks like I'm going shopping tomorrow! Whee, an excuse to go to a craft store... like I need more. XD
Thank you for the advice! I've been sewing for over ten years and I've never run into this problem before, so hopefully I know what to do now if it happens again.
what they are talking about is the sharpness of the point.
look at the needle from the side of the machine - some are "swan necked" and thicken at the back and then hit the plate as they slide through. this breaks the thread.
universal are good but check - using the needles for your machine type and make are best