Hi
I have an old sewing machine - Singer Melodie 20 - and when ever I try to sew something it starts fine but within seconds the material gets stuck and jammed in the dog feet (?)
I think it's the bobbin that gets jammed and traps the fabric - this makes the thread get all jammed too... it all ends up in a mess!
The bobbin compartment looks fine... nothing broken and the movement looks good. It's driving me mad!

I have been given another sewing machine (singer 5137 - the selection of stitches doesn't work ie: it only does the straight stitch now)to use in the mean time BUT... I start sewing with it and the top thread comes out of the needle yet it hasn't snapped?!?!?!? These are normal needles and brought new (they arn't the easy thread type either). I don't understand how a thread can suddenly 'jump' out of the needle without breaking.

I'm currently hand sewing stuff as I don't seem to have much luck with sewing machines at the moment :-)

any suggestions would be good or I guess I'll have to see if there is a local shop that can have a look... I would just like to see if there is a simpler (and cheaper) solution.

Thanks for any help you might be able to offer and feel free to ask questions - I'm not very good at explaining this!

Lenny, September 2007

I also have the same problem with the Melodie 20.its a nightmare and always has been.its a cheap plastic bobbin holder with nothing to adjust the lower tension

sewing queen, September 2014

Hi, try visiting this site, sewingmachinehelp.blogspot.com

Linzi, July 2009

Hi Lenny and Ken. I am helping a friend fix their Singer Melody 20 but am having a little trouble. I have no bobbin case for the bobbin (plastic), does it need one??

Seedy, September 2007

Thanks Ken

I'll have a closer look at the bobbin tomorrow and try your suggestions.

I've managed to get the singer 5137 working... I think the top thread tension was too tight (bit weird how the thread didn't break just wasn't in the needle anymore!!!? I can't figure that one out!) but at least I can sew the trouser seam I needed so that's good.

It will be nice to get the other machine going as I brought that new about 13 years ago... it's not been used for nearly 8 years!! And I have forgotten a lot about sewing machines in that time.

Thanks for your help and I'll have another look after work tomorrow.

Lenny, September 2007

Hello Lenny,
First of all if the thread is bunching up it is probably tension problem, go through this systematically and I bet you will get it right, you could have a machine for years and years and get things wrong that one time.
First make sure you have threaded the machine properly and make sure the presser foot is up so the thread goes between the tension discs, make sure you have the needle in the correct way round, tension should be about 4,5 or 6.
Make sure you have the bobbin in the bobbin case the correct way round, it makes a difference, you should just about be able to pull the thread through the bobbin case with some slight tension, if it is too loose you will need to tighten the screw on the bobbin case clockwise about half a turn at a time and test the sewing, try these first.
With the 5137, if you can only sew straight stitch and cannot sew any other stitch, the chances are you have a blunt or bent needle, the needle only needs to be slightly bent and it will miss the stitches especially on zig or any other patterns, if the thread is being pulled out of the needle after a couple of stitches it could be that when you start to sew the takeup lever is in the down position, you must make sure the lever is as the top before you sew, if you are not using a mercerised thread there may be imperfections on the thread that suddenly catch in the eye of the needle to give the impression it is pulling out of the needle, make sure you have the correct size needle for the thread, if you have checked the needle and you are happy that you have threaded the machine properly and the machine misses stitches on zig zag or patterns then the machine could be out of time, but come to that as a last resort.
If you have any problems send me an e-mail.
Ken

drivewithken@blueyonder.co.uk, September 2007