The machine (a brother XL5500) will sew fine for a while then I have to stop and move the material or change something, then I keep getting two problems.
Either the thread from the spool keeps getting caught and the result is like spaghetti on the underside of the cloth and needs to be cut and resewn
or the thread breaks up in the machine like the tensioner is too tight (even though I haven’t changed dials)
Any Advice?
Sounds as if you have a tension problem to me. You may have to have your machine adjusted by a professional. You might want to call the place you purchased it from and ask, or go by there and see if they can show you on one of their machines how to adjust the tension. good luck
The tension on the thread is not tight enough coming through the tension adjustment on the head of the machine (topside) — turn this adjustment to a higher setting for the material that is getting the balled up mess from the bobin side !!
Different materials require different tension adjustments –and when the thread “lock” is not in the middle of the material — adjustments have to be made to accommodate !! If the “lock stitch” is coming out on TOP of the material — lessen the machine head tension — if it is coming out on the bottom — slightly increase the machine head tension !!
yep, tension problems
check the bobbin as well
there are 4 steps (usually) to fixing a tension problem – (these are attempts before taking the machine in)
1 – rethread the machine from scratch and see if that helps – (do EVERYTHING, including the bobbin)
2 – change needles (if the needle is even SLIGHTLY bent or nicked, the tension will be screwed up) and entirely rethread the machine
3 – try a different bobbin and different thread (higher quality thread like gutterman thread, not the coats stuff that you can pick up anywhere)
4 – get some scrap fabric and attempt to adjust the tension as you go along, (1st mark the spot where the tension is at NOW) sew a strip, try moving the tension a little in one direction and see if it gets better – if it starts to look better, keep going until you get it to look correct, if it looks worse, go the other way..) often using 2 colors of thread – 1 in the bobbin, 1 on top makes making the tension adjustments easier..
good luck