Why the sewing machine tears the upper thread: Wrong materials
the cause of the thread ripping in the sewing machine may be due not only to improper installation of parts but also to improper selection of materials. If this is the cause of the machine not sewing properly, then the problem can be solved easily. You just need to replace the materials with more appropriate ones.

Because of what tangles and rips the thread in the machine:
- If you’re using old threads, check their quality. Cotton threads with knots will constantly tear. Also, do not use thread that is too thick. Forties do not like imported machines such as Janome and Brother and mini PMZ.
- The wrong needle can cause thread breaks. These tools need to be matched to the thickness of the fabric you are sewing. Otherwise, the buttonholes will not be neat, and your sewing will have an untidy appearance.
- The problem may be a defective needle. Check the edges and the eye and nose of the needle. If they have jagged edges, change the needle for a new one.
- If the bobbin is too large or small, then while sewing, the thread is not properly wound on it, which tears. The bobbin has to be the right size for your machine.
No matter if you have a manual, foot or electric machine, the wrong choice of materials will lead to thread breaks. To fix this problem you need to check all materials, if you find the wrong one, replace it with a new one.
Poor quality threads
Sometimes it is not possible to create an even stitch because of problems with the technique. Checking why the sewing machine rips thread, it is worth examining the consumables themselves. A mismatch between the bobbin number and the fabric or needle often leads to these results. When stuck in the eyelet at high speed, the sewing machine will tear the upper thread. Solve the problem will help a simple replacement it with a thinner, suitable for the fabric and the needle. If the thread breaks while sewing, you should check the thread quality. Sometimes materials that have lain in storage for a long time are on sale. In addition, cheap thread is often of extremely poor quality simply because the manufacturer used low-grade raw materials.
Why is the sewing machine rips upper or lower thread?
Sewing machine indispensable assistant at home: podshit pants, curtains, sew an interesting thing for yourself and loved ones. Nevertheless, if the owner of the machine does not determine why the thread in the sewing machine is torn, further work will not be available. Attempts to fix the defect of the device on their own are not always successful. Therefore, at the first manifestation of failure is recommended to contact the company Polite Service 5, which deals with urgent repair of sewing equipment at the client’s home or atelier.
Tension regulator breakage
If your sewing machine has recently been in the repair, the conical spring may have been incorrectly assembled during repair, causing thread breaks. To solve the problem it is necessary to reassemble the regulator. For this:
It is very important to pay attention to the position of the spring. It should be positioned so that its wide end is deep in the body of the machine. If this condition is not met, the spring bar will not be able to rotate freely around its axis and the thread tension cannot be adjusted.
If the spring does not spin and jams as it rotates, straighten the upper tab of the conical spring so that the upper thread moves freely.
How to adjust the upper thread tension
First, loosen the upper thread tension as much as possible. Then, in several steps, gradually increase the tension until the stitching is correct and nice. The intertwining of the upper and lower threads should be inside the fabric to be sewn, not on top or underneath.
There is another way to adjust the needle thread tension. Before inserting the thread into the eye of the needle, pull the upper thread by hand with the foot down. Any thread should pass through with a noticeable effort, but not too tight. Thread the needle and adjust the thread tension more accurately on a test piece of fabric so that the “knot” is inside the fabric. Very convenient for “fine” adjustment use contrasting bobbin thread. After adjusting the tension, it should be replaced with “working” thread.
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Adjust the needle thread tension when sewing other fabrics, changing threads, or needle changes. It is advisable to adjust the lower thread only when it is unavoidable. For example, when sewing fabrics that are too thick or too thin. When using very thin or very thick threads. In all other cases, achieve a quality stitch by adjusting the upper thread.
Incorrectly installed or selected needle
In all sewing machines, regardless of brand, the needle is set to the stop, so that the long groove looks in the direction of the thread guide. If the needle is set incorrectly, when sewing, the thread will rub against the fabric gradually tearing.
It is also worth remembering that to work with different kinds of fabric you need to use needles and threads of a certain type. This is especially important to consider when sewing knitted fabrics. If you do not use stretch thread and a Stretch needle, you will definitely experience skipped stitches and frequent thread breaks.
How to fix your thread breaking on your sewing machine
See the entire Schmetz range of utility needles and their applicability to various materials here.
Why Does My Top Thread Keep Breaking? | Sewing Machine
Needle size (number) must always correspond to the thickness of the material to be sewn and the thread number. When sewing at high speed, thick thread may become jammed in the eye of the needle, causing thread breaks and ripping. This will also be the case if a thin needle is used on thick material.
Needle installation errors, mechanical damage on machine parts
Beginner masters, as well as experienced seamstresses, when it is necessary to urgently readjust the machine to work with different fabrics sometimes incorrectly set the needle. Be sure to rule out this possibility by making sure that the sewing machine has the right needle, set with a long groove to the thread guide. A common problem can also be burrs or roughness on parts of the sewing machine, when passing through which the thread is caught and torn. It is necessary to localize the place of pinching or clamping and correct the problem by scraping the area with an emery cloth or sandpaper until it is smooth.
The thread may be compressed by the bevel spring, in which case just slacken the nut on the regulator. If the part is assembled incorrectly after repair, it should be completely disassembled and reassembled.
If the tapered spring is incorrectly installed, remove the compression nut, turn the spring 180° clockwise, and then reinstall the nut in its original place.
If the conical spring on the regulator shaft is jammed, separate the ends of the regulator shaft and straighten the upper coil of the conical spring so that the upper thread can move freely.
If the upper thread breaks, check that the thread thickness is correct. When threading, its quality should be checked visually. It is important that the entire length of the thread is free from knots, damage. Poor quality material is twisted directly in the regulator. If the quality is good and the thickness is correct, the following points must be observed.
Upper thread tension
The upper thread must not be pulled too tightly or loosely. If the tension is too low, the thread will be pulled into the groove with the hook, creating loops in the fabric. If there is too much tension, it can tear in the needle when you start working. Adjust the tension by turning the nut on the adjuster to the left or right to loosen or tighten.
The correct position of the needle
It happens that in a hurry, the needle is inserted incorrectly. When changing the needle, make sure the long groove is pointing toward the thread guide. You should also check to see if the thickness of the consumable and the size of the needle match.
Sometimes the hole in the needle where the thread is threaded has a sharp edge. This is also the reason why the machine rips the thread. The problem can be fixed by changing the needle or filing the hole.
Tension regulator in good working order
Upper thread breakage in the sewing machine happens due to improperly assembled or installed tension regulator, it happens after repair. To fix the problem, you need to:
- Remove the clamping spring;
- Check that the spring is correctly installed and that its wide end is inside the body;
- put the nut back in its place.
Compensation spring breakage
If the spring is broken, or has damage, it must be replaced. Otherwise, you will not get quality stitching.
Pressing force of the foot
Lower leg has a direct influence on the quality of work. If you change from delicates to heavy fabrics, or if you change the sewing mode, the presser foot pressure must be adjusted.
Malfunctions in sewing machine components
When the sewing machine is used for a long time, faults in the main units are inevitable and this is the reason why it tears the thread. The most common breakdowns:
- defects on the needle plate. serrations, other defects, cause breakage;
- defects in the bobbin case. worn, non-original, clogged bobbin causes incorrect buttonhole formation during sewing.