I Need Help!
Hey everyone! I could use some insight from experienced embroiderers because I ran into an issue that completely threw me off.
I was testing out a new embroidery style on my Janome M17, and everything was going smoothly—until the last 15 minutes of stitching. That’s when I noticed something strange: the bobbin thread started appearing on top of my design.
For reference, my bobbin was still relatively new—only about 3,000-4,000 stitches in, and my machine typically handles 15,000 stitches per bobbin. So, I don’t think it was running out. But what could have caused this sudden change?
Possible Causes and Community Thoughts
I shared my design (both front and back), and I got some great suggestions from fellow embroiderers. Here are some possible reasons why my bobbin thread started peeking through:
Hooping Tension Issues – The top of my hooping looked nice and tight, but the bottom appeared looser. Some suggested that uneven tension might have caused shifting, leading to inconsistent thread pull.
Design Density Change – The stitch density seemed to change in the problem area, and the stabilizer was more wrinkled there. Could it be that the fabric wasn't stabilized well enough?
Bobbin Winding Issues – While it’s less likely, some people mentioned that if the bobbin was wound inconsistently, it might cause tension problems during stitching.
Stabilizer Problems – This is a big one! I floated my sweater using sticky spray, but honestly, this stabilizer felt weak even before the project. Maybe it wasn’t strong enough to support the design?
Machine Jam & Threading Mistake – I did have a moment where the machine jammed because of user error. I skipped a step while switching colors, causing the bobbin to not grab onto the needle properly. Maybe that affected the tension settings?
What’s Next?
Now that I’ve taken a step back, I have a few ideas to troubleshoot:
Re-hoop carefully to ensure even tension
Try a different stabilizer that feels more durable
Check my bobbin winding to rule out any inconsistencies
Make sure my thread path is correct after color changes
I haven’t given up on this design just yet, but I’d love to hear if anyone else has experienced sudden bobbin thread issues mid-project. What worked for you?
Let me know your thoughts! Happy stitching!
