🧵 Why Is Embroidery Thread Tangling and Ruining My Design?

🧵 Embroidery Troubleshooting: Help! My Thread Keeps Tangling and Leaving Gaps 😫

😩 My Machine Was Fine Yesterday…

Hello everyone
Hope your stitching day is going better than mine! I wanted to share an issue that’s been driving me up the wall—and hopefully get or give some help in return.

Out of nowhere, my Janome embroidery machine started tangling thread mid-design. Every color begins cleanly, but after 20–30 seconds, I hear odd clicking sounds… then gaps appear, threads bunch up, and I have to stop and reset the thread manually. Every single color. 😤

🔍 What I’ve Already Tried

• ✅ Changed needle (same model, brand-new)

• ✅ Lubricated the machine per the manual

• ✅ Cleaned the bobbin case

• ✅ Checked thread tension and settings (no recent changes)

• ✅ Using the same materials as always

Still no improvement. Here's a photo showing how good fill turns into a shredded, gappy mess:

📸 Images (See above):

• First photo: clean start, threads laying smoothly

• Second photo: gaps forming mid-fill, especially in denser regions

• Final fill: inconsistent coverage, broken texture

💬 Community Tip: "Check Thread Quality + Tension"

One great piece of advice I received was:

“If you're using lower-quality thread, reduce the upper thread tension a bit. Lower-quality thread tends to fray faster, especially at higher tension.”

That made me wonder—could this be the real culprit? My thread isn’t premium, and the heat/humidity lately may also affect how smoothly it glides.

🧰 Potential Fixes (If You’re in the Same Boat)

If you're battling similar embroidery chaos, try these:

✅ 1. Rewind & Rethread Everything

Even if the tension looks right, fully unthread the machine and bobbin and start fresh.

✅ 2. Reduce Upper Thread Tension

Especially with a budget or older thread. Try reducing it incrementally and test a small fill.

✅ 3. Check for Burrs or Thread Path Snags

Inspect the tension disks and thread guides for tiny nicks or burrs that could cause fraying.

✅ 4. Try a Different Brand or Color of Thread

Sometimes, just switching spools helps isolate if the issue is thread-related.

✅ 5. Add a Thread Net

Especially useful if your thread is unspooling too fast or tangling mid-run.

🧵 Final Thoughts: Don't Let Tangling Steal Your Joy

Embroidery is all about patience—and sometimes, that means learning from a bad stitch day. Machines misbehave, threads rebel, and designs unravel. But with a little trial and error (and support!), you’ll get back to clean stitching soon.

Have you ever experienced this kind of tangled nightmare?
Drop your advice, frustrations, or victories in the comments—let’s help each other out!