How To Stop Sewing Birds Nests 

I watched 7 videos - all with useful tips - but yours is the one that fixed the problem! Nobody mentioned that foot-to-thread-tension issue. I was about to put the machine away but you saved the day. Thank you!

Sheesh 20 vids later and I finally found THE ONE! Fr THANK YOU !!! I was trying to figure out why the hell my machine was creating these big ass birds nests underneath my fabric!!! Dumb birds need to stay out of my machine 🤬 (Giving you the biggest squeeze hug anyone could ever give) !

Omg thank you so much I’m new to sewing so I thought my machine was broke I kept on taking out the bobbin and the spool to check if anything was wrong 😭😭😭 you’ve been soooo helpful !!!

Awhile back I picked up a nice Singer 9323 machine off Craigslist for $25. The previous owner kept in good running shape. But, she decided it was time for a newer more modern machine... Or, sew (see what I did there?) she said... The joy and challenge of used purchases -- testing them extensively for problems the previous owners didn't want to mention. I used the machine for a number of hours on small projects and subassemblies. And, it functioned perfectly until the random and occasional bird nest issues popped up. The issue was a head-scratcher for a bit. Finally, I decided to disassemble the upper thread tensioning system completely. Let me tell you, those easy-thread setups on the Singer are *_not_* easy to disassemble. But, once disassembled, there was a broken thread and dust ball in the tension plates. After cleaning and reassembly, the bird nest issue was banished. The search for the problem involved me diving into the guts of the whole machine. Every bushing, bearing, and pivot surface got oiled and cleaned. And although it was obvious the machine had been serviced professionally numerous times before, I now know all its spinning and fiddly bits intimately. The thing hums along beautifully now with no problems of any kind. And every time I put my hands on it, I recall the deal, the birds nest issue, the fix, and the fact it's now a very productive tool.

Dude, THANK YOU so much! You made my day much easier. I had never heard you need to have the foot up to thread the needle!... was fighting birds nest, tension changes weren't helping. I tried retreating, as per your instructions and BOOM, its working and I can finish sewing my scarf! Happy New Years!

pretty sure you just solved one of the most frustrating and until now mysterious errors I was making. Totally self taught but never saw an explanation as simple as this fr birds nests. can't wait to try it! thank you!

I hope you keep posting up these videos they’ve answered so many little questions all at once and really simplify how to make what you’re working on look that much better!

Great explanation, but it didn't work for me. I tried rethreading, changing the needle, adjusting tension and still got birds nest. Just want to cry.

OMG finally someone explained this problem properly!!! Thank you!

Thank you! We were getting so frustrated with the birds nests and thought my sewing machine was bad. But, thankfully it is user error with threading. So helpful!

This was by far the best video I've watched trying to solve my errors! No nonsense,super informative! Subbed and now off for a binge session on your previous videos.

The manual for Brother SE1900 says to lower he foot before using the auto threading. I do it all the time with no issues.

Mate, thankyou so much!!! I was psyching myself up to dismantle our machine, thinking that something was bent or mistimed!! Turned out the problem was between the chair and the machine😅; I had threaded the needle with the foot down... Cheers from New Zealand 🤘🤘

Thank you so much. All of a sudden I was getting birds nests. Now I can fix it and keep sewing happy. Thanks.

really appreciate your style of explanation - thank you

Just came across your channel , I just recently bought a newer singer 6800c heavy duty, because I was getting frustrated with my older vintage 1920s singer causing bird nests all the time... when I was looking for videos for the new singer , came across your comparison video. Now I may been got by a salesperson, but she said that Husqvarna had bought out singer and the 6800c is the first ones made by them, and they were generally shocked how much better they were. Plus it had some bells and whistles that I thought were worth the extra $100 to me, she also said it's slightly stronger. Will see how this things works in the next few days.. but I may relook at my vintage one with fresh eyes to see if it can work better again. If not ... I'll probably sell it. I liked the old direct drive units. But after so much frustration with my vintage singer. I decided time to get something new. Even after spending about half the cost on the new one to get the vintage machine serviced.

Did not know that about the foot being down engages the tension discs I think that was my problem Thank you!

Finally a clear video explaining what’s going on. Thank you! Was able to hem a dress after this hahaha

Hi thank you very much indeed! My machine problems are now over!!! It makes sense that the thread can't access the tension disc slot when the foot is down. Sewing is all about thread tension. Also use decent thread , everything makes a difference. Though Janome machines really are great 😊

I've watched a lot of videos still couldn't solve the problem and then I saw yours. Phew! You saved me from throwing the sewing machine across the room😂

Such a bothersome issue, solved in 5 seconds. I guess one should know how machines work... Thank you so much!

One thing that I completely missed was bobin tension! There's no knob for it so I didn't even realise it was the problem. After adjusting the tension screw on the casing my problems are finally gone.

You don’t know what you’ve just done for me but I just want to say THANK YOU! 🙏

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Finally a sensible explanation.

Very useful information when I started

So glad I found this video! New sewer problem solved!!!

THANK YOU...Saved a lot of frustration !!

real top drawer

thanks! funny how stupid simple that fix was. new cylinder arm machine, wasn't used to the footpedal pressure foot so didn't flip it up when changing the thread

This is great! Thank you!

Thank you! Yeah, those bird's nests, nasty.

I like the music, I could never figure out what genre that is, if you don’t mind sharing.

You are a genius! Thank you so much!

Thank you so much this was sooooo helpful 🙏

🤯 thank you! The tension risks being open, I hope this fixes my issue. Because I’ve been checking the bobbin tension, changed needles, re-threaded the needle …. Do you have any tips for if you got a birds nest so bad that the thread is stuck in the bobbin hook? I have an old singer 301 and no amount of tweezers is helping me get a few threads in the bobbin hook/holder spot.

Best explanation! 🙏

That fixed it! Thank you so much!!

I have the Pfaff creative 4.5 ....what is wrong when I have checked all those things you say, over nd over again including 4 new needles, just in case, different good quality thread and rethreading the machine and bobbin...also I have cleaned it thoroughly... although it is very clean anyway. .!!!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH, problem fixed!!!!!!!!!

Thank you!! So helpful!!!!

Why would you get a birds nest in the middle of sewing a straight line? Everything is threaded probably and my tension is good. What gives? Does the dropin bobbin make a difference because I am 🤏 to buying a new machine.

Thank you for tip ❤️

perfect! worked just great! thanks!

I recently got a brother st371HD and it always does a birds nest when I’m starting a stitch. It doesn’t like to back stitch and the tension has to be way up to get the bobbin stitch lined up. Needless to say I’m looking at the Janome bc for the life of me I can’t get this machine to work right

Just saved my life

I’m gonna try this because I am new to sewing and can’t find anyone to help me. Hope this is it!

This was the best video I've watched thanks

Do these tips work with an industrial walking foot? I just installed a servo motor with synchronizer in a Brother LS2-B837, and I'm having a bird nest issue. The machine has a horizontal bobbin with no top cage so I'm not sure yet how to adjust the lower bobbin tension. I think the problem may be the upper tension, but I'll verify that the threading is done correctly with the presser foot up and that the needle is up.

I have a juki f300 and use the automatic lockstick. My bottom stitches look quite messy, do you have pointers to prevent this from happening ☹

How is it that I learned so much from this video from a dude.. where I just watched seven other female videos that left me still confused.. Lol.. Good job man.

thank you kindly sir

🤯 thank you!

That is exactly what was wrong ! Thank you.

Thank you!

Ive done all of the above, changed thr needle, cleaned etc still having the same issue

A-ha! Thanks!

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you

I had no idea

I watched about 20ish videos on this nd it wasn't helpful. your video was very helpful. thank you.

👏🙌

shut the front door! I have had this problem before and never knew the cause!!