Why Do Needles Keep Breaking When Sewing With Invisible Thread?
Using invisible thread when sewing can create barely noticeable stitches on cuffs, hemlines and seams. It is also often used in quilting to help provide a quilt's signature puffy appearance without having threads interfere with the quilt's pattern. Nevertheless, working with invisible thread can present issues, such as puckering and in many cases, needle breakage. Avoiding needle breakage requires a harmony among all the elements of machine sewing.
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What Is Invisible Thread?
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"Invisible" thread, as it is commonly called, is made of man-made fibers and range from smoke gray at the darkest to clear at the lightest end of the invisible thread color spectrum. It is made from either a polyamide nylon or a polyester monofilament.
Thread Age and Type
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Of the two types of invisible thread, nylon thread is weaker and becomes brittle as it ages. If you are using an old spool, its age may lead to thread and needle breakage. Also ensure that your top thread and bobbin thread are compatible.
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Thread Tension
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Thread tension is always critical when sewing with any thread. Tension that is too high can lead to needles breaking. Test thread tension on fabric scraps. If necessary adjust the tension until stitches are even and tight without puckering.
Bobbin Issues
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An improper bobbin size for your machine, misplaced bobbins and poorly wound bobbins can interfere with correct needle motion. When the needle is fighting against the bobbin or the bobbin is miswound, the needle can break. Additionally, thread tails hanging from the bobbin when in the bobbin case can jam the machine and cause the upper thread and needle to break. If possible, make sure that both your top thread and bobbin thread are the same or that the bobbin thread is a lighter weight than your top thread. If the bobbin stitches are too loose (and look like giant loops) the tension is off. This can lead to the needle catching and breaking.
Needle Size and Age
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Machine needles endure a significant amount of stress as they pass through the machine, work the top and bobbin threads and go through the fabric. It is important to change needles often and to make sure that you are using the correct needle size for the fabric that you are working. Too small a needle size is one factor that can lead to needle breakage. Also make sure that the needle is the correct size for both the top thread and bobbin thread.
Misthreaded Machine
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Along with thread tension, misthreading the machine is another factor that can lead to needle breakage. Make sure that you place the top thread through each part of your machine's thread guide correctly.
Fabric Issues
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Sometimes when the thread and needle are new, the bobbin wound properly and placed correctly, and the tension is set just right, the needle still breaks. Makes sure that you are not pulling the fabric against the needle while sewing. Help guide the fabric rather than pushing or pulling it with force. This extra force can bend the needle and lead to needle breakage.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Sewing Machine Needle image by C Agoncillo from Fotolia.com
