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Posted on: 2/7/22 11:55 AM ET
Hi,
I bought the CoverPro CPX coverstitch machine last June and have been really pleased with it. This weekend I went to thread it up in a new colour to hem a t-shirt I was making and ran into huge problems with the chain stitch looking all wrong. After hours of changing settings and sewing samples to try to work out why I was all of a sudden having problems it looks like the problem is with my thread. To date I have always bought a new reel of Gutermann sew all thread and made a bobbin so I can have two needles and then use a Toldi Locke cone for the looper. The only difference this time around is I happened to find a matching Gutermann thread in my sewing box so didn't buy a new one. I started sewing a year ago but I have had my sewing box since a teenager (I am now 50) so this thread could be 35 years old. I can get a perfect stitch with a new Gutermann thread but it's a disaster with this old thread. Can old thread like this really make such a huge difference and why? I thought I was saving myself £2 on thread but have wasted hours of time trying to use it. I could have made another t-shirt or two in that time!
I bought the CoverPro CPX coverstitch machine last June and have been really pleased with it. This weekend I went to thread it up in a new colour to hem a t-shirt I was making and ran into huge problems with the chain stitch looking all wrong. After hours of changing settings and sewing samples to try to work out why I was all of a sudden having problems it looks like the problem is with my thread. To date I have always bought a new reel of Gutermann sew all thread and made a bobbin so I can have two needles and then use a Toldi Locke cone for the looper. The only difference this time around is I happened to find a matching Gutermann thread in my sewing box so didn't buy a new one. I started sewing a year ago but I have had my sewing box since a teenager (I am now 50) so this thread could be 35 years old. I can get a perfect stitch with a new Gutermann thread but it's a disaster with this old thread. Can old thread like this really make such a huge difference and why? I thought I was saving myself £2 on thread but have wasted hours of time trying to use it. I could have made another t-shirt or two in that time!
Posted on: 2/7/22 12:47 PM ET
In reply to kallan
Sew All comes in several sizes -- could this troublemaker be a heavier or lighter thread than the usual Tex 30 basic thread?
Posted on: 2/7/22 1:05 PM ET
In reply to kallan
It could be the way the thread is feeding from the bobbins. Any small snagging, even momentarily, can cause problems. Since you've already spent so much time troubleshooting this problem, I would treat yourself to some new spools of thread.
Good luck.
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Good luck.

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Singer Quantum 9960|Singer 7640 Confidence|Singer 7258 Stylist|Singer 3342 Fashion Mate|Singer 534 Stylist|Singer Brilliance 6199|Singer 15-91|Singer 237 Fashion Mate|Singer 239 Fashion Mate|Janome New Home 654|Brother PE770|Singer Sergers 14SH764, 14J250, 14U354B, 14U286B|
Singer Coverstitch 14T968DC
Singer Coverstitch 14T968DC
Posted on: 2/7/22 1:57 PM ET
In reply to kallan
Polyester thread can definitely become brittle with age, which can cause breakage, shredding, and other problems. Since you are not having trouble with newer thread, this is likely the contributing factor.
Another comment mentioned making sure your bobbin is feeding correctly when using it is a thread spool stand-in. Bobbins are meant to feed horizontally, so I use the thread spool caps that should be included with your machine when I use a bobbin on a spool pin.
Another comment mentioned making sure your bobbin is feeding correctly when using it is a thread spool stand-in. Bobbins are meant to feed horizontally, so I use the thread spool caps that should be included with your machine when I use a bobbin on a spool pin.
Posted on: 2/7/22 2:35 PM ET
I've used bobbins previously with no issues at all and I re-threaded another bobbin to see if that helped. I've ordered some new thread so I'll let you know if that solves it. The positive thing is I've learnt so much about my machine and used up a lot of scrap fabric!
Posted on: 2/7/22 6:17 PM ET
In reply to kallan
For testing stitches on SMs, sergers and coverstitch, I routinely use a folded paper towel instead of fabric. Works very well and easy to find. Of course you should always practice on a scrap of material for final checks before working on your project fabric. Good luck with your Coverpro ♧
-- Edited on 2/7/22 at 6:18 PM ET --
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-- Edited on 2/7/22 at 6:18 PM ET --
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Singer Quantum 9960|Singer 7640 Confidence|Singer 7258 Stylist|Singer 3342 Fashion Mate|Singer 534 Stylist|Singer Brilliance 6199|Singer 15-91|Singer 237 Fashion Mate|Singer 239 Fashion Mate|Janome New Home 654|Brother PE770|Singer Sergers 14SH764, 14J250, 14U354B, 14U286B|
Singer Coverstitch 14T968DC
Singer Coverstitch 14T968DC
Posted on: 2/8/22 4:48 AM ET
In reply to kayl
just for general info...Güttermann thread can be easily identified by the color of the spool it is wound on... which will also tell you the thickness of the thread. Sew All thread only comes in one size, no. 100 (higher the number, thinner the thread.)
Spool colors and sizes:
Sew All...no. 100 ...pale yellow or white spool (color depends on quantity on the spool)
Top Stitch...no. 30 ... green
Extra strong...no. 40 ...dark grey
Jeans...no. 75...dark yellow
Basting thread, cotton...no. 42/2 strand... dark yellow
Cotton thread...no. 50...dark yellow
hand quilting...no. 39/3 strand... taupe
silk...no. 100...blue
any kind of "special" thread (elastic, metallic, etc.)- some shade of yellow-
***if you have a yellow spool it means you need to read the label on the spool!...it is printed on and won't fall off!!
emb. hreads... I think most of those are on pale grey spools...don't currently have any around to look at.
download that is useful:
file:///C:/Users/psrue/Downloads/Brochure_Sewing_thread_EN.pdf
going from US thread classification to Euro or a foreign classification is a mess, read more HERE
Spool colors and sizes:
Sew All...no. 100 ...pale yellow or white spool (color depends on quantity on the spool)
Top Stitch...no. 30 ... green
Extra strong...no. 40 ...dark grey
Jeans...no. 75...dark yellow
Basting thread, cotton...no. 42/2 strand... dark yellow
Cotton thread...no. 50...dark yellow
hand quilting...no. 39/3 strand... taupe
silk...no. 100...blue
any kind of "special" thread (elastic, metallic, etc.)- some shade of yellow-
***if you have a yellow spool it means you need to read the label on the spool!...it is printed on and won't fall off!!
emb. hreads... I think most of those are on pale grey spools...don't currently have any around to look at.
download that is useful:
file:///C:/Users/psrue/Downloads/Brochure_Sewing_thread_EN.pdf
going from US thread classification to Euro or a foreign classification is a mess, read more HERE
Posted on: 2/8/22 5:36 AM ET
The spool is the same colour and size as the new sew all threads with the same printing but last night I took a length of each and looked at them under a magnifying glass and it was quite revealing. The new thread is completely smooth and feels a little thicker, the old thread is really snaggy and looks a mess in comparison, snaps much more easily and feels finer to the touch. Whilst the spools look the same, the threads are in fact quite different. Maybe the old thread has degraded or maybe processing and finishing techniques now mean a modern thread is just a completely different quality and new machines are expecting modern threads. I am learning all the time.
Posted on: 2/8/22 6:50 AM ET
In reply to kallan
old Gutermann did not always follow the same spool color system. I'd give up on that thread, just use it for basting, and invest in new thread. I've never had a problem with Gütermann in my coverstitch. Of if I do have a problem...it's a tension adjustment thing that I can correct.
another thing...is the old thread cotton or poly? Old cotton thread will be fuzzy and not as strong or smooth as modern poly thread.
Gutermann is also now making "recycled" poly thread. It's labeled rPet. Sew All version spool is white and green. Top Stitch version is yellow and green spool. I haven't used that much of it, so can't give personal report. I think it is cheaper than Sew All.
details:
file:///C:/Users/psrue/Downloads/EVP_Naehfaden_rPET_2020__EN_mail.pdf
-- Edited on 2/8/22 at 6:58 AM ET --
another thing...is the old thread cotton or poly? Old cotton thread will be fuzzy and not as strong or smooth as modern poly thread.
Gutermann is also now making "recycled" poly thread. It's labeled rPet. Sew All version spool is white and green. Top Stitch version is yellow and green spool. I haven't used that much of it, so can't give personal report. I think it is cheaper than Sew All.
details:
file:///C:/Users/psrue/Downloads/EVP_Naehfaden_rPET_2020__EN_mail.pdf
-- Edited on 2/8/22 at 6:58 AM ET --
Posted on: 2/10/22 8:08 AM ET
In reply to kallan
Quote: kallan
The only difference this time around is I happened to find a matching Gutermann thread in my sewing box so didn't buy a new one. I started sewing a year ago but I have had my sewing box since a teenager (I am now 50) so this thread could be 35 years old. I can get a perfect stitch with a new Gutermann thread but it's a disaster with this old thread. Can old thread like this really make such a huge difference and why?
The only difference this time around is I happened to find a matching Gutermann thread in my sewing box so didn't buy a new one. I started sewing a year ago but I have had my sewing box since a teenager (I am now 50) so this thread could be 35 years old. I can get a perfect stitch with a new Gutermann thread but it's a disaster with this old thread. Can old thread like this really make such a huge difference and why?
I don't own a coverstitch machine.
I have older Gutermann threads. Sofar all my older Gutermann threads are good when I test them before using them. If I can't break a long piece of any brand thread with my hands I use the thread. That said, years ago DH's friend called one evening. He wanted me to drive on the freeway and repair his wife's sewing machine.
To shorten a much longer story, I asked to please let me talk to his wife. She didn't know how old her thread was. I asked her to please wrap a long piece of the thread around her fingers and try to break the thread.
She drove to Walmart and bought new Gutermann thread. Then called me and thanked me for repairing her sewing machine. I didn't repair anything !
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