Bensmom Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I don't sew often and just got out my machine. It is making weird loops. I have played with the dials but don't know what I am doing. It is a very basic machine. Brother XML 530. There are 2 dials. One goes from zero to five with a "L" under the five and "R" under the zero. What should this be set on??? The other dial (don't know what it is) has different size dashes above it and settings 1-4 with ....past the 4. Please help!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 I don't sew often and just got out my machine. It is making weird loops. I have played with the dials but don't know what I am doing. It is a very basic machine. Brother XML 530. There are 2 dials. One goes from zero to five with a "L" under the five and "R" under the zero. What should this be set on??? The other dial (don't know what it is) has different size dashes above it and settings 1-4 with ....past the 4. Please help!!!!!!!! The 1-4 with dashes is very likely your stitch length, 1 being very short stitches and 4 being very long. You will want something in the middle for regular sewing. Experiment on a scrap. If you are making weird loops then your tension is off. Is the other one your tension setting? The L and R make me think right and left. Sorry but I am not sure about that one. Do you have the manual that came with the machine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensmom Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 Nope. No manual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensmom Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 There is also a big dial on top. Could that be the tension? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 It sounds like the knot with L and R on it are stitch width for zig zag stitches. The other one is the stitch length with 4 being a basting stitch. You probably want 2.5 or 3 for a regular stitch length. Loops means your tension is off. There is another dial someplace for tension. Your bobbin case might also have a screw on it you can tighten or loosen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Yes the big dial could be tension. Are there numbers on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSong Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Could ou find your manual here? http://www.brother-usa.com/manuals/default.aspx?ProductGroupID=3#.UR5bRny9KSM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensmom Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 Yes, there are numbers on the big dial. 0-9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Yes, there are numbers on the big dial. 0-9 What is it set at right now? If it is tension, it should be somewhere in the middle of the dial, around 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busymama7 Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 Unthread everything(including the bobbin)and look for tangled threads or small pieces anywhere. Then re thread carefully with the presser foot raised(very important!). Try to sew again. If the loops are on the bottom it's an issue with the top thread and vice versa. But don't start messing with anything until you have taken the thread out and rethreaded the whole thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReader Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 The dial with an L under the 0 and a R under the 5 (or vice versa) is stitch width, so that when you make zig zags, it tells how wide they'll be. The L and R is Left or Right, for needle position when sewing a straight stitch. If you set it all the way to 0, then all the way to 5, you should see the needle move accordingly. The big dial with 0 to 9 is probably tension; mine is not a Brother machine, but tension goes 0 to 9 and generally I keep it at 3. There *might* be a number on your dial that has a square around it or other mark to show what the default tension should be. Hope that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bensmom Posted February 15, 2013 Author Share Posted February 15, 2013 Could ou find your manual here? http://www.brother-usa.com/manuals/default.aspx?ProductGroupID=3#.UR5bRny9KSM That's what I needed. Thanks! I don't know exactly what I did wrong, but when I retreaded and changed the bobbin, it fixed it. The manual said the same thing as previous poster about the presser foot being in the up position. I didn't know that mattered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busymama7 Posted February 15, 2013 Share Posted February 15, 2013 The reason it matters is the presser foot in the down position locks the tension mechanism and the thread won't be in the spot to control the tension. I'm assuming the loops were on the bottom as that is most common and that the top thread was not engaged in the tension either due to incorrect threading or it just slipping out. Always rethread first :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.