A buildup of thread, or “messy loops”, carries the name “bird nesting”. This happens when the bobbin and top thread of your embroidery machine get tangled up together. (You usually spot bird nesting either on the top or bottom of your embroidery.) Bird nesting has many different causes, from hooping your garment too loose to inserting your bobbin into the machine incorrectly. It’s important to learn the different causes to know how to quickly solve them and help prevent facing any bird nests in the future.
Pro Tip: Never leave your embroidery machine unattended, and keep an eye out for any possible indications of bird nesting as the machine is running.
(Image example of bird nesting)
To solve your bird nesting problem, please follow the instructions listed below.
First, identify whether the bird nesting is happening on just one or multiple needles of your machine. Identifying this will help you know what necessary adjustments need to be made.
- Check the thread path.
- Make sure you thread your machine properly. You can do this by ensuring the thread is going through the take-up lever. If your thread is passing smoothly through the take-up lever, then your next step is checking that it’s going through the tension plates as well. Once you check that the thread is passing through the tension plates, ensure it’s also going through behind the tension plate pin (a small pin located between the tension plates, securing the thread and ensuring it doesn’t pop out of the tension plates).
- Check the thread tension(s).
- Check your thread tension(s) and ensure the thread tension is not too loose. If the thread tension is too loose, the thread will slip down into the bobbin area at a faster rate than it should, causing a bird’s nest. To solve this problem, tighten the bobbin tension(s). (To tighten the bobbin tension, turn the tension screw on the bobbin case in a counterclockwise direction.) However, begin with the top tension(s), then move on to the lower tension(s) for the needle(s) that are having the issue.
- Click here to learn how to adjust thread tension(s).
- Check and change the needle(s).
- Check if your needle(s) are the correct size for your project. The purpose of knowing this is to ensure the rotary hook catches the thread correctly. It will only catch the thread correctly if the needle is the perfect size. (If the needle(s) are not the correct size, you will need to change them to the appropriate size.)
- Click here to learn how to change your needle(s).
- Click here to learn all about the different needle sizes.
- Check the black bar.
- Ensure the black bar holding the rotary hook is in place (meaning the black bar should not be too close to the rotary hook.) However, if the black bar is not in place (it is too close to the rotary hook), you will need to loosen the two small Phillips screws underneath the black bar (one will be located on the left, and the other on the right). When you see it, manually move it out a little, but do ensure that it still locks the rotary hook in its place.
- Check the bobbin case.
- Check the bobbin case and ensure it is not broken, damaged, or simply lacking maintenance. If the bobbin case is not broken or damaged but is lacking maintenance, you’ll need to clean the area underneath the needle plate. To do this, you can use a small brush or a can of compressed air. However, if it is broken or damaged, a new bobbin case replacement will be needed. Sometimes the metal can bend or break, and other times, the pigtail simply breaks off, causing a bird’s nest. (Helpful info: All Ricoma machines use ‘L’ size bobbin cases.)
- Click here to learn details about the bobbin.
- Click here for general information on machine maintenance.
- Check the bobbin tension.
- Check the bobbin tension and make sure the tension is perfectly fit. To do this, the tension should not be too tight or too loose. If the tension is too tight, a bird’s nest will occur under the needle hole. If the tension is too loose, the bird’s nest will occur on top of the needle hole.
If you’d like more information on bird nesting, please review the following resources below:
5 Causes of Birds Nests and How to Prevent Them (Embroidery Hub Ep 76)
5 Reasons Why Bird Nesting Happens and How to Prevent Them
MT-1501 How-To: Threading - How to Check and Adjust Thread Tension
For additional assistance, please refer below.
Please feel free to contact us via email at service@ricoma.com or visit our support page at www.ricoma.com/US/support for additional assistance.