Ever had nasty snarls of thread start cropping up on the bottom of your sewing? Before taking your sewing machine into the shop, take a few minutes to troubleshoot the obvious culprits.

• First make sure your bobbin hasn’t been put in backwards. As the thread unspools, the bobbin should spin clockwise in the case.
• If that doesn’t solve it, clean out the bobbin area removing fuzz, lint, and snips of thread. Many times that’s enough to solve the problem. In general, it’s good practice to clean your machine at the end of each project. You’ll need to clean more often if you’re using minky, flannel or other fuzzy fabric.
• If snarls continue, change your needle. A dull needle can cause bobbin thread to tangle. So can a needle that is becoming bent. Make sure that you have installed your needle with the flat side in the correct position in the needle assembly. Check your manual for instructions.
• Make sure your bobbin hasn’t been put in backwards. As the thread unspools, the bobbin should spin clockwise in the case.

If snarls continue, take your machine to a reputable repair shop certified in your brand of sewing machine.