I don't know where a shop is. I don't really have the money to fix it right now. All my money is going into my wedding.

I don't know what happened to the manual. (Lost in my studio closet, probably. LOL) I'll just tinker with it.

Have you still got the instruction manual for it? There's probably something in there that'll tell you how to fix it.

If not, is there a shop near you that'll mend it? I'm not sure how common they are, but there's one near me and I think that as well as selling sewing machines (that's all they sell) they do repairs and things as well.

An old Brother XL-5130. It's not like '50's old.....but I got it when I was in HS.

what kind of machine do you have

I used flat cotton bed sheet scraps and it did the same thing. It still did it. I figured the thread must not be pulling tight enough. And voila! The thread had come off the arm on the inside. (Don't know the word for it.) So I sorta figured out the problem.....It is coming off when I sew in reverse. Don't know how to stop that, but at least I can sew forwards now.

Thanx! I would just DIE if my sewing machine broke!!!

I don't know. I would try to sew with a scrap piece of fabric of a different material to make sure that there isn't something going on with your machine. All I can think of is changing the needle. I hope that you figure it out soon. Good luck!

The fabric isn't going thru the machine.

I loosened it.....still doing the same thing.

I don't really know what kind of fabric it is. It isn't velvet, but it is kinda fuzzy on one side.

I tried changing the needle.....still not working.

If the fabric isn't going through the machine try loosening the presser foot slightly?

Maybe you use to use a larger needle. What kind of fabric are you sewing with?

Can anyone tell me how to sew thick fabric with a sewing machine? My thread keeps piling up and getting jammed inside my machine. I've tried changing the stitch size.....Doesn't work at any size. And I'm not using a decorative stitch.

You have some sort of needles that are excelent for felt and you only need those needles... I don't know theyr name in English but if I translate them from dutch to english: Viltnaald (dutch)= Feltneedle ^^ In the Netherlands is one needle like €0,60 cents.

Ooohh! I see now! Thanks so much hun! =3

They're not objects, they're little things you put in clothes to make them tighter.

If you have a blouse, there are likely to be darts on either side of your bust. They're the little lines of stitching where someone has turned the garment inside out, and pinched it together so the fabric forms to the figure, and sewn along that line.

I don't think I'm coming across particularly clearly, but here they are:
http://www.threadbanger.com/post/8160/how-to-dart-a-t-shirt

Instead of making a new topic..well..I've never used a sewing machine..x.x ever. I have a Brother XL-2121 monster -- I mean sewing machine.
x.x any tips on how to use this thing? I've got the uh...threading and junk down thanks to the handy manual..but..any tips for a super novice sewing machine user? x.x I can't seem to sew a straight line on the thing to save my life..