In this post we will learn 7 of the most common reasons a sewing machine’s needle may be off centered, and what to do in each situation!
An off-center sewing machine needle is annoying, but it is also risky. If your needle doesn’t raise and lower in the correct position, it can hit the presser foot or needle plate and snap the tip!
The most common reasons a sewing machine needle is not centered are that the wrong stitch is selected, the stitch width is not set to zero.
But these are only 2 of the 7 reasons your needle bit be off kilter! Continue reading to learn how you can solve this problem.
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7 Reasons Your Sewing Machine Needle Is Off Center (And How To Fix It!)
1. The Wrong Stitch Is Selected
If you are using a sewing machine that has multiple stitch options (rather than just a straight stitch) the very first thing to do is make sure that you have the straight stitch selected!
If you accidentally leave the machine programed on a different stitch type, such as a zig zag stitch for example, the needle will move in preparation to begin the stitch.
Some machines have two straight stitches, one with a centered needle, and one with a left-positioned needle, so you can check that too. (This is how my machine works.)
2. Stitch Width Not Set To 0
When you sew a zig zag stitch and raise or lower the stitch width, the needle moves to the left or right so that it can create a wider or narrower zig zag.
When you sew a straight stitch, there is no width to adjust (since you are just sewing a line!) so if you adjust the stitch width setting it simply moves the needle left or right.
This can be helpful if you need to be able to perfectly align your stitch line, but usually when sewing a straight stitch you should just return your stitch width to zero. (Or back to the default number it is supposed to be at.)
3. You Have A Left-Homing Needle Machine
If this is a new-to-you sewing machine, I wanted to mention something you might not have known before!
Some sewing machines (especially machines with fewer stitch selections and ones mostly meant for quilting) have a needle that’s default position is the center. They will typically have a presser foot that is for straight stitches only, that has a little hole in the center of it.
If you have a sewing machine model that’s needle is left-homing, that means the needle’s default (home) position is to the leftmost sewing position, and you will have a different type of presser foot.
This is normal! But for someone who has only ever sewn with a center-homing needle machine, this information is important to note!
If you have a left-homing needle machine, make sure you always use the right presser foot when you sew straight stitches.
4. Needle Is Bent
Yes, this is an obvious answer, but make sure to check that you needle is not bent. If the needle is bent closer to the middle or top rather than right over the eye, then it can look un-bent from far away.
You should check the needle from the side of the machine as well as the front to make sure it is perfectly straight.
5. Needle Is Inserted Incorrectly
Before ruling everything out, you might as well remove the needle and then take a moment to re-insert it very carefully to double check that it was inserted correctly.
If the set screw somehow came loose, then perhaps the needle shifted in the housing and caused it to move off center.
6. Your Machine Needs To Be Cleaned
Here is another easy item you can rule out if you have a stubbornly off centered needle. And here is an embarrassing (and badly lit) photo!
See how much lint can build up above the needle housing? You would think that most of the lint would be down under the feed dogs… but it gets everywhere!
Get out your sewing manual and do a quick cleaning and perhaps an oiling. A build up of lint can really get in the way of the inner mechanisms of the sewing machine!
Note that some newer models of sewing machines do not recommend regular oiling. So make sure to check what your particular maintenance requires.
7. Needle Housing Is Misaligned
I saved the worst answer for last. If your needle didn’t respond to any of the easier solutions above, then chances are it might simply be misaligned.
Although there are DIY videos that can teach you how to realign a needle on your machine, typically this is a fix that a professional should do.
Many sewing machine warranties do not cover damages to a machine if the user attempts to open up and repair their machine themselves.
If you need help looking for a good sewing machine repair shop, here are some tips you can read!
Be sure to call around and get multiple quotes.
Conclusion
An off centered needle is annoying but luckily, the problem is usually easily solved! If your needle is not centered, the first things to check are the stitch type settings and the stitch width settings.
I hope these tips were helpful in solving your problem. Let me know which one it was for you!
this article is very useful, thank you for making a good article
very helpful information indeed!