What is Sewing Machine Tension?

Learn about sewing machine tension, how it impacts your sewing, and how to fix problems with tension.

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Sewing machine tension is how tight the threads are pulled as you sew. The tighter your thread, the tighter your stitches.

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How can I tell if my tension is wrong?

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Comparison of Tensions

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How do I fix tension problems once I’ve found them?

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Start by resetting your tension settings to where they were when you started and rethread your machine. Sometimes machines just need to be rethreaded if they're acting up.

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More stories

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Danielle Pientka

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Learn about sewing machine tension, how it impacts your sewing, and how to fix problems with tension.

Sewing machine tension is how tight the threads are pulled as you sew. The tighter your thread, the tighter your stitches.