Common machine stitch problems
Puckers, popped seams and dense stitches.
- Straight stitch puckering: lengthen the stitch.
- Seams snapping on stretch fabric: use a stretch stitch that won't snap when stretched, with stretch or ball-point needles.
- Triple stitch distorting fabric: it's bulky, so use it with caution.
- Decorative stitches are dense and hard to unpick: test first.
Watch
Troubleshooting 3 Common Sewing Machine Problems | Sew Simple Series Lesson #7 (13:38)
By Jan Howell · Open on YouTube
Chosen from its title and channel: a 13-minute video from Jan Howell on the same topic as this guide. Embedded from YouTube with credit; we don't host it. It only loads when you press play.
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Sources
All checked November 1, 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.