I have seen that look on the bobbin side. I have seen that look on the bobbin side, when I have loaded my bobbin backwards. (I also have a Singer, so you might try this.) Rethread the bobbin holder so the thread is being pulled backwards, if that makes any sense. Then test on the same fabric you are sewing with. (I just try to remember to put the bobbin in backwards from how I THINK it should go in the bobbin holder.)

I like the fabric, it is fun and a bit silly, and who needs serious pajama pants? My 12 year old has some ducky pajamas (pink with yellow ducks) and on her size they are cute. I would not, however, cover my son in ducky jammies. He may only be 10, but on his football team, my oldest daughter and I have an easier time picking out his bottom, than his number. It is sad, but true. Too many ducks can be too much of a good thing.

I bought a sewing machine in February. Last weekend I took it out of the box. I read the manual and the diagram describing what all the bazillion parts are. I looked at the different sized needles, the different presser feet, and the little tools for "maintaining" the machine. I read the descriptions of each type of stitch and what they're for. I put the dust cover on it and walked away. Now that I've seen what happens when you just try to sew two pieces of fabric together in a straight line ... I think it's going back in the box. Two sticks and a piece of string is ... better.

Beware the Puff Adder Hat Head. It'll getcha.
I am STILL LMAO over "size Vast".
You could have made the ducky pants, and then sewn little camo vests on each one. Then no one would have seen you coming at all.

Oh. My. God. Bobbin gouting. Seen it meselves MANY times. Mom says that when the *mumble*mumble* machine does that, the bobbin is in backwards and you have the wrong tension on the bobbin casing. *I* say the machine is hideously evil. End of story.

Frankie is the most divine model. Furry smooches to her!

And I'd have gone with duckies. Nothing says comfy like duckies. And with a size Mega-Vast, I gets me lots of duckies! :)

I absolutely have faith in the power of happy dogs.

"Puff Adder Head," eh? You could slant that into something else. "Striking" comes to mind. It's a pun, sorta, but I suppose that's alright.

It looks as though the feed from the bobbin isn't being tensioned properly for some reason, so the thread is whipping off the bobbin willy-nilly and creating lovely little tangles. Since I don't have a Singer, I can't comment beyond that on the subject.

The one thing I can comment on, though, and have commented on before, I believe, is *ahem* Frankie's figure. I do believe that is her belly falling in a roll over her knees. Tsk. Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.

Mel: Are you saying my dog is fat? ;-) Actually, the photo is at a funny angle and she was sitting kind of weird. She weighs in at a trim 29.5 pounds and you can see her little waist when you look down on her. She always gets an A+ in conditioning and fitness from the vet. TMK

Frankie is adorable! I love Corgies :)

Holy Cow the tension!! I think your Singer is upset with you... could it be that you knit too much and it is jealous? I think mine does that occasionally. I would suggest that the bobbin could have been in the wrong way, but if you rethreaded, then you probably tried that. I think it must just hate you.

Good luck!

Well cripes, for a lot of people who made me feel better about my sewing, you all know which way the bobbin goes in? Who knows things like that? Just by looking at the seam, no less!

And since I spent the weekend helping to edit some technical training, I'll just say that some technical trainers mumble when they write!

I'm going away now to imagine a corgi book club, where they gather to discuss Dickens...

My machine does that on occasion... and usually I can get it to stop if I put in a new sharp needle and make sure there aren't any dust bunnies growing under the presser foot.

Making sure the bobbin is in correctly is always a good idea, but quite honestly, a little bit of voodoo never hurts.

Oh god. That mumbling instructor story guarantees that I will never go back to college. Or at least, not until I'm deaf enough to require an interpreter.

I don't think I can recover from the image of you tippytoeing, Sylvester-sneaking-up-on-Tweety style, to the garage in those pants. Dude, I can even hear the tippy-toe cartoon music.

Will Frankie now want a scarf of his own for Christmas? Maybe with a matching jacket? Red does seem to be his color.

I haven't sewn much in the last couple of decades and never was good at it, but as soon as people said "Singer" and "backwards bobbin" the memories flooded back. Tee, the people who know these things are the ones who've done them themselves enough time to finally remember.

Check to be sure that the thread is threaded correctly topside. Usually when my machine does this, it's because the thread isn't in the uptake lever--the little thing that goes up and down at the top front of the machine (no, not the needle).

And when you're done with the PJ pants, you can sew the Dulaan patch on your sash!

;-)

Saralyn

Aw, I have SUCH an adoration for corgis; they look adorable regardless, and yes, I'd have to say red IS Frankie's color. If I didn't have kitties I would SO have a corgi. (Or a Papillon, I fell in love with a Papillon this summer.) Regarding sewing machines: they ALL hate me. Mine mumbles when I approach it - mumbles in Croatian. Sheesh. Where did I put my knitting?

Your mumbling instructor sounds just like my Criminal Law professor who did that on PURPOSE because she was diabolically evil!

My Singer (and every Singer I've ever used, for that matter!) does that loop de loop all the time and it's NOT because the bobbin is in backward or the tension is wrong. It will go along fine for a while, and then, WHAMMO, a mess! The bobbin did not suddenly jump from being correct to being backwards and the tension did not change. I don't know why the heck it does that, but it's one of the reasons I hate sewing! Knitting needles will never play nasty tricks like that (though they do have their own repertoire!).

I say irritate the hell out of the instructor by going, "What?" every time he starts to mumble. He'll snap out of it. You're paying for the class, after all, so you should get what you came for!

I have the opposite problem. My students are often reminding me that I don't have to shout. I'm not shouting, I'm just, um, loud by nature. Poor dears!

Love the pants fabric, BTW! I'd definitely say take your machine in for a look-see if you've already checked tension and such.

Frankie is the cutest in that scarf. That photo would make a cute holiday card. It also gave me the idea for a dog sweater, to incorporate a short scarf sewn on, (so the doggy won't trip) for that wintry look. Can't you picture a tan sweater with a jaunty red scarf for accent? My sister walks her Corgi faithfully, no matter what the weather, all winter. On windy winter days, even a corgi with all that fur, appreciates a sweater on a long walk. And for the less fur-endowed breeds a sweater is a necessity.
(Sorry I'm blabby, but allergy medication does that to me.)

The mumbling instructor story had me in stitches! I agree with Kristen -- tell the instructor you are missing the most important parts of his lecture. Maybe it will help. If nothing else he'll be flattered that you're paying attention! LOL

Ryan, I think the PJ fabric is neat. Sure, it's bright, but how many people are going to see it besides you and TMK? Wear what makes you smile.

P.S. Frankie is adorable in the scarf. I actually thought the first picture looked more devil-may-care than annoyed...

I know *exactly* what your machine is doing, and I can't explain it in type. Grr.

In addition to making sure the bobbin isn't backwards, make sure the bobbin thread hasn't come out of the little slot you feed in in the case. (You put the bobbin in, snap it down, then thread it around an almost imperceptible slot before feeding it out the back. Make sure it's still in it's little slot. Really.)

Also, make sure you're winding your bobbin at a consistent tension. You can go slow or fast, as long as you're always going the same speed. The bobbin thread comes off at the same speed. Think of it like, um, stretching the yarn while you knit, the giving it tons of slack. It's going to make bubblies ... just like your thread.

Re the Singer Madness - another tip is to always hold both threads with your fingers snugly behind the presser foot as you are starting a new seam. The sudden jump as the machine lurches into motion will often yank the bobbin thread back down through the hole and gnarly itself up in a ball or loose loops under the fabric. Once you've gone 4 stitches or more you can let go. Do you wanna borrow my serger to finish off the seams? Also, er, eh, dudette...did y'all wash and shrink that fabric before starting?

Linda, you would be so proud of me. Not five minutes after I arrived home from the fabric store, the flannel was in my washing machine getting a good washin' and thumpin', and 40 minutes later it was in my dryer getting a good dryin'.

Good GRRRRRLLLL! That's the way I always do it!!! Also, what they said about the slot thingee up above is crucial - the slot thingee on the uppie part of the bobbin case - don't you love the problem solving of the blog community?

Don't have a Singer (have a Viking) but I think what Collen and Linda K said is what the issue might be..... Those dumb little, inconveniently placed slots and/or "thingies" to direct the thread are crucial. Love the fabric! Good luck.

I haven't read all the comments, but sometimes the problem with the sewing machine needs a BRAND NEW NEEDLE. Don't ask me why, or how, I just know this works to clear up the problem when I have it.

I keep a selection of needles on hand all the time (they're relatively cheap) for various fabrics and weights.

Sweet Caroline