If the fabric is caught in the sewing machine and cannot be removed, the thread may have become tangled under the needle plate. Follow the procedure described below to remove the fabric from the machine.

Removing the fabric from the machine

1. Immediately stop the sewing machine.

    

2. Turn off the sewing machine.

    

3. Remove the needle.
   Refer to How do I change the needle?

   If the needle is lowered into the fabric, turn the handwheel away from you (clockwise) to raise the needle out of the fabric, and then remove the needle.

4. Remove the presser foot and presser foot holder.
   Refer to How do I remove or attach the presser foot? and How do I remove or attach the presser foot holder?

    

5. Lift up the fabric and cut the threads below it.
   If the fabric can be removed, remove it. Continue with the following steps to clean the race.

    

6. Remove the flat bed attachment.

    

   

    

7. Remove the needle plate cover.

   (1) Needle plate cover

    

   If there is a screw in the needle plate cover, use the L-shaped (or disc-shaped) screwdriver to remove the screw in the needle plate cover.
   
   

    

8. Cut out the tangled threads, and then remove the bobbin.
   
   

    

9. Remove the bobbin case.
   If threads remain in the bobbin case, remove them.

   (1) Bobbin case

    

10. Use the cleaning brush or a vacuum cleaner to remove any lint or dust from the race and its surrounding area.

    (1) Cleaning brush (2) Race

     

    > If the fabric could be removed, continue with step 18.
    > If the fabric could not be removed, continue with step 11.

     

11. Use the enclosed L-shaped (or disc-shaped) screwdriver to loosen the two screws on the needle plate.
    

    Be careful not to drop the removed screws in the machine.

     

12. Slightly lift up the needle plate, cut any tangled threads, and then remove the needle plate.
    Remove the fabric and threads from the needle plate.
    
    
     

    If the fabric cannot be removed, even after completing these steps, contact your authorized Brother dealer or the nearest Brother authorized service center.

13. Remove any threads in the race and around the feed dogs.

     

14. Turn the handwheel to raise the feed dogs.

     

15. Align the two screw holes in the needle plate with the two holes at the needle plate mounting base, and then fit the needle plate onto the machine.

     

16. Lightly finger-tighten the screw on the right side of the needle plate. Then, use the L-shaped (or disc-shaped) screwdriver to firmly tighten the screw on the left side. Finally, firmly tighten the screw on the right side.

     

    
17. Turn the handwheel to check that the feed dogs move smoothly and do not contact the edges of the slots in the needle plate.

    (1) Correct position of feed dogs (2) Incorrect position of feed dogs (3) Needle plate (4) Feed dogs

     

18. Insert the bobbin case so that the  mark on the bobbin case aligns with the mark on the machine as shown below.

    Align the and marks.

    (1)  mark (2)  mark (3) Bobbin case

    Make sure that the indicated points are aligned before installing the bobbin case.

     

    • Never use a bobbin case that is scratched; otherwise, the upper thread may become tangled, the needle may break, or sewing performance may suffer.
    • Make sure that you fit the bobbin case properly, otherwise the needle may break.
19. Insert the tabs on the needle plate cover into the needle plate, and then slide the cover back on.

    (1) Needle plate cover

    Tighten the screw in the needle plate cover firmly using the L-shaped (or disc shaped) screwdriver if the screw was removed in step 7.

     

    

     

20. Install the flat bed attachment back in its original position.

     

21. Check the condition of the needle, and then install it.
    If the needle is in a poor condition, for example, if it is bent, be sure to install a new needle.

     

    Before using the needle, place the flat side of the needle on a flat surface and check that the distance between the needle and the flat surface is even.

    (1) Flat side (2) Needle type marking

    Correct needle

    (1) Flat surface

    Incorrect needle

    If the distance between the needle and the flat surface is not even, the needle is bent. Do not use a bent needle.

    (1) Flat surface

    Do not use a bent needle. Sewing with a bent needle is extremely dangerous since the needle may break while the machine is being operated.

     

Checking machine operations

If the needle plate has been removed, check machine operations to confirm that installation has been completed correctly.

1. Turn on the machine.
2. Select .

   Do not yet install the presser foot and thread.

    

3. Slowly turn the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise), and look from all sides to check that the needle falls at the center of the hole in the needle plate.
   If the needle contacts the needle plate, remove the needle plate, and then install it again.

   (1) Hole in the needle plate (2) Handwheel

    

4. Select  (zigzag stitch) . At this time, increase the stitch length and width to their maximum settings.

    

5. Slowly turn the handwheel toward you (counterclockwise) and check that the needle bar and feed dogs operate correctly.
   If the needle or feed dogs contact the needle plate, the machine may be malfunctioning; therefore, contact your authorized Brother dealer or the nearest Brother authorized service center.

    

6. Turn off the machine, and then install the bobbin and presser foot. 
   Refer to How do I set the bobbin? and How do I remove or attach the presser foot?

    

7. Correctly thread the machine.
   Refer to How do I thread the machine?

   The thread may have become tangled as a result of incorrect upper threading. Make sure that the machine is correctly threaded.

    

8. Perform trial sewing with normal fabric.

   Incorrect sewing may be the result of incorrect upper threading or sewing thin fabrics. If there are poor results from the trial sewing, check the upper threading or the type of fabric being used.