Embroidery Machine Skipping Stitches? 7 Checks, in Order

A skipped stitch happens when the needle fails to pick up the bobbin thread, leaving a gap in the design. Start with the needle: replace it, make sure it is straight, the right size for your thread and pushed all the way up with the flat side facing the right way. Then rethread the top thread with the presser foot up, rehoop the fabric flat with stabilizer, and clean lint from under the needle plate. If gaps continue, the machine's timing may need a technician.

A skipped stitch is a gap in the design where the needle went down but did not catch the bobbin thread. If it happens now and then, start with the needle, then the threading, then how the fabric is hooped, then lint. Most cases are fixed before you get to the last step.

This guide is for stitches that skip here and there. If the thread is piling up under the hoop, see embroidery machine bird nesting. If the needle snaps, read why embroidery needles keep breaking. If the thread snaps or shreds, see why embroidery thread keeps breaking.

The advice below comes from a Brother manual for one sewing and embroidery machine, Schmetz’s needle troubleshooting guide, OESD’s stabilizer basics and a dealer education page. This site is not affiliated with any of them or with any machine maker. Menus and steps differ by model, so follow your own manual.

Quick cause finder

What you notice	Likely cause	First fix
Gaps started after a long session or a crash	Bent, dull or damaged needle	Replace the needle
Gaps began right after a needle change	Needle not seated or facing wrong	Reinstall it
Gaps with a new, thicker thread	Needle too small for the thread	Move up a needle size
Gaps mixed with loops or a messy top	Threading problem	Rethread with the presser foot up
Gaps on stretchy or thin fabric	Fabric moving in the hoop, weak stabilizer	Rehoop with proper stabilizer
Gaps only at the start of a new color	Short thread tail after trimming	Pull the top thread out further
Gaps even after all of the above	Lint, or timing	Clean under the needle plate, then service

1. Replace the needle

Brother’s manual lists a turned, bent or dull needle, and a defective needle, as causes of skipped stitches, and the fix for both is a new needle. Its needle page says skipped stitches can mean the needle is bent, and that an unusual sound as the needle enters the fabric can mean the tip is dull or broken.

You can check a needle on a flat surface. Brother says to place the flat side of the needle on a flat surface such as the bobbin cover or a pane of glass, look from the top and sides, and throw away any bent needle. Schmetz says needles should be replaced about every 8 hours of sewing, or at the start of each new project, and lists skipped stitches among the signs to change one. One dealer education page adds that you should replace a dull, bent or scratched needle even if it looks fine.

2. Reinstall the needle correctly

A needle that is in wrong is a listed cause in Brother’s manual. For the machine in that manual, the steps are:

Raise the needle and lock the machine’s keys.
Cover the hole in the needle plate with fabric or paper so the needle cannot fall in.
Remove the presser foot and loosen the needle clamp screw.
Insert the new needle with the flat side facing the back, and push it all the way up until it touches the needle stopper.
Tighten the screw firmly and put the foot back on.

Brother stresses pushing the needle in until it touches the stopper. Some machines differ, so check where the flat side should face on yours.

3. Check needle size and type

Brother’s manual lists an improper needle, thread, or fabric preparation as a cause. Schmetz lists a needle of the wrong size. Its rule of thumb is that the needle eye should be about 40% larger than the thread’s diameter, and that you should use a larger needle when you switch to thicker thread. Our embroidery needle guide and the glossary entry on embroidery needle sizes cover the common choices.

The dealer page makes two more points. Use an embroidery needle rather than a plain sewing needle, and match the type to the job: a ballpoint for stretchy knits and a larger-eyed needle for metallic thread. Take that as one source’s advice and check your thread maker’s needle recommendation.

4. Rethread the top thread

Brother lists incorrect threading as a cause, with a full rethread as the fix. Take the thread out completely and thread again from the spool, following your machine’s diagram. Raise the presser foot first. The dealer page says to lower it only when you use the needle threader. Our threading guide walks through it.

The same page suggests cleaning the thread guides and tension discs while you are there. Check the bobbin too: it should be wound evenly and seated as your manual shows.

5. Make sure the fabric cannot move in the hoop

Brother lists insufficient fabric preparation among the causes. OESD says stabilizer keeps fabric from moving, puckering or stretching during stitching. It advises hooping the stabilizer together with the fabric when possible, both flat and smooth but not stretched, with temporary spray adhesive to hold the layers together if needed.

OESD also says heavier fabrics and denser designs need heavier stabilizer, and that two layers of a lighter one can work better than a single heavy layer. For stretchy fabric, it says cutaway stabilizer must be used. Our guides on hooping and stabilizer go deeper.

The dealer page notes that on thin stabilizer, long basting stitches can pull through and barely form. If gaps show up in the basting stitches, a firmer stabilizer is a good thing to try.

6. Try a different thread

The dealer page says to try a different brand or type of thread, especially with a new spool, because old, low-quality or metallic thread can cause problems and some machines dislike certain brands. Run a test on scrap fabric with the same needle and stabilizer, changing only the thread. If the skips disappear, the thread was the cause. Our thread guide explains weights and types.

One more case from the same page: if the skipping happens only at the start of a new color, the cutter may be trimming the thread tail too short. Pull the top thread out further before starting each color.

7. Clean lint from under the needle plate

Brother lists dust or lint under the needle plate as a cause and points to cleaning the race area. The dealer page describes removing the needle plate and bobbin, then brushing and vacuuming lint and thread bits out of the bobbin case and the compartment below it. It adds that you should look for nicks on the bobbin, needle plate and case, and replace parts that are damaged.

Switch the machine off and follow your manual for removing the needle plate. Our maintenance guide lists what to clean and when.

Tension, timing and when to call a technician

Schmetz lists tension that is too tight as a cause of skipped stitches. The dealer page treats tension as a last resort, advising small changes: reduce top tension if bobbin thread shows on top, and increase it if the top thread is pulled well to the back. Settle the earlier steps first, as a tension change can hide the real problem.

If a new needle, fresh threading, good hooping and a clean bobbin area do not stop the skipping, the machine may be out of adjustment. Schmetz says a technician can adjust the timing, hook-to-needle clearance and needle bar height. The dealer page also suggests professional repair for timing problems or anything deep inside the machine. Taking the machine to your maker’s authorized service center is safer than trying to adjust these parts yourself.

Fixing the gaps in a design

Do not unhoop a design with skipped stitches if you can avoid it. One dealer page says that on a Brother machine you can back up with the needle position button and the +/- button beside it, then use the arrow keys to back up and restitch while the project is still hooped. Other brands have their own back-up steps in their manuals. For small gaps after unhooping, hand stitching is an option.

A short routine to prevent skips

Start each project with a fresh needle of the right size for your thread.
Thread with the presser foot up, every time.
Hoop flat with stabilizer matched to the fabric and the design.
Brush out the bobbin area regularly.
If skips only happen with one file, stitch a different design on the same fabric. If that stitches cleanly, look at how the file was made; the glossary entry on stitch density is a start.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my embroidery machine skipping stitches?

The most common causes are a bent, dull or wrongly installed needle, incorrect threading, fabric that moves in the hoop, and lint under the needle plate. Brother's manual lists all of these under skipped stitches. Change the needle first, since it is the quickest and cheapest check.

How often should I change an embroidery needle?

Schmetz says needles should be replaced about every 8 hours of sewing, or at the start of each new project. It also lists skipped stitches among the signs that a needle needs changing, so do not wait for the hours to add up if gaps appear.

Can the wrong needle size cause skipped stitches?

Yes. Schmetz lists a needle of the wrong size as a cause, and says the needle eye should be about 40% larger than the thread diameter. If you moved to a thicker thread, use a larger needle.

Does tension cause skipped stitches?

It can. Schmetz lists tension that is too tight as one cause. Check the needle, threading, hooping and lint first, and only then adjust tension in small steps, as one dealer education page also advises.

When is skipping a timing problem?

Suspect timing when a fresh needle, fresh threading, a clean bobbin area and well-hooped fabric all fail to help. Schmetz says a technician can adjust timing, hook-to-needle clearance and needle bar height. Do not try to adjust these yourself.