Skipping Stitches
Brother Sewing Machine
Severity: MinorWhat Does This Error Mean?
Skipped stitches on a Brother machine are almost always caused by a dull or incorrectly installed needle, or using the wrong needle type for the fabric. Change the needle first — it fixes the problem in the majority of cases.
Affected Models
- Brother CS6000i
- Brother SE700
- Brother HC1850
- Brother XR9550
- Brother SE1900
- Brother LB5000
Common Causes
- Dull, bent, or damaged needle — most common cause by far
- Needle installed incorrectly — flat side must face the back
- Wrong needle type for the fabric (e.g. universal needle on stretch fabric)
- Needle too far from the hook — timing issue on older machines
- Presser foot not snapped on fully, allowing fabric to lift
- Thread not passing through all threading guides in the correct order
How to Fix It
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Change the needle — do this first, before anything else.
A sewing machine needle should be replaced every 8-10 hours of sewing, or whenever stitches start skipping. Needles become dull or develop a slight hook at the tip that is invisible to the naked eye but causes the hook to miss the thread loop. Install a new needle with the flat side facing the back of the machine.
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Use the correct needle type for your fabric.
Universal needles work for most woven fabrics, but stretch and knit fabrics require a ballpoint or stretch needle. Leather requires a leather/wedge needle. Using the wrong needle on the wrong fabric is a very common source of skipped stitches, especially on jersey, lycra, or denim.
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Rethread the machine completely from scratch.
Even one missed threading guide will cause irregular tension and skipped stitches. Raise the presser foot before threading (very important — this releases the tension discs so thread seats correctly). Follow the numbered threading diagram on your Brother machine.
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Check that the presser foot is fully attached.
A presser foot that is not snapped on completely allows the fabric to lift with the needle on the upstroke. When the fabric lifts, the hook misses the thread loop and a stitch is skipped. Press the presser foot firmly onto the foot holder until it clicks.
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Try a walking foot for difficult fabrics.
On thick, slippery, or multi-layer fabrics, a walking foot feeds the top and bottom layers at the same rate, preventing the fabric from shifting and causing skipped stitches near seams or on thick joins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Brother only skip stitches on the first few stitches of a seam?
Skipping only at the start of a seam is usually caused by the thread tail not being held under the presser foot as you begin sewing. The loose thread tail gets pulled down into the machine and disrupts the stitch formation on the first 2-3 stitches. Always hold both thread tails (upper and lower) toward the back of the machine when starting a seam.
My Brother skips stitches only on thick seams — is that normal?
Skipping on thick seam intersections (like the waistband join on jeans) is common and not a machine fault. The needle struggles to pierce the thick layer cleanly. Solution: use a denim or heavy-duty needle, slow down as you approach the thick section, and manually advance the handwheel through the thickest point if needed.