Overlocker Needle Breaking - How to Deal With It
A needle breaking on an overlocker is always worth taking seriously - fragments can travel and the blades are close by. Here's how to deal with it safely and stop it from happening again.
Work through these steps in order
Safety first, then diagnosis, then getting back to sewing.
Stop and turn the machine off immediately
As soon as a needle breaks, stop and turn the machine off before doing anything else.
- Carefully locate and remove all pieces of the broken needle before continuing
- Check around the needle plate, presser foot, blades and looper area for fragments - they can travel further than you'd expect
- Don't continue until you're confident all fragments are accounted for
Work out what caused it
Needles don't break without a reason. Identifying the cause before fitting a new one is important - otherwise it's likely to happen again.
Wrong needle for the fabric
A fine needle can't handle heavy fabrics or multiple thick layers.
Needle not fully inserted
If it's not seated all the way up in the clamp it will bend and break under pressure.
Clamp screw not tightened
A loose needle will shift during sewing and break.
Pulling or pushing the fabric
Let the feed dogs move the fabric - never tug it through.
Hitting the blade or looper
Can happen if the needle is incorrectly positioned or the wrong size for the machine.
Sewn over a pin
Never sew over pins on an overlocker - it will snap the needle and can damage the blade.
Check the blade and looper for damage
A breaking needle can nick or damage the blade or looper as it snaps. It's important to inspect both carefully before sewing again.
- Check the upper blade for any nicks or damage along the cutting edge
- Inspect the looper tips for any visible damage
- Continuing with a damaged blade or looper can cause thread shredding, further needle breaks or poor stitch formation
- If you find damage, get in touch and we can advise on replacement parts
Fit a new needle correctly
Once you've identified and addressed the cause, fit a fresh needle the right way.
- Use the correct needle system for your overlocker - many require a specific type such as the ELx705, not a standard sewing machine needle
- Make sure the needle is appropriate for your fabric weight
- Insert it fully with the flat side to the back and tighten the clamp screw securely
- Turn the handwheel manually to lower and raise the needle and confirm it clears the blade and looper without catching
Check machine speed
Running too fast, particularly on thick fabrics or multiple layers, puts extra stress on the needle.
- Slow down and let the machine work at a steady, comfortable pace
- Take extra care when approaching thick seams - slow right down to let the machine work through without straining the needle
Test on scrap fabric
Before returning to your project, turn the handwheel manually for the first few stitches to confirm everything is clear, then run a test on scrap fabric of a similar weight before continuing at full speed.
Quick fix checklist
Run through this before contacting us - it covers the most common causes.
- Machine turned off and all needle fragments located and removed
- Needle plate, presser foot, blade and looper area all checked for fragments
- Cause of the break identified before fitting a new needle
- Blade and looper inspected for damage caused by the break
- Correct needle type for the overlocker fitted, fully inserted and tightened
- Handwheel turned manually to confirm needle clears blade and looper
- Machine speed reduced for thick fabrics or multiple layers
Still having trouble? We're here to help.
If needles keep breaking after working through these steps, there may be a mechanical issue that needs attention. Get in touch and our team will take it from there.
Still stuck? We are happy to help.
Our service team has seen every machine in our range and can usually diagnose problems over the phone.
