What is birdnesting in embroidery?

A tangle of top thread that builds up under the fabric, on the needle plate, usually from a threading, tension or hooping problem.

Machines and thread

Birdnesting, explained

The most common cause is top thread that has slipped out of the tension discs or take-up lever, so rethread the top thread completely first. Fabric that bounces with the needle (flagging) because it is hooped loosely, a badly seated bobbin and a blunt or bent needle are the next suspects. The problems and fixes guide walks through these checks.

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