What to do when your sewing machine says “NO” – trouble shooting
January 21, 2009 by Chloe Findlay-Harder
Filed under Home & Living
I think anyone who has ever worked with a sewing machine has had problems with it at some time or another.
Like any kind of machine, sewing machines need regular maintenance to keep them running along smoothly. Changing needles, cleaning the lint and oiling your machine will do a lot to keep it going for years.
But what happens when the thread starts breaking, or the fabric starts bunching up under the foot?
First of all, stop, un-thread the machine and completely re-thread it. Lots of sewing issues can be solved by making sure the thread path is correct.
Did that help? If not, try changing the needle (remember, needles are only supposed to last for about 10 hours of sewing) and cleaning out the lint from around the bobbin case and under the foot plate.
Still not helping? Check out this great online trouble-shooting guide from Sewing USA.
And don’t forget, sewing machines need regular tune-ups from a qualified repairman – like the dealer you bought it from! Not sure where to go for a tune-up? Ask at your local fabric or quilt shop.
image: Stock.xchg
Thanks for the nudge, Chloe.
For me, cleaning out the lint and dripping in some oil are about the same as backing up my hard drive. I know I should do these things, but just don’t get around to them!