How to Avoid the Most Common Problems With Your Sewing Machine: There is no more annoying than machines and technology that do not work when you need to use them. Yes, I know it well. For example, a sewing machine that does not sew properly when you have finally sat down at it to sew! Yes, now you can guess exactly how annoying it can be.
However, if your sewing machine is teasing and doesn’t work properly, Calm down, there is plenty of solution you can try yourself to get your sewing machine sewing nicely.
Some Common Fact That Causes Sewing Machine Teasing
If you have tried to:
- The thread runs
- The sewing machine skips stitches
- Loops form on the back of the seam
- There are holes in the fabric
- The wire clumps down at the bobbin case
Fortunately, you can afford it. You can fix yourself completely without involving a sewing machine workshop that wants money for the inconvenience.
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Check 7 Things Before Handing Over for Professional Repairing
Always check the following 7 things before handing over your sewing machine for repair. The list here is, therefore, in random order. You start with a check on what you think is most likely.
Problem #1
If the sewing machine is threaded incorrectly, it cannot sew. It applies to both the upper thread and the bobbin thread. It is super important that both wires are inserted correctly through the machine. If you doubt whether you have threaded correctly, take both the upper and lower thread out of the machine and thread it from the front.
You can see in the manual for your sewing machine what to do if you need a little extra support. Otherwise, on the vast majority of sewing machines, some numbers indicate where the thread should go and in what order. Once you know the basic principles, it is easier to read the manual for the individual model and get it threaded correctly.
Problem #2
Replace the Sewing machine needles when sewing. Countless times the needle travels up and down through the fabric at a rapid pace. It wears on the needle tip – even if you make an effort not to sew into safety pins while sewing.
Therefore, you need to change your Sewing Machine Needle at regular intervals. And what is that? Yes, it is after approx 8-hours of sewing. It means that you have to change the needle daily if you sew a lot (e.g., 8 hours a day). If you do not sew that much, you can leave the needle in.
And then, it can be challenging to keep track of how many hours the individual needle has sewn. If the needle becomes dull or frayed, it must be replaced immediately – regardless of whether it is only 5 minutes old.
Therefore, it is an excellent idea not to sew over safety pins. If you hit one, there is a significant risk that you will damage your needle so much that you will have to find a new one.
Problem #3
Use the right needle. In addition to the needle being sharp and undamaged, it must also fit the fabric. It is a whole science in itself to find out which needles fit which fabric.
If you sew in delicate fabric types, recommended universal needles size is 80 and 70, and if you sew in jersey and knitted fabric, jersey needles size is 80.
Problem #4
You must have the right coil in the coil housing. The size of spools is not universal, and your spool must, of course, fit your machine. If it is too low or high, too big or small in diameter, the machine will not work. The result is often a messy mess of Sewing Thread in lumps in the bobbin case or on the back of the seam. And believe me – you would rather avoid both scenarios.
Problem #5
Just as spools are not just spools, sewing thread is not just sewing thread. Use sewing thread of good quality, preferably from either Amann or Güttermann. We like to sew with the Saba thread from Amann or with the Mara or Permacore threads from Güttermann. They are all core-spun, which is a particular way of making the thread durable and elastic. And thus very suitable for clothing. You can buy at least one of the good-quality sewing threads in most fabric stores.
Problem #6
You have to be a little careful with this tip. It is certainly not on all sewing machines; it makes sense to tinker with the thread tension. We practically never need to adjust the thread tension on the Brother sewing machines we have in the sewing workshop.
In addition, sewing machine brands require that you should adjust the thread tension according to the fabric. Often the machine itself suggests what you should set the thread tension. Stick to the instructions that came with the machine. Always test in a fabric residue in the right fabric so that you can get an idea of what the seams will look like.
Problem #7
Clean the sewing machine. Whatever sewing machine you have, you will benefit from occasional cleaning. Usually also a little more often (without setting a fixed time “now and then”).
Again, your manual can be a great help. In it, you can see how to get into the bobbin case and get it taken out so you can dust it off. Pay close attention to how to reinsert the bobbin case. It may be an idea to take pictures along the way when you take it out, so you have them to use as a reference when you need to reassemble the sewing machine afterward.
Depending on what sewing machine you have, it may also need a drop of sewing machine oil. Not all sewing machines can provide oil yourself. These are primarily older models. Then check again in the manual if in doubt. Do not lubricate your sewing machine with oil if there are no instructions in the manual.
If you need to lubricate your sewing machine, remember to use sewing machine oil. It is acid-free, and the sewing machine can work with it. Just as it is best for the car to be driven in from time to time, it is also best for your sewing machine to be sewn on. If it is left for too long, there is a risk that the oil will solidify and that the machine will not work properly.
Guide to Fix Sewing Machines Problems?
There is no specific order for you to check the sewing machine. But as you gain some experience, you will learn to judge what is most likely the problem, and then you can start there.
If you are a beginner, the fault often lies in the threading of the machine. If it is not threaded correctly, it will not sew optimally – if at all. If you are more experienced, you usually have the threading so well inside your hands that this is not where you should find the problems. Here it pays to check the needle instead. Some of us tend to forget how long we have been sewing with the same needle, and so it can backfire.
Correct one thing at a time, and sew in a piece of sample fabric. Go through the various items in the list until the issue is resolved. If you have tried all 7- items on the list here without any noticeable improvement on your seams, you must call your favorite sewing machine workshop and make an appointment to look at your sewing machine.
In most cases, the solution is here (above mentioned) on the list, and you can continue sewing. And save money on a repair that was not necessary at all. You can save that money for one of the few times when there is nothing seriously wrong with your sewing machine that requires professionalism and a good sewing machine repairer. Then, in turn, you can pay the bill without bothering yourself, knowing that you have done what you could to solve the problem yourself.
Therefore, remember to sew on your sewing machine. It’s an excellent excuse to pamper yourself with a bit of sewing time. It would be best if you had it to take good care of your sewing machine.
Final Word
So always start by checking these 7- things. If you do not succeed in repairing your sewing machine, either with the guide here or by sending it to a workshop, then there is only one thing to do: you must acquire a new sewing machine. In the meantime, you can make some more sewing patterns and prepare your fabric, so you are ready to sew a lot when you have the sewing machine back home, and it is back in top shape.
“I like to turn a piece of string into something that I can wear.” I am dedicated to sharing knowledge on the necessary sewing equipment in The Sewing Stuffs.
