Hi Folks,
Well, today is Thursday and somehow this week has flown by without a tip on Tuesday. Sorry!
The tip this week is about getting your machine serviced. On Friday I spent some time with our in-house sewing machine repair man, Steve, of Keep on Stitching. My friend Amy brought in her machine because the thread was bunching up underneath her quilt and she was trying to quilt it and the thread would then break. While Steve worked on her machine, we used the cutting table in that room and had the opportunity to really talk with Steve about machines.
There are several things Steve said that I will tell you and several I have forgotten already so you might want to stop in and chat with him one Friday.
First off, it really is important to bring your machine in once a year, at least (if you sew a lot, more often is even better for your machine), for a servicing. I have noticed myself, that my new machine that I had only sewed on three times, was full of dust, when I went to put a new bobbin in for my fourth project. That means you all that sew more often than I do, must have very dusty machines. Now, I know we can clean that dust out ourselves, but I do not believe we ever get the dust out quite as well as a service person with that big blast of air from their machine.
More things Steve has talked about:
Steve also says that a sewing machine is like a car and needs to be run. He says you should run your machine at least once a month to keep things from drying out and going bad in your machine. So, even if you don't have a project, put it on your calendar (like giving the dog or cat it's once a month meds) to get some scraps out ans sew on your machine. Even better, once a month you could figure out a project to make and fell better about your sewing a quilting. No more "I haven't sewn or quilted in so long because.....", just do it once a month for your machine's health.
While on the subject of dust, apparently the foot pedal of your machine can also get filled with dust, especially if you sew on carpeting, so it is a good idea if you have carpeting, to get a mat for under your chair and pedal. what can happen if it gets too much dust you ask? Well, I now have heard of three people whose machines have kept sewing even when their foot is off the pedal. What did they find out when they took their machines in? They had to get a new pedal. Why? The pedal malfunctions when it gets too much dust in it for too long and it cannot be fixed.
When Steve got into my friend Amy's machine, he found that she was using the wrong size bobbin, even though it seemed to fit just fine and that her bobbin case was so worn that there were little grooves in it so the thread was catching in it. Steve said "Don't ever pull on the thread" when it bunches up under your project so tightly that you cannot even see the throat plate. You have to very carefully snip the thread away WITHOUT PULLING and then take your throat plate off and very carefully snip away all the threads wound up inside WITHOUT PULLING to clean it all out. Any pulling can force a piece of your machine out of whack and make it not sew well and then if you sew on it when it is out of whack, eventually you get wear marks on some of the parts that make sewing even less enjoyable.
A few little tips about thread. Steven says that different machines do like different thread so you just have to try out thread and if your machine seems not to like a brand, then stay away from it. A little tip from me about thread is to try to stick to the same type of thread in the bobbin as you are using in the top. It doesn't have to be the same spool or color but should be the same weight and brand if possible. If you find your thread breaking it might be different types of thread being used together. Also, if you find thread breaking, sometimes a spool of thread just will not sew well when it gets towards the middle. If I find things not sewing well and I have a skinny spool on my machine, I will use the rest of that spool to wind a bobbin and put a new spool on the top.
Take care of your machine so that you can enjoy sewing!
And, if you bring your machine into Steve to get it serviced before a beginning sewing or quilting class you will receive a discount from Steve, so bring it in! If you bring your machine in before any technique class to get it serviced and show us your receipt from Steve, we will give you a 10% discount on your next class.
We will do a random give away to one person who comments on this blog post. Tell us things you have found about your machine or experiences you have had with it. Also mention the last time you had your machine serviced. The winner will receive a 20% off coupon good towards a machine servicing with Steve at Intown Quilters and a $20 IQ gift certificate (not good with any discounts at IQ).
Have a great rest of your week!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
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23 comments:
If we learn by our mistakes one thing I learned is - If you have an electronic machine don't disconnect your power cord from your MACHINE when you finish sewing or when there is bad weather. Disconnect it from the wall. I burned mine up and had to purchase a new one.
I haven't really noticed any problems with my machine, but it's been several years since I've had it serviced. There is a little red thread poking out from the bobbin area that I can't quite get to budge, so it's probably just a matter of time til something bad happens!
I had a problem with fabric feeding through my machine, so I took the throat plate off and cleaned out a major dust bunny and now it feeds fabric really well. It has been years oh wait I don't think I have ever had a sewing machine serviced. My husband keeps telling me to but I just keep on sewing. Thanks for the helpful hints.
I need to have my machine serviced. I change my needle with every new project I start and I use good thread and that seems to help cut down on problems for me. Thanks for the giveaway - very generous!
Thanks for the tips. I agree with Nancy that unplugging your machine from the wall during bad weather or when on vacation can be a lifesaver. I had my last machine tune up last August but am thinking it'll soon be time for another one.
I had Steve service my machine on Tuesday at Patchwork Cottage. I didn't realize he was at your shop on Friday.Cleaning and oiling a machine just makes it hum. A new needle every couple of bobbins is a great idea, too.
Thanks for the tips, especially the one about the foot pedal that keeps on going. I'm having that problem now with my Janome. Sounds like I need to have it serviced!!
I will sew and sew and sew and then realize that I forgot to add a little oil. It makes all the difference. Thanks for the other suggestions!
I have several machines, but my favorite is a vintage Singer 15-91 that my Aunt found on an auction for less than $5. She is a wizard with these old machines and had this one sewing perfectly when she gave it to me. However, I've done something to it and now I can't lower the feed dogs. With these old completely mechanical machines, it's easy to turn a screw so far in one direction that things just come undone :-) I'll have to stop by and see if Steve can sort it out for me.
I had my machine serviced about 6 months ago but continued to have some issues. Since I usually sew with my walking foot attached, I took it off while trying to figure out what was wrong. I finally figured out the walking foot was full of lint - I ran a pipecleaner into the various openings and almost had enough lint to stuff a pin cushion! And the problems I was having disappeared! I didn't realize the walking foot needed routine TLC just like my machine.
I had my machine serviced right at about a year after I purchased it but I was sewing alot and it was not sewing straight. It is time to get it done again. I think I sew often enough to have to get it serviced twice a year. If we are going to create with our sewing machines we have to keep then tuned.
I had my machine serviced about 8 months ago and had to replace the pedal! Now I have one of those pedal mats to keep it from sliding on the carpet. Hope this pedal lasts!
Thanks for the article - I never knew about the thread pulling. My machine probably needs servicing. LOL!
I hadn't thought about sewing every month to keep your machine running well. There have been long stretches of time that i don't use my machine, but no more! i will sew every month!!
I had my machine serviced 2 months ago. It had been more than a year and I knew it was way past time. I hated to give it up though. I was pushed to do it since the threader wasn't working and it was making me crazy!
Great tips on maintaining your machine! I have three and they have all be serviced at various times. Nothing is more frustrating that trying to piece when the machine doesn't sew well.
I have a vintage, all metal New Home machine that I use nearly every day. But it can need a little finessing sometimes. It's always a good idea to stop sewing if something sounds wrong...or doesn't feel just right, because usually it means something is wrong! I've learned this the hard way, but I've also made friends with my seam ripper over the years.
I also have an industrial pfaff, and that's a whole other animal. The motor on that thing is crazy and it sews way faster than I could keep up with, so I have to be very deliberate.
I don't think I could ever go back to using a plastic sewing machine after using my two beasts!
I grew up sewing but I guess the cleaning part was something my mom did when we kids weren't running around. I remember the first time I started having major problems and the first thing she did was take off the throat plate. "It does that?!?!" Yes, there was enough lint that it could have been a cat! Amazing how well it worked after that, haha. Now I think it is a cool trick so I clean it MUCH more often.
My mother keeps wanting me to try out my great-grandmother's treadle. It's probably been 80 since it's seen action, let alone been serviced! :)
I have never taken my machine to be serviced, mostly because it's a less then a year old. But I am constantly amazed at how many problems can be solved by taking off the throat plate and cleaning the lint out! I'm so glad I finally figured out how to treat my machine better!
The biggest thing I do to keep my little old machine humming is just keep the oil bottle next to her--and a big fluffy pipe cleaner helps me get the crud the little brush won't reach. Thank you for this giveaway!
I really need to get my Brother machine in to be serviced. My husband says he can look at the manual and tell what needs doing and do it himself, but I'm not so sure. I have learned a lot reading all these tips - thanks!
I've learned that my machine jams a whole lot less when I remember to put the foot down before starting to sew. I've put a big pink post-it on the front to help remind me! I last had it serviced 6 months ago.
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