Most of the time when a sewing machine goes into the repair shop it can be avoided. A sewing machine should go to a professional about every 2 or 3 years for a thorough cleaning and oiling. Let’s see what you can do yourself to extend the life of your machine.

NEEDLES: Change after sewing two garments, if not sooner. If you have hit a pin, then change the needle even if it does not appear damaged. Your needle should be suitable for your particular project/fabric at the time. There are many types of needles available for various fabrics. If stitches are skipping or a banging sound occurs, change the needle. If this doesn’t solve the problem try changing it again. Not every needle is perfect. About one is ten needles should be rejected. Purchase quality needles such as Swiss or Germany made. Some lower priced needles are seconds of the better brands, sold at a lower price. (For more information on needles see our education section)

THREAD: DON’T buy cheap thread. It is not a bargain if it costs you an expensive repair bill. Threads with long staple fibers are best. I firmly believe that some sewing machines have a preference for certain sewing threads. I know mine does. It eats up one brand but sews like a dream with most others. Be sure the thread you purchase has no thick or thin sections and the width is consistent. If not, the tension can be affected.

CLEANING AND OILING: You should clean your machine after every 10 hours of sewing, or every 3 garments, more often if the fabric has a high nap such as polar fleece or fur. Remove the bobbin case and the needle plate. Brush to remove trapped lint. Do not blow into your sewing machine. Use a good sewing machine oil (never 3-in-1 oils, they will cause your machine to seize) to oil all moving areas of your sewing machine. Consult your owner’s manual for exact spots. I use an oil soaked Q-tip to remove the last bits of lint that are stuck in hard to reach areas and that also lubricates those areas. Once you have oiled be sure to stitch on a scrap of fabric before you return to a garment as the excess oil can stain.

BOBBINS: should be checked to ensure they are not damaged, cracked or chipped. Threads may snag and catch, causing stitch problems. When bobbins are dropped, the damage may not be apparent at a glance. Run your finger along all surfaces to check for imperfections.

TENSION: Stitches should meet and interlock in the middle of two pieces of fabric. There should be no loops above or below the fabric. You may need to adjust the upper tension by moving the tension dial or the bobbin tension by adjusting the screw in the bobbin casing. If you are not sure which thread is causing the problem use a different color in the bobbin and upper thread to see the tensions more clearly. Sometimes, lint may lodge between the tensions discs. Use a heavy thread or dental floss to clean between the disks.

If you end up with threads jammed in the bobbin casing do not pull on them. Gently cut away what you can and use the hand wheel to move the needle up and down until the threads are loose. You may need to remove the bobbin and the needle plate to clear all the threads.