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Sewing Machine Maintenance
Jim Deibler, the owner of Sew 'n Save was our feature speaker on this subject. Although the store sells Janome and Elna sewing machines, Jim services all makes and models. He’s seen more than his share of machines that have been neglected, abused, and even those regularly maintained work horses. As sewists, there are several things that we can do to ensure our machine continues to work properly.
Use Quality Thread
Low-quality thread puts strain on your sewing machine and all of its components. Thread that is too light or too heavy for the fabric it’s being used with can unbalance your machine’s tension. This type of strain causes more wear and tear on parts. It could result in a need for more frequent servicing and repairs.
A good quality thread will be tightly spun together so that few fibers separate from the strand. Good thread produces less lint and less lint means less debris is being deposited in the machine’s hard-to-reach moving parts. Minimizing this buildup helps prevent mechanical problems and keeps your machine running smoothly.
Proper Threading
Another important thing is to properly threading through the tension disks. If you miss those disks, loops under the fabric make an appearance and other unsavory tangles occur.
Burrs!
Burrs on the pressure foot, plate, or hook can also snag your material and cause tangled thread. Those need to be buffed out at a service center.
Regular Checkups!!
Even if your machine is running in top condition, plan to have it serviced and cleaned every 12 months. That’s sure to keep all the nooks, crannies, and moving pieces in tip top shape.
Needle Position
Make sure your needle is positioned properly with the flat side to the back. Make sure that the needle is not dull or bent or worn. Burrs reek havoc, often breaking your thread or snagging on that beautiful fabric you invested in. If you hear a popping noise, it’s a good indicator that the needle is having a hissy fit.
Oil your Machine!!!
The viscosity of sewing machine oil is perfect for your machine and prevents accumulated gunk. Every eight hours of sewing time or after every full bobbin has been used is a good rule of thumb. Applying oil with a q-tip does double duty - lubricates and grabs those tiny piece of lurking lint.