A faulty sewing machine not only affects your productivity but also affects the quality of your sewing. Whether you are a beginner in sewing or an expert in sewing, troubleshooting a sewing machine is one of the most important things you can learn.
Having a faulty sewing machine can be very frustrating, but it is more frustrating when you cannot solve it. Learning to troubleshoot a sewing machine not only saves you time but also helps you eliminate unnecessary trips to the repair workshop.
The sewing machine manual can come in handy in helping you solve some of the most basic sewing machine queries. You need to have your sewing machine manual with you; however, if you have misplaced or lost your manual, you can download a manual for your sewing machine from the sewing machine’s manufacturer’s website.
Nevertheless, having a user manual for your sewing machine does not guarantee that you will be able to solve all your sewing machine’s queries. Here are some of the frequently asked questions about sewing machines to help you troubleshoot and solve some of the most common problems with your sewing machine.
1. How do you lift the Presser foot up and down?
Ans: To lift the presser foot up and down, you need the presser foot lifter. The pressure foot lifter is the level found in the pressure foot at the back or side of the sewing machine depending on the brand or model. You can lift the presser foot by lowering or raising the presser foot lifter.
2. Where do you place the spool of thread?
Ans: The spool of thread is placed on the spool pin. The spool pin is a pin-like object located on the uppermost part of a sewing machine and holds the spool thread.
3. Which way do you turn the handwheel?
Ans: The handwheel is used to lower or raise the lever to engage or disengage the needle. The handwheel should always be turned towards you in a clockwise movement.
4. How do you choose a sewing pattern?
Ans: The majority of commercial sewing patterns come with two different sets of measurements on the back of the envelope; the body measurements and the finished garment measurements. Some brands come with only the body measurements chart on the back of the envelope and the finished garment measurements printed on the pattern. The key to choosing a sewing pattern has the correct body measurements.
5. What sewing machine makes the best buttonholes?
Ans: There are so many sewing machines in the market that can be used to make buttonholes. However, when it comes to making the best buttonholes, the Viking (Platinum 770) and Bernina 440 makes the most consistent buttonholes. It is important to note that different sewing machines’ quality of buttonholes may vary depending on the fabric.
6. What sewing machine is best to study design?
Ans: When studying design, you need a versatile sewing machine that can help you grow and advance your skills at your own pace. The Brother Designio Series DZ2400 is one of the best sewing machines for people studying design. The sewing machine offers you enough features to start and finish any project, no matter how big or small it is.
7. What is batlock sewing machine?
Ans: There is no sewing machine called a batlock. The only sewing machine with a name closer to that is a bartack sewing machine. It is a specialized industrial machine for sewing butted, non-bulky seams such as a sturdy zig-zag tack on jeans belt loops.
8. How do you hem pants with a sewing machine?
Ans: To hem pants with a sewing machine, you will need to take the body measurements. After taking the measurements, mark the area you want to hem using chalk and fold the pants to the desired hem. Iron the crease and cut the pants using a ruler to guide the scissors. After cutting the pants, fold the pants inside out and fold the hem. Iron the hem and sew it. .
9. What's the best sewing machine for making diaper covers?
Ans: Diaper covers do not require any complex stitches. Thus, any simple sewing machine can be ideal for sewing diaper covers. Nonetheless, the most effective sewing machines for sewing diaper covers are Janome, Bernina, Pfaff, and Viking sewing machines.
10. How do you troubleshoot a Singer Sewing Machine?
Ans: The first step of troubleshooting a singer machine is by identifying the problem. Some of the most common singer, sewing machine problem, is a jammed bobbin or using a wrong bobbin. To troubleshoot this problem, ensure you are using the right bobbin for your machine, and remember to keep the presser foot in the down position to prevent the thread from tangling. If the problem is more complex, you might consider calling an expert to check on the machine.
11. How do you thread a Janome sewing machine?
Ans: To load a Janome sewing machine, take the thread from the bobbin thread guide and place it at the top of the machine then run the thread down the line on the front of the machine and under and to the left and head back up the thread guide towards the take-up lever. Place the thread through the hole in the face of the take-up lever. Run the thread back down the same thread guideline you used until you get to the bottom of the sewing machine’s plastic casing. Slide the thread behind the thread guide. On top of the needle bar, you will see a hook to the left, slide the thread behind and use the automatic threader to put the thread through the needle’s eye or use your hand.
12. What is sewing machine oil?
Ans: Sewing machine oil is the oil applied on sewing machine parts to reduce friction and wear and tear, thus improving the performance of the machine.
13. What is sewing machine free arm?
Ans: Sewing machine free arm is a part of a sewing machine located at the bottom of the sewing machine sticking out from the main body and just past the needle and the feed dogs. The sewing machine free arm has a built-in bobbin race, feed dogs, and stitch plate. This makes it possible for you to sew one layer of fabric without touching anything.
14. What is sewing machine timing?
Ans: Sewing machine timing is the process of synchronizing the sewing machine parts to achieve even stitches on your fabric.
15. What is sewing stabilizer?
Ans: Sewing stabilizer is an object used to hold the fabric flat and rigid to make sewing quick and easy.
16. What is sewing floss?
Ans: Sewing floss is a quick and easy decorative sewing method where threads of different colors are used to complement the fabric.
17. What is sewing interfacing?
Ans: Sewing interfacing is a sewing technique that is used on the unseen side of the fabric to stiffen or add body to the fabric.
18. How can I improve my sewing abilities?
Ans: Sewing abilities vary from one person to the other depending on your experience in sewing. Your sewing abilities improve as you work on new and different sewing projects. To improve your abilities, you need to try our sewing patterns and improve your sewing skills.
19. What is the hardest part about learning to sew?
Ans: Different people have different learning abilities. Thus, the hardest part about sewing depends on an individual. However, most people find it hard to choose the right sewing pattern making it the most difficult part of learning how to sew.
20. What is the height of a sewing machine table?
Ans: The height of the sewing machine table is dependent on your height. There is, therefore, no ideal height for a sewing machine table since we all have different heights. The key thing when choosing a sewing table is ensuring that the sewing machine table keeps your work at elbow height and your wrists straight..
I like the recommendation to look through the sewing machine’s manual to see if you can find any solutions in there. I think this could be a good way of making sure you can find the problem. I’ll have to look through the manual before taking it in to have it repaired, as then I would get a better idea of what to expect to have repaired.
That is such good news that I can download the sewing machine manual. I lost mine years ago, and I am in the need to fix mine. It has been a great machine for me over the years. I think it just needs a little adjusting. I am going to go and look up the manual online. Thanks for the tips.
I have been wanting to get a sewing machine for years now, but I have been worried that I wouldn’t be able to use it or know how to figure it out. Knowing the answers to these frequently asked questions makes me feel a lot more comfortable about investing in a machine. I like how you point out a few machines that are best for specific tasks as well. I imagine that I will have to continue doing my research to make sure I am finding the perfect machine for my needs. Thanks for sharing this!
on my janome 5812, I was stippling a quilt and the machine just stopped . the light still comes on but the machine seemed to have gotten over heated or something. is there a reset button or any suggestions of what I can do to fix it ? thank you in advance.
I have a question. Could I use food grade mineral oil to oil my machine.
Yes you can …