| My bobbin thread bunches up badly on the bottom of the material as soon as I start to sew. What is wrong? |
Large loops on the underside of the material often point to a threading error with the upper thread.
Rethread the top thread- ensure that the presser foot is up and the thread hooks correctly over the take up lever.
Check for thread remnant in the tension plates- if there is a piece of thread or lint in the tension disc, it will loose upper tension resulting in a bird's nest
|
| Why is my machine skipping stitches? |
There are numerous reason that a machine may skip stitches. There is a few things you can try to resolve the issue before bringing it for repair.
Replace the needle- making sure it is turned correctly. Most sewing machines require the flat part of the needle to be turned to the back, however there are some machines that require it to be turned to the left (as in the case of the singer featherweight) and some to the right. Check the owners manual if you're not sure.
Use a stretch needle- when working with any material that stretches, it will sometimes give the flagging affect (up and down movement of the material with the needle motion) and skip random stitches. Using a stretch needle can help this problem.
Bring the machine for service/repair- If the above mentioned didn't work, then it's time to bring it in for adjustments.
|
| How often should I lubricate my machine? |
Every 4- 6 bobbins- It is recommended to lubricate your machine every 4-6 bobbin changes. All it takes is one drop of the recommended oil on the sewing hook, (shuttle, race hook, hook body, etc) and then sew on a piece of scrap material till the excess is gone. Regular lubrication will make the machine run much smoother and quieter and will lengthen the life of your machine.
|
| My sewing machine doesn't feed properly, what is wrong? |
Lift the feed dogs- make sure the feed dogs are set in the up position.
Check for lint under the needle plate- lint will build up under the needle plate and sometimes it will pack in between the feed dog teeth and will prevent the teeth from coming up as far as they should.
Bring it in for adjustment- sometimes the feed dogs will work there way out of adjustment and simply don't come up far enough. It may be time for a tune-up.
|
| My sewing machine doesn't always turn on. Sometimes yes, sometimes no, and sometimes for a little. |
Check the power cord- the power cord will fail over time especially if the machine is in a cabinet and the cord makes a hard curve out of the machine. You can sometimes wiggle the cord and make it turn on and off. Replace the cord.
Have it checked out- it may be a sign of a failing power supply board in the machine which will need to be replaced.
|
Master my BERNINA Sewing Workbook
Master my Bernette b37, b37
Master my BERNINA basic Overlocker Workbook
