Troubleshooting common issues
Sewing
machines routinely have many of the same problems, which means they are easily
anticipated an usually have established methods of repairing them. Other
problems are unique to specific machines, and the fixes may be particular to
the brand and model, so it is best to have the manual for your sewing machine
on hand as the first is best to have the manual for your sewing machine on hand
as the first reference. To one degree or another, most sewing machines are
susceptible to these six common problems.
1. Tangling caused by improper threading
A
massive nest of tangled thread is usually a result of the sewing machine being
improperly threaded. Just because the tangled mess is on the bobbin side of the
stitching, don`t assume the fault lies with the bobbin.
2. Skipped Stitches
The
most common cause of a sewing machine skipping stitches is using the wrong type
of needle for the fabric you are sewing. The simplest rule of thumb is that a
knit fabric requires a ball point needle, and woven fabric requires a sharp
needle-but of course, there is more to it than that. If the machine is swing
fine and you find yourself changing the needle very frequently, you should make
sure you are allowing the machine to feed the fabric and that you are not
forcing the fabric through the sewing process.
3. Fabric Not Feeding Under The Needle Several
issues
can cause fabric feed problems. Many sewing machines have a setting that lowers
the feed dogs, which is necessary for free-motion sewing. But in normal operation,
the feed dogs are what move the fabric under the sewing machine needle. If the feed dogs are not coming up to move
the fabric, check to see if there is a setting that has lowered the feed dogs;
if so, return them to their proper setting.
4. Jammed Machine
As
dramatic as it may be, jamming is a very common problem for a sewing machine.
Your first step toward a remedy is to remove any fabric you were trying to sew.
This may require gently tugging at the fabric and lifting it enough that you
can snip at the threads and pull the fabric free of the machine. Next, remove
all the jammed thread; this may require removing the bobbin, the throat plate,
and any other parts to release any jammed threads and get the machine sewing
again.
Before you start sewing again, check your sewing machine needle. Even a slightly bent needle can cause a thread jam.
5. Breaking or Shredding Thread
If
you find that the threads breaks every so often, or if it shreds until the
machine jams, stop and check out these possibilities:
§
Is
the thread getting hung up on the thread spool itself? This could be caused by a
nick at the end of the spool or a notch in the spool (designed to secure the
end of the thread). You can eliminate the problem by changing the direction the
thread feeds off of the spool.
§
Are
you using old or low- quality thread? Have a look at what kind of thread you
are using, and discard suppliers that seem old or of poor quality.
§
Are
you using a relatively new sewing machine needle? If the needle has sewn over
pins, it may have a nick in it that will play havoc with the thread, causing it
to break and shred. There are specialty needles that have a larger path for
special threads.
If the thread continues to break after you have checked out these possibilities, thoroughly clean out all dust and lint from the bobbin area and the tension disks. Run your fingers over the path traveled by the thread, looking for any kind of burr, debris, or loose fabric that could cause snags.
6 . Poor Feed Technique
If you find your sewing machine having any of these common problems regularly, take a close look at your technique when operating the machine. Make sure you are letting the feed dogs do the work. Inadvertently forcing the fabric through the machine Can bend the needle, which can cause a range of problems.
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