Whether you are an avid sewer or simply do it for leisure, you will eventually come across a problem with your sewing machine. Whether it’s a broken needle, skipped stitches or your sewing machine making funny noises, these problems can be a stitch in your side. Don't worry though, because we will help you solve them.
Threads are a crucial part of the sewing process. You want them to correctly stay where you need them, otherwise, it will be a cause for concern.
If thread keeps knotting or nesting, the first step is to stop sewing and remove the thread from your machine. Do not pull on it as it will ruin your fabric. Instead, cut through the extra knotted fabric with a suitable pair of scissors.
Once the knotted thread is out of the way, remove your top thread from your sewing machine. Carefully rethread the machine using the guidelines illustrated in the user manual. Remember to do this with your presser foot up.
Rethreading your singer sewing machine while your foot is up helps you avoid locking your tension disks and thus threading correctly. Make sure to use the same thread in your bobbin that you are using for your top thread.
Once you have successfully threaded your top thread, it is now time to adjust your tension settings. This is especially important if you switch between heavy and delicate fabric. Test your new tension settings on a scrap piece of fabric before returning to your project.
If your thread keeps breaking, it is bound to interfere with the quality of your work. No one wants that to happen so immediately check for the type of thread you are using. Hand sewing threads are too delicate for use on a sewing machine.
Once you have ascertained that you are using the right type of thread, make sure that your top and bottom weights are the same weight. Keep your presser foot up as you rethread your top thread and proceed to lower its tension settings.
If you hear funny noises coming from your machine, stop sewing immediately! Your machine probably needs cleaning. Go through the machine’s user manual for cleaning instructions and look through the recommended maintenance procedure.
Follow the instructions as you clean and oil your sewing machine. Once you finish, test your sewing machine with a scrap piece of fabric before resuming your work. If this problem persists, take it to a sewing machine repair shop for a professional to look at it.
Distorted seams are not pretty to look at and are bound to ruin your project. They are also worse than uneven seams, which are simple to solve with an iron box. If you are experiencing twisted seams, the problem is probably with your machine.
Check the weight of the thread you are using for both the top thread and the bobbin. Thick thread tends to be stiff and will often distort the lightweight fabric and interfere with your tension settings. Thus, if the weight of your thread is okay, check the tension settings.
The next step is ensuring your presser foot pressure is correct and your feed dogs are working. If not, switch to a walking foot. This will help you feed slippery, and/or heavyweight fabrics.
Broken needles are not only an inconvenience. They also pose a safety risk. When your needle breaks, stop sewing immediately and carefully take it out of the sewing machine. To avoid harming yourself or others, safely dispose of the needle.
To avoid breakage, use a new needle for every project to prevent the needles from getting dull and/or hooked at the tip. Both of these problems can damage your fabric.
When replacing your needle, make sure to do it with the appropriate needle type for your fabric. It may be ballpoint, jersey needles, or sharp and sturdy needles.
If you are having trouble feeding fabric into your sewing machine, there are a few things you ought to look into. If your machine has a drop feed setting, make sure it isn't activated.
The second thing is to make sure that embroidery or a darning plate isn't covering your feed dogs. Too little pressure or too much pressure can lead to a poor feed.
Make sure your presser foot is down to begin with and it has been set to the correct pressure for the type of fabric you are working with. Once you have fixed your presser foot pressure, make sure that your fabric is completely under the needle before lowering the presser foot to start a seam.
Skipped stitches will lead to a compromised project. If this keeps happening as you work, check on your needle to ensure it is correctly installed. Counter check to see that it is the right needle type for the fabric you are working with.
Sometimes, skipped stitches are as a result of your top thread not reaching the bobbin so look out for that. Rethread both the bobbin and the top thread then test it. Always make sure to carry out the tests on scrap pieces of fabric.
If the problem with skipped stitches persists, the problem might be with your timing mechanism. You will need to have this looked at by a professional.
Having a problem with your sewing machine can be a headache but more often than not, it’s a problem you can solve by yourself. You can solve most of these problems through regular maintenance of your machine and by referring to the manual.
Should you need to replace parts of your Singer sewing machine, feel free to visit our blog for professional advice.
