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Sewing machines are expensive, but they are a good investment if you want to make clothes, home décor items, and other custom sewing projects. However, sewing machines require maintenance and care to stay in top working condition. If you want your sewing machine to last for many years, here are five tips to help you keep it running smoothly.
1. Clean Your Sewing Machine After Every Project
Lint collects in your bobbin case as you sew, especially when you’re sewing on fleece, terry, and natural fibers. That lint can jam your sewing machine and cause all sorts of problems, like broken needles, skipped stitches, and bunched-up thread. Clean out your bobbin case after every project to prevent sewing machine problems.
You can use a small brush and tweezers to remove lint, but be cautious if you choose to use canned air. It can blow lint deeper into your sewing machine. If lint gets into the internal workings of your machine, it can mix with the oil on your gears and create gunk that slows down your machine and damages the parts.
2. Always Turn the Handwheel Towards You
You can manually turn your sewing machine’s handwheel to raise and lower your needle and create stitches. It should always be turned towards you. This is important because if you turn it the wrong direction, it can mess up the timing of your machine. That’s something you’d need to have a sewing machine repair technician reset. When the timing of your sewing machine is off, your stitches won’t form properly and you won’t be able to sew anything.
3. Change Your Needle Frequently
You’re supposed to use a new needle for every sewing project. This is to ensure it is sharp and can easily pierce your fabric to form a stitch. When you use the same needle for too long, you might see skipped stitches and snagged fabric. It’s a good idea to have plenty of sewing machine needles on hand so you can change your needle at the start of every project. Replacement sewing machine needles are inexpensive, especially if you buy them in bulk.
4. Don’t Sew Over Pins
Pins are important because they help you line your seams up properly and sew straight. Pinning is a tedious task, but sewing projects always look better when you don’t skip this step. You can get away with only using a few pins on long seams, but pinning is essential to making curves and corners look right. However, you should never sew over pins because they can damage your needle and sewing machine. Plus, it creates a safety hazard because your needle can break and hit you. Always remove pins from your sewing project just before they go under your presser foot.
5. Get Your Sewing Machine Serviced Every 1-2 Years
Even if you clean your sewing machine frequently and follow all the advice in this post, you should still get your sewing machine serviced every one to two years. At a sewing machine tune-up appointment, a repair technician will inspect your machine for wear and tear, apply oil or lubricant to all the moving parts, and reset the timing of your machine. Getting your sewing machine serviced is a critical step in ensuring it works well for many years to come. Of course, it’s also important to know some sewing machine troubleshooting yourself.
Do you have any other tips for keeping your sewing machine running smoothly? Share your experience in the comments below.
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I love how you recommend taking your sewing machine to a repair technician at least every 1-2 years. My mom owns a sewing machine and she mentioned that it is starting to become less effective. I will be sure to suggest that she take it to a reputable repair service soon since it has been at least 2 years since she last had it serviced.