Tips to Maintain Your Sewing Machine
A sewing machine is a significant investment to the owner, but its repairs can be costly. But did you know you can avoid frequent breakups if you take good care of your machine? Basic maintenance of your sewing machine will keep you from sending the machine for repairs frequently.
Use High-Quality Needle & Thread
Poor quality threads and needle are bad for your sewing machines. For example, you should only use glazed or waxed threads for hand sewing machines. Even if it’s indicated that it’s good for all sewing machines, note that the coatings in the threads can harm your machine. When shopping for threads, visit excellent sewing shops because such shops usually only sell high-quality brands. It’s also advisable to change your needles often because bent or dull needles can result in stitch problems.
According to experts, you should change your needles after every 10 hours of active stitching. You should use a new needle each time you’re starting a new machine quilting project. An excellent sewing needle should leave only a few skipped stitches and have an aggressive tip as well as the ability to penetrate the fiber effortlessly.
Pick the Right Needles
If you realize your sewing machine needle keeps breaking, the probability is that you’re using the wrong needle. It’s essential to understand that the size of the needle is critical in the performance of your sewing machine. Note that the needles range from size eight to 18 in size, and each is designed for a specific task.
For example, needle sizes nine and eleven are suitable for lightweight and delicate fabrics such as chiffon, silk, or organza. Size 14 needles are designed for medium-weight fabrics such as flannel, linen, and synthetic suede. On the other hand, size, 16, and 18 are ideal for heavyweight fabrics like denim. Thus, you should use the right needle for each fabric.
Oil Your Machine
A sewing machine has many moving parts. If you practice oiling your machine frequently, your machine will be running smoothly, an you will greatly reduce your trips for repairs. When oiling your machine, only use oils that are meant for sewing machines. This oil is usually very fine and clear and can’t ruin your machine. Apply a few drops of this oil to the movable parts.
Before applying the oil, you should first clean the sewing machine, mainly the bobbin case. Only apply the oil in the designated parts to avoid ruining your machine; if in doubt, check for details in the manual.…