Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
My problem is a new Singer simple sewing machine that binds up in the presser foot when I'm sewing. I have oiled the machine using WD40 because we can't find sewing machine oil around here, but I'm still having the problem. Can anyone help! Thanks.
Hancock Habrics has Singer Sewing Machine oil. If you don't have one near you go to their website. I would never use anything but sewing machine oil on my machine and it's old as thunder.
What does your manual have to say about the problem?... It should have a troubleshooting chapter.
WD40 is a solvent, not a lubricant. Your new machine should have come with bottle of sewing machine oil. Do not use household oil--it is not fine enough. I use REEM on my Featherweights--find it in the gun cleaning section of Wal-Mart.
Try starting fresh, unthread machine, clean out bobbin area (always clean bobbin area every time you change bobbins), use good thread--not the 5 for $1 stuff. Coats, Gutterman, Metrosene are all good. I use Maxi-Lock on a cone for the most part (you'd need a special thread stand but their not expensive).
Mindy's advice was right on. I would also check the size of the needle too. Keep in mind that you use different needles for thin or thick fabrics. They will advise you at any fabric store. And please if you want your machine to last, no more WD40.
I agree with the previous posts. Also, if it binds up when you first start sewing, pull the 2 sewing threads taut to the back as you start to sew. That should do the trick.
When this happens on my machine, it is because the thread is not coming from the bobbin properly.
On my machine the cover over the bobbin shows how the bobbin should be loaded and how the thread should come up. Mine has a little metal tab that the thread must be hooked over before bringing the thread up. If you model does not show you how to thread the bobbin in the machine, check your manual.
If the pressure foot is binding up it tells me there is too much pressure forcing the pressure foot down on the material. On my machines which are industrial I have an adjustment to add or relieve tension on the pressure foot. On thick material I relieve the pressure foot tension. For thinner material I add pressure. WD40 should not be used to lubricate a sewing machine. If you wanted to clean off some sewing machine parts one might use WD40. The proper sized needle is in relation to the size of the thread and has nothing to do with the material.
It simply may be that your machine is not heavy enough to handle the bulk of the material. I made chair covers for my friend on a nice , but not too well-made Brother and ended up having $150.00 (half of what is cost!), worth of repairs. The repairman told me some machines have metal under parts and some have plastic. The plastic under parts will not handle the heavy sewing jobs that a heavier made machine will.
Also be sure the needle is in right -- flat side facing away from you.
Kerosene is the best. I've used WD-40, and it works, but the problem is that the chemical smell stays for too long. Anyways, Singer brand machine oil I hate because most of Singer's products are actually only licensed merchandise, so Singer's quality is reduced as a result of most of their merchandise being produced by third parties.
If you are sewing thin fabric you might need to put some wax paper under it to help or any paper will help, then remove the paper when done sewing, good luck.
Don't use WD40. If you can't find sewing machine oil get household machine oil. It is thin and will work. However, anyone who uses a computer can get anything they want on line.
How do I adjust the take up lever to stop in the highest position?
You may need to tighten a screw in the back.
I just got a vintage Universal sewing machine. I cleaned it very good. It looks great and was sewing great until I removed the inside of the flywheel to clean it. I tried to remove the outside of the flywheel and couldn't. I didn't realize that that would throw it out of line. Please tell me how to fix this problem.
By Dale
This isn't a repair you can do at home without investing in a service manual (which runs into the high triple digits money wise depending on the model) so the best thing is to take it to a sewing machine repair tech. The cost should be under $100USD/£80GBPs depending on how much needs to be done to put the machine right. The cost will usually include a general servicing too.
I have a Singer sewing machine. The knob on the side that you loosen in order to wind thread on the bobbin won't turn. I've tried and tried. Even my husband can't turn the knob. What could be the problem?
By Maria G.
Without seeing the actual machine, I can't say definitely, but it sounds as though there is a clump of lint/fluff or a small bit of broken thread in the discs.
Try taking a bit of unwaxed dental floss to the area of the knob where you wind the thread through. Give it a good 'flossing action' and see if your floss comes out of the machine with a bit of grey fluff or a small bit of thread. If it does, keep at it until the floss comes back clean - no smudges, no fluff.
If that doesn't solve your problem you may have a broken or worn bobbin gear and this is a repair for a repair tech. Look for sewing centres adverting 'Singer authorised' repairs to be sure the tech knows Singers and can do the work reliably and relatively inexpensively.
I have an old New Home sewing machine (Model 654). I recently turned the pattern selector guide to make an overlock stitch which worked fine. When I switched it back over to a regular straight stitch, I noticed the machine was moving the material up and back twice to make a double stitch.
I switched it to a zig zag stitch to see what would happen and it is also making a double stitch with the zig zags as well. I have no idea how to get it back to just making a simple single stitch and just had it looked at recently so I'm hoping not to have to take it in again.
By Monique P.
How long ago did you have it looked at? It's entirely possible the tech who worked on your machine made a mistake - something that is VERY easy to do on a 'vintage' (older than 10-20 years) machine.
It's also, sadly, entirely possible that yet another part has failed on your vintage machine (assuming the reason you recently had it looked at was a failed part). I love vintage machines and have repaired many, but have given up on them as once one part fails another isn't far behind, and sourcing newly milled parts is very difficult. Unfortunately newly milled sewing machine parts for vintage machines are few and far between - manufacturers prefer you buy new machines altogether and so stop making many of the parts needed to maintain vintage machines.
Even more unfortunately, this lack of newly milled parts means repair techs have to use 'salvage' parts often with unknown histories - was the machine the part was salvaged from gently or roughly used, how many sewing hours are on that part already before installation to another machine, and the all important question - how much plastic or silicone is the part comprised of?
Sad but true. The only 'vintage' machines I work on now are desperation cases ("I can't afford a new sewing machine!"), non-electrics, or all metal electric machines. Electric vintage machines usually have so much plastic and silicone the parts begin to fail after about 25 years of even the most caring owner, and there is no way those machines are ever reliable again for any length of time once parts begin to fail.
It's heartbreaking if you are an active sewer, but if your machine is vintage and beginning to have repeat part failures, it's time for a modern comparable machine - one with a warranty.
My Singer sewing machine was sewing just fine, when out of the blue, it seized or froze and it won't sew a bit now. What happened? I've done all the "checks" for needles, proper threading, cleaning, etc. Now what?
By Monica from Cortez, CO
The same thing happened to my Singer. I took it in to the repair shop and they told me the clutch had slipped. It was a pretty quick fix and was reasonably priced.
When that happened on your Singer, did you hear a noise that sounded like something came loose and fell?
That is what happened with mine. I checked and couldn't see anything wrong, but I really didn't know what I was looking for! I'm hoping to have it repaired soon. We don't have a local repair shop and I don't know of anyone who repairs them, so we have to drive a distance to take it in. Thanks! Did they happen to tell you what might cause the clutch to slip? I'm wondering if I did something to cause it.
@aloham58-Yes it has been oiled. Thanks for the good reminder! I know it is very important.
@deebomb-I do think something may have broken on the inside. Since I know next to nothing about this issue; I have to trust someone who does to get it in working order again. I did hear an odd rattling, clink before it stopped working correctly.
Purchased this Singer 774 used. The pressure foot was not lowering far enough. Fabric was swimming around under the foot. Found a tutorial on making an adjustment but I have loosened a screw in this dial and cannot figure out how to get it tightened back up.
Any help in finding a good illustration would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance.
I have a Frister Rossmann Euro 10 SP sewing machine. It is 30 years old. Sometimes when I start sewing it takes a while to get going as if labouring. Yesterday I had power to the motor, but no drive to the needle mechanism. Is this the belt - although it seems to turn the pulley - if it is where can I get one?
Please could you advise.
Many thanks.
How do I remove the knob on the front of the machine that controls the stitch length so I can take the front cover off?
With the bobbin case out, my machine runs. With the bobbin case in, something hits it and knocks it out and knocks the timing out.
By Donald D
I have a Kenmore sewing machine and the foot pedal lost it's variable speed. It only has one speed now - slow. Can that be repaired, or could there be something else wrong? The sewing machine lights come on and there is power.
I have a Brother CS6000I sewing machine. It has a squealing noise. Sometimes it seems to stitch in same place. Thoughts on if there is anything I can do to fix that?
Thank you.
The bobbin does not spin on my Euro-pro Dressmaker sewing machine. Any guesses why?
My sewing machine bulb broke and now the machine won't work now. My machine has had no problems in the past so it came as a shock. I didn't mind the bulb breaking because they're easily replaceable, but when the machine wouldn't work, I got worried.
I don't want to send it in for repair right away until the bulb comes, but I'm worried. Does anyone have any ideas as to what is wrong with it?I have a Brother Project Runway sewing machine. The zigzag stitch is only picking up the bobbin thread on the left side, not the right side, resulting in a straight line. Any suggestions? So far I have changed the needle, used a different bobbin, rethreaded top and bottom multiple times, changed thread, and changed the fabric. Help!
When sewing on my Singer Touch n Sew, I hear a clicking sound every time the needle sews. What is causing this?
By Carol B.
Are you positive you are using the correct size-class bobbin? One of my sewing buddies has your machine and had the same clicking noise going on - turned out she was using a metal class 66 - OOPS!
If you are sure you are using the correct bobbin, the timing may be off on your machine - this is a job for a qualified repair tech.
My Empisal 550 sewing machines pattern dial selector is not working. I can turn it and it will stay on straight stitch, how do I repair this?
Thank you.
I have a nice Bernini 830 Electronic Record sewing machine that I use in my alteration business and lately when I do the overlock stitch no. 5 I get a lot of skipped stitches and have to go over the sewing again to fill the stitches in.
I've cleaned it, but still have the problem. I am just wondering if there is something wrong with the cam. I know I'll probably have to take the machine in.
I feel as though I've looked everywhere for a solution to this problem with no luck. I'm hoping someone here might have an idea. When I set my sewing machine to zigzag stitches, it works like a charm. When I try to sew a regular straight stitch though, the machine will stitch fine for a while then kick a single stitch out like it's part of a zigzag. The odd stitch comes along regularly, not randomly. I've fiddled with settings and I'm sure I have it threaded properly.
Anyone have any idea what might be going on?
Thanks in advance!
I have a Pfaff QE 4.0. I have noticed that the needle does not seem to be in the center anymore. I have to move the needle position over to the right to line it up in the center.
This works to get a perfect 1/4 inch. The problem is when using the cutter the needle swings back to the left hits the foot and breaks. Could my needle bar be bent?I have a Bernina 910 sewing machine. I'm not able to manually use my hand wheel, it just spins and nothing is happening. My machine works with the foot pedal, but I can't manually adjust my needle. Help please.
After winding my bobbin, I shifted the bobbin winder shaft back to the left, in original position, and took off the bobbin full of thread. Then, I tightened the clutch knob, or at least I thought I did. Now, only the hand wheel turns when I press the foot control.
I can manually turn the clutch knob, and it will turn the bobbin/move the needle, but the hand wheel remains still. It's almost like the clutch knob isn't tightening when I turn it the appropriate direction. Any ideas will be much appreciated!
Thanks!
