Tips To Resolve Three Common Sewing Machine Problems
Few things can derail that first patchwork quilting project or clothing repair like a sewing machine that isn't responding the way that you'd expect. The good news is that most of the common problems you could encounter are easy to fix, even if you're new to sewing machines and still learning your way around. Here's a look at a few of the common issues you might experience and some tips to help you deal with them.
Broken Needles
The occasional broken needle isn't necessarily unexpected in a sewing machine, but repeated broken needles are a cause for concern. A broken needle is one of the quickest and easiest things to change, but you'll want to get to the bottom of the issue quickly. There are several things that can cause a sewing machine needle to break:
Striking a Pin - When you pin your fabric as you're sewing, you'll want to keep up with the fabric feed and pull those pins out before the hit the needle. Otherwise, if the needle strikes a pin, it's likely to break.
Pulling the Fabric - If you're pulling on the fabric to try to force it through the needle feed faster, you may inadvertently pull on the needle and cause it to break. Avoid pulling the fabric. Instead, allow the feeder to move it forward at a proper rate.
Wrong Needle - The needle you use in your machine is important. It must be the proper size for the material that you're sewing. It's usually a good idea to have a variety of needle sizes on hand so that you can change the needle as you change the fabric texture that you're working with.
Jagged Or Uneven Stitches
If the final seams and stitches look jagged or just don't look clean, there may be several reasons. If the stitches aren't tight and you're seeing big gaps in them, that's a sign that the needle you're using is too large for the fabric that you're sewing. If the stitches aren't straight or seem unbalanced, you may not be following the seam guide as closely as you should when you're sewing. Don't watch the needle, because that will lead to uneven stitching.
Skipped Stitches
If you look at your seam and see that the machine is skipping stitches, that may mean that you have a damaged or bent needle. If the needle itself is in good condition, the skipped stitches may be caused by sewing fabric that's too thick for the needle. Make sure that your needle is the proper size and you gently guide the fabric without pulling it to avoid this type of problem.
If these tips don't help, you should reach out to a local sewing machine repair company to help you narrow down the problem.
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