IN THE KNOW
Looking after your machine is hardly as tempting as sewing, but it’s more important than you realise! Suzy Williams is here to help you give your sewing machine a little extra love
Looking after your machine is hardly as tempting as sewing, but it’s more important than you realise! Suzy Williams is here to help you give your sewing machine a little extra love
Sewing machine maintenance may not sound all that glamorous or exciting, but if you want to have your sewing machine happily humming for years to come, it’s a must. I’ve put together five easy steps to help you help your machine.
Oil it up
If you’re someone who doesn’t pour through the instruction manuals first thing when bringing home a gadget (like… everyone?) you may not know that your sewing machine needs to be oiled regularly. What do I mean when I say regularly? A good rule of thumb is roughly every three bobbins.
And where does this oil go? Is it a massage sort of situation? Good question. This is where you probably do need to get out that manual you pitched into the back of the closet. Each brand of sewing machine does things a bit differently. Common places to oil are the bobbin case area, on the needle bar and also where the handwheel meets the side of the machine. A drop or two of oil is really all you need.
Keep in mind: It’s better to oil too little more often than too much at once. And right after oiling, stitch for a minute on some scrap fabric so you work all of that oil out before getting back to your project.
De-lintify
Now, I know it’s tempting to take two mighty aerosol cans of air and go at your sewing machine with one in each fist, yelling “WELCOME TO THE REVOLUTION, LINT!” but that may not be the best idea… though it’s probably the most entertaining. Actually, using air cans on your machine can do more harm than good by forcing lint and dust even further into the depths of your beloved sewing machine. If you do use canned air at all, make sure you spray the air at an angle so you are always blowing lint out of your machine, rather than into it.
More effective tools include:
A lint brush. Even though one usually comes with your machine, eventually, they get gunky. Think about getting a new brush for your machine once a year.
A muslin cloth – I like muslin because it’s super soft.
A gentle lambswool duster, which attracts dust without the use of chemical sprays.
Before cleaning out your machine, unplug it. I know, I know, you’re not stupid, but I had to say it. Remove your needle (maybe it’s time to
Sewing machine maintenance may not sound all that exciting, but if you want to have your sewing machine happily humming for years, it ' s a must
replace it, anyway? Keep reading for more about that), and follow your instruction manual to remove the presser foot, the bobbin, the needle plate and the bobbin case. Now, you’re ready for some hardcore machine cleaning action!
Use your lint brush to go at these separate components like a cleaning fiend, making sure you get all of the lint and gunk out before carefully placing them back where they belong. One more thing not to use: your breath. It’s tempting to go ahead and blow all of the pesky dust and lint out of your machine with your handy, built-in lungs, but your breath actually contains moisture that can cause unwanted corrosion in your machine… who knew you were so dangerous!
Re-needle
This is a biggie. You guys, when you sew, your sewing needle passes through fabric a thousand times per minute (possible exaggeration, but I'm sure it's definitely close) That’s why it’s so easy for sewing machine needles to get really dull, really fast. I recommend giving your trusty needle an upgrade every time you clean.
And what will happen if I don’t heed this advice? I’m glad you asked. SEWING NIGHTMARES like skipped stitches, broken threads, runs and pulls and even (gasp!) machine damage can follow (and nobody wants a poorly machine). These are the things that haunt my dreams! Change your needles. A lot. They're cheap! Treat yourself to a few packs so that you always have them on hand.
Go undercover
When you’re using a machine to sew fabric, things are going to get linty! But if you leave your sewing machine out in the open, it can get a lot of other stuff stuck in it as well, like dust and dirt (or, if you have this habit of snacking at your sewing space, all sorts of delicious materials can find their way onto your machine)! The best thing you can do for your sewing machine is get it a cosy little cover. You can get a plastic cover from most machine dealers, or you can make one yourself!
Get served
All brands are different, but no matter what make or style you’re rocking, it’s smart to get your sewing machine serviced regularly, about every 12–18 months. This is like the annual physical you get (er… forget to get) from your physician. It means carting your machine over to a professional for a good once-over, and some TLC if it needs it.
When you're using a machine, things are going to get linty! The best thing you can do is to get it a cosy cover SUZY QUILTS