Blow Up Your Sewing Machine Problems With TNT!

If you find that your machine isn’t sewing quite right, here are a few things to check that could save you time and money. Just remember TNT, or Thread, Needle and Tension. Is the machine threaded correctly? Re-thread it
just to make sure, with the presser foot in the up position (this releases the upper thread tension disks allowing the thread to pass between them).

Are you using a good thread? It’s not one of those spools that your grandmother gave you is it? Thread gets brittle with age, especially in our dry climate here in Northern Nevada, and that could be the cause of a thread breakage problem, so try a new thread just to make sure. And the older, cheaper threads break more easily and create more fuzz in your machine. I recommend Aurifil thread, it is consistently ranked as one of the best in strength, reliability, and creates a TON less fuzz in your machine if you use it consistently. As the sewing machine technician, I can tell when a customer uses a high quality thread consistently – there’s much less fuzz gumming things up inside!

Have you changed your needle lately? Even if you have, change it again just to make sure. Bernina says that the #1 component of getting a good stitch (besides using a Bernina machine!) is the needle, so make sure it isn’t dull or bent, and for heaven’s sake don’t ever try to re-sharpen and re-use an old needle. I recommend the Klasse brand of needles. They’re reinforced above the eye to reduce breakage. And the titanium needles stay sharper much longer than the regular steel needles, they last about 5 times longer. So even though they are more expensive, they will save you money in the long run.

Lastly, make sure your tension is adjusted correctly. There should be some resistance on the bobbin thread and on the top thread when the presser foot is down. If not, you may need to bring it in for me to adjust to the right amount of resistance.

Posted by Technician on March 25th, 2011 | 1 Comment »