How to Troubleshoot a Singer Machine
The Singer sewing company has been producing sewing machines since 1851. Singer machines are well-made and rarely have major mechanical issues; however, as with all sewing machines, small mechanical issues can occur now and then. No matter what year your Singer sewing machine, you can troubleshoot minor errors quickly and easily. With your sewing machine, owner's manual and a lint brush and sewing machine oil, your machine can be running in no time.
Instructions
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Re-thread your machine. Spools of sewing thread are notorious for getting wrapped around the thread spool or lodged in a tension discs, as well as several other areas. Often removing the thread entirely and re-threading the machine fixes these issues.
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Clean and oil your machine. If your machine is loud or struggles through layers of fabric, you need to clean and oil it to remove lint and keep the moving parts lubricated. Consult your owner's manual for specific cleaning and oiling directions for your machine.
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3
Check your tension settings. Skipped stitches and seams that pucker can be a result of improperly set tension. Start by setting your tension at three. Sew a straight seam on a scrap of fabric and run your fingers along the seam. It should be completely flat on both sides. If you feel or see any loops or bumps, adjust the tension slowly up or down. Sew a test seam after you change the tension and check for flatness. Adjust until the seam is flat on both sides.
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Inspect your sewing needle. If a needle becomes bent or dull, it can snag the thread and fail to work properly with the bobbin thread, causing jams and skipped stitches. This also occurs if you use the wrong size needle or install the needle improperly. When you install your needle, the flat side of the top of the needle should face the rear and it should be held firmly in place with the needle screw.
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Check your bobbin case for lint or pieces of thread that have accumulated during sewing. Many machine errors occur when the top thread loops through the bobbin case. This thread often catches on lint, excess thread or the bobbin case itself. Cleaning this area thoroughly and removing any tangled thread often fixes the problem.
To clean your Singer's bobbin case area, raise the needle and remove the presser foot. Lift the bobbin housing plate, located directly beneath the presser foot. Lift the bobbin from the bobbin well and check it for tangled thread. Clean the area beneath and around the bobbin well with a lint brush to remove lint and dirt. Replace the bobbin in the bobbin well and press the bobbin housing plate into place. Replace the presser foot.
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Tips & Warnings
Take your machine into a sewing repair shop once a year for service to keep it in top working condition.
Singer machines use universal sewing machine needles that are easily found at sewing supply stores; always check with your owner's manual, however, to make sure you purchase the correct type for your machine.
Knits use different needles than woven fabrics, and when sewing with heavier fabrics, you need to use a larger needle. Consult your owner's manual for the specific size needle you need.
Never try to fix a major mechanical issue yourself; always take your machine to a sewing machine technician for these kinds of problems.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Sewing Machine Needle image by C Agoncillo from Fotolia.com
