Sewing Machine Died - Updated!!!!

**paelthom** · 02-04-2004, 08:23 AM

I hate to even post this because it makes me so sad

My sewing machine is all out of wack. It was fine when I made the wallhangings for Christmas but I haven't used it since then. Last night I started to sew my apron together and it just wanted to knot up the bobbin thread. So, I oiled it and cleaned it and let it rest a while and tried again. Still no better. Then I tried adjusting the tension, both top and bobbin, and no matter which way I turned the screw it did not get any better.

My sewing machine is actually older than I am but has been pretty reliable. My dad gave it to me during one of his sober moments and he had completely repaired it before he gave it to me. So with no other choice, I called him and asked if he would come and work on it. You gotta understand that we are not close and he has a severe drinking problem. He said maybe sometime but not this week. He is 77 years old and does what he wants to when he wants to.

Therefore, I will have to put the apron on hold and the mystery quilt that CJ is doing the tutorial for as well.

Sorry Diana and CJ - I really wanted to do these RIGHT NOW.

P.S. Pray for the sewing machine and me too!

Thanks to whoever was sending prayers. I went home and prayed over the sewing machine and cleaned the bobbin again and rethreaded it again..... And it sewed beautifully. I truly believe God knew I needed this to work for me and he granted my prayer. I finished the apron and will post a pic soon.

**Heather** · 02-04-2004, 08:31 AM

Awww...Pat, that's too bad! It is frustrating for sure. I'm sure it's no problem at all to continue whenever you get your machine going, not to worry!

(((HUGS)))

**homesteadmamma** · 02-04-2004, 08:45 AM

Awe sewing machines, you love them when they are working, you hate them when they aren't.

I'm sorry your machine isn't working Pat. Hopefully you can get it working by playing around with it a bit. Could it be the thread your using. Mine will do the same if I'm using a heavier thread on the bottom or the top. You might want to check that out first, if you haven't already.

**SewCrafty** · 02-04-2004, 08:48 AM

No problem Pat.

Did you take the bobbin case apart and the throat plate off? Look and see if there is a hunk of dust in the feed dogs or a thread caught in the bobbin case.

Couple other things to try:

Re thread the machine, it is so easy to miss a thread guide especially the one above the needle.

Check the needle itself and make sure it doesn't need replacing or is inserted properly.

Are you putting the bobbin in the case the right way? Mine, when the thread comes out of it, the bobbin must be turning clockwise. Check your manual or try it both ways and see which works.

Just going by my experience with the bobbin thread knotting up, I would say it is dust under the throat plate or the bobbin in the casing wrong.

I hope that helps you.

**paelthom** · 02-04-2004, 08:58 AM

I did rethread it, put in a new needle and the bobbin has the same thread as the top. I will blow it out this afternoon and try with another bobbin and different thread just in case that's it. It's so frustrating. I know it's something really simple and I just haven't figured it out yet. Thank you for the good advise. Please let me know if you think of anything else I can try.

**SewCrafty** · 02-04-2004, 09:11 AM

Don't blow the dust out of the machine, all you do is imbed it deeper into the inner workings. Take a stiff brush and clean it out. This is a slower process but well worth the time.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

**mrscornbread** · 02-04-2004, 09:36 AM

That happened to me a while back, I took it to a shop and it was only 20.00 to clean her up and get her back on her feed dogs once again. It very well may be something wuite small.

Keeping fingers crossed.

**canadian gardener** · 02-04-2004, 10:44 AM

I ditto the shop, less frustrating than family and it's a nice treat for a good machine to get a service check once in a while. I've done my Pfaff twice in the 20.5 years I've had it. Think of it as a thankyou spa treatment for the machine.

Both times mine needed some repairs. Not very expensive and in addition considering the cost of a new machine, way cheaper. Both times a relatively easy fix but not a home fix.

Both times while in for those minor repairs, they gave my baby a complete look and servicing.

You've tried the usual stuff, rethreading, oiling, bobbin placement (the thread goes in one way, but it's easy to get it backwards in my bobbin), using the same brand and type of thread upper and lower, cleaning the lint out.

Check if your brand has a web site and see if they have something useful to say about the situation. One thing with Pfaff, you should oil it lightly every time you start a new garment or project. Your brand may have it's own little peccadillos.

Praying you find the trouble and it's easy to fix.

**paelthom** · 02-04-2004, 01:08 PM

Mine is a really old Singer. I also have an old Neechi and my grandmothers old Kenmore (its pink). There are days I would love a new machine but I couldn't part with any of these. They all have memories. I can't wait to get home and piddle with it a bit more.

**slowtypinwoman** · 02-05-2004, 08:00 AM

I had this happen tome last week and a friend suggested that I take all the thread off the bobbin and re-string it. I did and it worked fine after that. She told me that sometime when you wind the bobbin it doesn't wind properly. I am not much of a sewer but this helped me.