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Love up your sewing machine

14 years ago

Since there have been several discussions today about sewing machines, I thought this might be a good time to remind you all to take a few minutes to love up your machines. Clean the lint out of the feeddogs and bobbin race, oil up the things that need it and just remind your babies that you love them. It's so easy to get caught up in the fun of sewing that we sometimes forget the routine maintenance that's so important to keep our machines in good working order.

Featured Answer

bkay2000

last year

Anyone who can help you will need to see a photo of the "plug in" area. Two places to post for help are www.victoriansweatshop.com and https://www.quiltingboard.com/vbulletin/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/.

bkay

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Comments (11)

nanajayne
14 years ago
Good advice Anne. It is a good idea to have it serviced on a regular basis as well, not just when something goes wrong. Just as you have your year physical, our sewing machines need looking after too. TLC Jayne
polardream
14 years ago
Thanks for the reminder ... seems like when I change my bobbins it is full of lint - Am I using the wrong thread??? or is that just from fabric & batting? I do forget to oil but OH what a difference it makes!
Sue/polardream
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I am not a sewing machine expert, but I do make a lot of quilts. Occasionally, like everyone else, my machine does what you are describing and usually a quick cleaning or re-threading fixes the problem. It is not normal for a 5-6 year old machine to be doing this so it sounds like it time for a trip to a service place. It's worth it to reduce the stress it's causing. Like the previous poster said, get an estimate so you can decide if you want to repair or replace! You said it doesn't matter if it's the top or bottom thread. Do you mean it does it with both? From a trouble shooting perspective it does matter which it is so if it's one or the other it would help to know that. Is this machine new to you or have you had it a while? Did it ever work OK or has it been doing this as long as you've had it? If you bought it used, and it's never worked for you, then this might be why the last person got rid of it! But if it used to work fine for you, then it can almost certainly be fixed. What's the model? There may be others here with similar problems. Try posting this on the quilting forum too be cause there are lots of quilters with Brother machines and they may be able to help if they know the model. Good luck!
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damascusannie
Original Author
14 years ago
Lint happens when you piece and when you machine quilt; it's just a fact of life when working with cotton. It comes from the thread, the fabric and the batting and you can't prevent it. That's why it's important to de-lint regularly. Back in the day when machines were simpler and home maintenance was the norm, it was recommended that you thoroughly clean and oil your machine every eight hours. For a busy seamstress that meant that she cleaned and oiled her machine every day!

I find that I don't have to oil that often--a couple of times a month is more than adequate, but I have to delint at least once, if not twice a day. Because I use vintage or antique machines with no electronics, I do all my own maintenance and repairs, which by and large is really just keeping them cleaned and lubed.
rosajoe_gw
14 years ago
It is good advice. When I first started sewing I did not relaize how important it is to clean your machine often.
I clean my machine each time I replace the bobbin. I also take the back off so I can clean the bottom. It is amazing just how much lint can accumulate.
If I am sewing denium I clean it daily.
It is also important to change needles. In the beginning I only changed them when they broke.
I didn't know any better LOL!!!!
Rosa
grace_felix
7 years ago
I have recently acquired a Coronado model 60 n love it. The rubber belt is pretty chewed up n will need to be replaced shortly. Does anyone know where I could get one. I am also not positive that I have threaded it properly even though it seems to sew evenly. It has become my most prized possession.
loisflan
7 years ago
I don't know myself, Grace, but there is a forum on quiltingboard.com that is frequented by antique and vintage machine buffs. They will have a lot of information for you. Good luck.
HU-45905927
last year
I hope you can help me, I have an RBR-2w model 30 W107197 National sewing machine, I’ve had it for years, but have been unable to use it since the power cord and pedal control were missing when i acquired it .. I was hoping that iI could just replace them .. well that was over 20 yrs ago ! So here i am again attempting to find these parts .. I’ve added a photo for reference .. I’m hoping you may know where i can buy parts
geezerfolks_SharonG_FL
last year
If you contact the person who wrote this article, she can probably help you.

https://www.quiltingroomwithmel.com/2018/03/montgomery-wards-rbr2w-model-30.html
HU-45905927
last year
bkay2000
last year
last modified: last year
I'm sorry. I can't help you. I gave you some web addresses of some people who might be able to help you. Especially, the VictorianSweatshop.com site might be the first place to post your photos. There are people who post there who collect and restore all different kinds of old sewing machines. The quiltingboard.com site might be of some help. However, most who used to post there have migrated to the VictorianSweatshop.com site.

Good luck.

Bkay

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