Caring for Sewing Machines and Embroidery Machines: Tips and Tricks

Dear users, dear authors,
Do you have any tips and tricks for caring for sewing machines / embroidery machines?

You should clean your sewing machine regularly after sewing and brush it out with a soft brush (I use a makeup brush for this). Even though modern machines claim they don’t need oil, you should still apply a small drop to the moving metal parts every now and then—the machine will thank you for it, BUT PLEASE DON’T DROWN IT IN OIL!! Sewing machines really don’t like that. I also always blow out my machines with compressed air—this is especially good for overlock or coverlock machines, since you’ll always find lint from cutting that falls inside the machine.
You should also always make sure you have the right needle for the fabric you’re sewing; that helps extend the machine’s life, too. So, use a jersey needle for jersey, a denim needle for jeans, and so on. There’s a simple trick for cleaning the tension discs: lightly moisten a thicker thread—such as a star-shaped thread—with a little oil (JUST MOISTEN IT), then pull this thread through the tension discs; this cleans them of lint and debris. When sewing slightly thicker layers, don’t rush through them at breakneck speed—this could cause the needle to break or the motor to stall. Instead, sew slowly, stitch by stitch, and use the handwheel to control the process if necessary.

Even if it costs a little, it’s worth having your sewing machine serviced at least once every two years.

You’ll enjoy it more that way :). Otherwise, I agree with Akela :).

Best regards,
Sonja

How are your sewing machines and embroidery machines holding up?

Ooooh, thanks for asking, Josefa! My embroidery machine is doing great—it always serves me well whenever I need it. :-) Cleaning it every now and then is part of the maintenance routine, and other than that, just treat it well, and it’ll reward you with amazing embroidery results.

Best regards, Inge

So you prefer separate sewing and embroidery machines? What’s the problem with machines that do both?

If you have a combination machine and, for example, the sewing part malfunctions and the machine has to go to a technician, you’re left with nothing. The same goes if there’s an issue with the embroidery module that requires a technician. But if I have two separate machines, I can still either sew or embroider. The machines should be taken in for inspection every now and then—it’s exactly the same process. That way, I can send one in first, then the other, and always have a machine I can work with.

Best regards, Inge

OK :-)
Would you recommend combination machines for beginners?
Not everyone wants to set up two separate machines right away.

I would never recommend a machine to anyone. If someone asks me which machine they should get, I always advise them to go to a specialist shop and try out which machine *speaks* to them.
After all, just because I like a machine and get along great with it doesn’t necessarily mean someone else will too.
Personally, when it comes to sewing machines, I’m a die-hard Pfaff fan, but for embroidery machines, I’m a die-hard Brother fan. Others, on the other hand, can’t get on with either of those brands at all and prefer Viking, Juki, etc., for example. It’s hard to give advice on this—everyone has to figure it out for themselves. I’m sure the seamstresses here will agree with me.

Best regards, Inge

Unfortunately, the seamstresses and tailors here in the forum are very quiet, even though I keep trying to get them involved.

That’s too bad, Josefa. From what I’ve read here, there are quite a few people who really know their stuff on this topic, so I’m also sorry to see they’re not chiming in much.

Best regards, Inge

Do you have any idea how to get them to write?

No, unfortunately not either, unless there’s a topic that appeals to them, but for that you’d have to know what they’re actually interested in. I suspect it’s like in some forums: they’re there, but they don’t write anything, or only very rarely, though they do pick up all the information they need. It doesn’t really bother me, but it wouldn’t be bad to read something from them every now and then. If there are any questions, I’m happy to help, and I’ll also help by phone if possible. They would just have to let me know via PM, and I’ll give them my phone number. I have no problem with that

Best regards, Inge

Thanks, Inge. That’s so kind of you.
I’m learning a lot from you.

Unfortunately, I’m also someone who reads more than I write.... 😉

I agree with Inge (Akela) on this: when buying a new sewing or embroidery machine—whether separate or a combo model.
I had a combo machine (sewing and embroidery) for years; I’d either embroider or sew. Unfortunately, the embroidery function kept getting slower and slower.... Since even a service call didn’t help... I’ve now decided to go with separate machines—my “old” sewing machine is still working fine, so I haven’t had any problems with it “yet” 😜.

I clean the machine after every day of embroidering and remove any lint. The new embroidery machine even prompts me to oil it when I start it up 😊.

Best regards 🌞
Bergli