Sewing Machine Repair / Replace Questions

[Valencia]

How funny, Lady Rebecca... if this is a known issue, why not tell us from the beginning?? I haven't tried with the new thread, I made candied walnuts for my dinner salad instead... and then made the salad with red leaf lettuce, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, apple, avocado, the walnuts, and blue cheese dressing. It was MUCH more rewarding than messing around with that machine, LOL

[Kate XXXXXX]

I prefer good quality thread, and wrote an essay about it...  But I do have to say that mt Lily will sew with almost any old thread, including crap no-brand fuzzy stuff with no problem.  If you are having tension issues, FLOSS between the tensions disks with a microfiber lens cloth (NOT one of those fluffy ones with lens cleaner embedded in them!), and thread up with good quality cotton thread and a size 80 universal needle.  Make sure the thread path is followed correctly and you have the thread between the tension disks on top, and through the take-up lever, and that the bobbin is evenly wound, the right way round, and the thread under the bobbin tension spring.  Set the dial to the middle of the range and sew  a straight line on cotton calico/muslin of about shirt/quilting weight...

If you get a perfect line of stitching, there is nothing wrong with the tension, and you need to look at the combination of thread/needle and fabric that you are using.  EXPECT to need to alter the tension more than you would on an old mechanical like a Singer 15 series or a 99.

[gem]

How funny, Lady Rebecca... if this is a known issue, why not tell us from the beginning??

Because it's only anecdotally a known issue. It's not "supposed" to happen. Not every machine--and here I mean the individual single machines, not one whole model of machines--is picky about thread, and they're not even picky *consistently!*  I've never had a machine that liked Gutterman (although my Viking--exact same model as Rebecca's--is way less finicky than my Brother), and my Brother wouldn't sew with anything but C&C Double Duty. That machine was ridiculously picky--I could only use the one brand of thread, and it wouldn't sew at all if the top and bobbin threads were different (even different colors of the same type of thread). I had a woman on PR tell me this week that she "didn't buy the thread pickiness" issue--well, lucky her that she's never had a machine that cared!

Several years ago I bought a bunch of fabric online for a big project, and the online fabric store sold me like 8 spools of matching Gutterman thread. I spent two days fighting with my machine (the Brother) on tension issues and tangles, needles breaking, etc, pulling the machine apart, cleaning and everything--but every time I got it all back together, the same nightmare. I finally swapped out the new expensive Gutterman for a spool of plain ol' Coats & Clark--and the problems disappeared.

I ended up sending all that expensive thread to a friend at Christmas. I feel lucky that my machines have actually preferred the cheap stuff! (I am kind of interested to see how it would respond to the new all-polyester C&C, but I haven't tried it yet.)

Anyway. Once you find the threads your machine likes, your life will be a lot easier.  BUT! If you're still having issues fighting the machine, go back and raise hell. Demand a different unit--you might just have an unusually picky one.

Good luck!!

[Adriana Rose]

Id return it and go to a different place. You put down that much money you better get a machine that works like its supposed to.

In my humble opinion.

[Valencia]

Thanks, you guys, I really appreciate the feedback. I purchased two spools of Gutterman thread last night, and put it in the machine this am (I couldn't bear to fight with it last night, lol) and the damn thing worked BEAUTIFULLY.  I even sewed tulle, which I know is taking a big risk, and I didn't have a single issue. Gem, if you are right about the individual machines being picky, then that totally corroborates my situation, AND the sales lady's reaction. (Well, except I would think she would know about it, but she didn't strike me as very understanding.) I can live with it being picky about thread, as long as I know. And now that  I know the old C&C doesn't work, and I know different threads cause issues, I'll keep trying my existing stock to see what does work.  And if I have to bump up to a better thread, that's fine, but I'm certainly not buying her overpriced stock.   I'm right in the middle of a Victorian petticoat, and once I finish that, I'm going to try heavier fabrics with the different needles to see if that fixes the other clunk clunk clunk issue, which I suspect it will.

[Lady Rebecca]

I'm so glad the Gutterman worked for you. I've just slowly been using all my old Coats and Clark when I do handsewing. Luckily, I don't have a whole ton of it.

[Valencia]

I'm so glad the Gutterman worked for you. I've just slowly been using all my old Coats and Clark when I do handsewing. Luckily, I don't have a whole ton of it.

Oh, that's a good idea, I'll do that, thanks! I was envisioning tossing it all out, and I really don't want to go out and buy a whole new inventory of thread.  Although, maybe some of mine will work... like the newer poly threads. I'll have to just try them. But like I said, at least I know this is an issue.  But the handsewing idea is just fantastic, thank you!

[wildthingjew]

Well, frankly, it doesn't sound as if you are, if you can do pretty much everything you want to with it! But since it's 20 years old, any new machine will probably have features that weren't even dreamed up then (when my MIL got a new machine for the first time since the '60s, her big dream was for it to have a built-in light! LOL)

But I definitely outgrew my Brother. It only did straight and zig-zag, and I knew I wanted something with options for knits, hemstitches, overcasting (so I wouldn't have to get a serger yet), etc. It was really fussy with anything lightweight, and I wanted to start trying things like silk organza and other delicate fabrics... honestly, two years later I can't even remember everything, because my new machine has features on it I didn't even know I wanted (like 11 adjustable needle positions, which makes hemp boning possible for me now!) but use all the time. 

Basically, I had a list. I wanted something that was reliable and would grow with me, so I wouldn't have to upgrade again for a long time. I got a machine that was appropriate for the seamstress I was when I bought it, but that I wouldn't outgrow in a few years. I don't see needing more machine in the foreseeable future.

But if you're doing everything you want on your current machine and you just need something sturdier, there's a model out there for you in a reasonable price range.

so gem which machine did you choose? you didn't say

[gem]

I have the Viking Emerald 183, and I love it beyond all reason. I've heard mixed reviews about newer-made ones (I got mine in 2008), however, which makes me really sad b/c when I got mine it was SUCH a fantastic machine for the price.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

AS with a car that requires routine Oil changes and god maintanence, so does a sewing machine.

Routine cleaning, oiling, replacing parts, will keep a machine humming for years. My Janome is going on 5 years old, A bit scuffed up, but then, it's my workhorse.

[Kate XXXXXX]

My Lily was bought in 1998.  At the back end of last year, it had a big service and all its stitches reset, and a small worn bit replaced.  Now working like a new machine again!