Free Hand Sewing Stitches Chart from Fiber Images. Preventive Sewing-Machine Maintenance. By Sally Hickersonfrom Threads #91, pgs. 28, 30 Most sewing machine problems that I encounter can be traced to poor general maintenance or neglect. But with some simple tools (shown in the photo right) and just a few minutes daily, weekly, or monthly- depending on how much you're sewing- you can help keep your machine running smoothly. Here are my guidelines for care that should keep you and your machine happy and out of the repair shop. Read more sewing machine tips like this one by purchasing a print subscription of Threads magazine. Print subscriptions come with FREE access to our tablet editions.
Keep it covered Dust, lint, grit, and animal hair can find their way into your machine and cause all sorts of problems, especially for the printed circuit board of a computerized machine. So try not to place it near an open window, and always cover it when not in use. Change your needles often I recommend replacing the needle after every four hours of sewing time. Sew-whats-new.com. Www.sempstress.org.