Any sewing machine whisperers out there?

[texmati]

I have an 12-13 old sewing machine made by White. Well, it was my mom's, but she never used it-- I 'adopted it' when I moved out.

Anywho, it's worked well all these years; with a minimum of praying and cursing.

The machines been at my mom's for about a week becauase she wanted to sew some slipcovers for her patio furniture. The fabric is a little thick and slippery, the thread that she's using is a little thicker than what I normally use as well.

Well, over the weekend, the machine became possessed. The bobbin thread was loopy and wonky-- no matter how much I adjusted the tension. It would become jammed after a few stitches. Finally, I took everything as much apart as I could and cleaned it all out with a toothbrush. Put in my thread, my bobbin thread and sewed on some spare fabric-- worked perfectly! But when we replaced the top thread with the thicker thread, and went to sew on the actual fabric, the reversing function would cause the sewing machine to jam.

Anyone know why? Or where I could find a manual for a white sewing machine?

[wbd221]

Check here for manuals http://www.sewusa.com/

Have you changed the needle in the machine? Are you certain that the machine is threaded correctly? (basic, I know, but sometimes it's something so obviuos we overlook it!) Also, bobbins come in defferent sizes; if you've never had this happen before and these is a new bobbin, double check that it is the same size as has worked int he past...

[sewchris2642]

Also is the thread made for the sewing machine? If your mom picked up hand quilting thread by mistake, it won't sew in the machine. It's also possible that the machine just doesn't like the thicker thread. Go back to using regular sewing thread in both the needle and the bobbin. Home dec can be sewn with regular sewing thread. It doesn't have to be the heavier thread.

Chris

[texmati]

Originally Posted by wbd221

Check here for manuals http://www.sewusa.com/

Have you changed the needle in the machine? Are you certain that the machine is threaded correctly? (basic, I know, but sometimes it's something so obviuos we overlook it!) Also, bobbins come in defferent sizes; if you've never had this happen before and these is a new bobbin, double check that it is the same size as has worked int he past...

I did change the needle, but I didn't think of checking the bobbin size. I did get some bobbins in a garage sale-- I just assumed they would work if they fit in the little bobbin holder thingy.

Originally Posted by sewchris2642

Also is the thread made for the sewing machine? If your mom picked up hand quilting thread by mistake, it won't sew in the machine. It's also possible that the machine just doesn't like the thicker thread. Go back to using regular sewing thread in both the needle and the bobbin. Home dec can be sewn with regular sewing thread. It doesn't have to be the heavier thread.

Chris

I don't know how to figure out if the thread was made for sewing machine. I'm assuming it was (there's nothing written on the packaging), but I think I'll change it out anyways. Thanks so much you guys!

Does anyone know why the reverse would stop working?

[sewchris2642]

Have you cleaned under the throad plate? Sometimes, lint build up will prevent things from working right in the bobbin area, including the reverse. Do you have the manual for the machine? It will tell you how to take the throad plate off and remove the bobbin assembly to clean and oil that area. The machine manual is good for all kinds of toubleshooting. If you run out of ideas and the manual isn't helping, you will probably need to take it to a repair place to have it looked at.

Chris

[cristeen]

You have to use the same thread in the bobbin as in the needle. So if you changed the top thread for the thicker thread but left the light thread in the bobbin, it's not going to work properly.

[texmati]

Ya'll are genious's! I went to my mom's last night and applied all of your suggestions-- I my 'regular' weight thread in the bobbin and the top thread. Re threaded everything. Then adjusted the tension in the bobbin and cleaned out the case. Then I inspected the bobbin that I was for the lightweight thread and compared it too the troublemaker--> you all were right! it was different! They were the same size around but the middle hole was slightly larger on the bad one! I'm throwing that sucker in the trash.

My machine is back to sewing like a dream, thanks to you all!

I was really nervous about it because I have a long list of sewing projects for the baby planned. They wouldn't happen if I had to buy a new machine. I just can't justify the 300 for a new machine.

[sewchris2642]

Yah. Now about those baby sewing projects. Check out KwikSew Patterns especially their Sew for Baby and Sew for Toddlers pattern books. For less than $20, you get everything you need (except diaper patterns) for the baby up to 18 months or for a toddler to 4 yo.

http://www.kwiksew.com/Catalog/Book_Baby.cfm
http://www.kwiksew.com/Catalog/Book_Toddler.cfm

Chris

[texmati]

Thanks for those links! I"m not sure I'm an advanced enough sewer for those... but maybe I'll give it a stab.

[sewchris2642]

They are some of the easiest patterns out there. But there is one or 2 things that are different. You need to trace off the size that you need instead of cutting into the paper. The patterns are printed on heavier white paper instead of the tissue that other patterns are printed on. And the patterns are basic--you get to decide what the garment is to look like when it's finished. You get to mix and match all the collars, sleeves, etc. The books are very helpful in offering suggestions to get you started. And the sizes fit very well. At least they did all my kids.

Chris