Embroidery Newsletter - StitchFun News

Keeping It Clean

To keep your machine running smoothly, you need to keep it clean. This means covering your machine when it is not in use, and cleaning the upper thread path and the bobbin area as needed.

Keeping the upper thread path clean will allow the embroidery thread to feed smoothly. Try to keep the thread path clean before the upper thread starts shredding. When changing thread colors, always clip the thread near the spool, then pull the thread tail from the needle end. This takes the thread in the same direction used when stitching. Pulling the thread backwards through the thread path is like stroking a cat's fur backwards -- not a good idea! You may waste a little thread each time, but this will help prevent lint from building up.

At the first sign of trouble (shredding thread, uneven stitches), stop stitching, remove the thread (as described above), open the tension disks by using the lowest tension setting. Clean the thread path by running unwaxed dental floss through the thread path, always moving from spool to needle. You may also use heavy button thread or a clean, folded dollar bill. Run several passes. Re-set the tension and re-thread the machine.

The bobbin area is fairly easy to clean. Your machine probably came with a little brush. Run it all around the bobbin area. Brush the inside of the bobbin case. If you are stitching on a lint-producing fabric (cotton quilt batting, polar fleece, velveteen, etc.) or using cotton thread, you may need to clean this area more often, as lint seems to head straight for the bobbin area. Signs of trouble are uneven fill stitches, skipped stitches, bits of lint appearing in the fill area and unusual machine sounds. If you machine came with a little bottle of oil, use as directed in your owners manual.

You may be tempted to blow on the lint areas with your mouth. Don't! It is basically spitting into your expensive machine. A little vacuum made just for electronics is okay. The canned air is also to be avoided, as it can stress plastic parts and can force the lint even deeper into the machine.

Next issue: embroidering socks

from Mary Jane Allen of Perfect Little Stitches

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