How To Care For Your Sewing Machine

Congratulations… you have a sewing machine and are ready to make some awesome things! Whether you want to sew clothes or make a quilt, a sewing machine that works smoothly will be essential. Like me, you probably paid a substantial price tag for a quality sewing machine, even a low end sewing machine that works well will set you back a pretty penny. Caring for your new sewing machine is an important part of the sewing and quilting hobby.

5 Tips to Caring For Your Sewing Machine

There are several things you can do to ensure your sewing machine lasts a long time. Here are five tips to care for your sewing machine:

1. Read the owner's manual and follow their recommendations

The owner's manual is essential reading as you are setting up your machine, but don't just stop reading once your machine is set up. There will be information in the owner's manual about caring for your sewing machine including whether or not you need to oil your machine and how often you need to do maintenance. Did you lose the owner's manual? Not to worry... visit the sewing machine manufacturer's website. Most have PDF versions of the manual available for download.

2. Set aside time to clean your sewing machine regularly based on usage

I use my machine almost everyday. That means that I will be cleaning, oiling and changing needles often. I set myself up with a schedule to perform cleaning and oiling at least once a month. I designed handy checklist to keep me on track and you can download it for free and use it too. I cut off the bottom portion and taped it to my machine as a constant reminder.

Depending on how often you use your machine you should plan on cleaning it once a month or every other month. Thread produces dust that can get caught in your sewing machine and cause it not to work as intended. Regular cleaning keeps the sewing machine running smoothly.

3. Change the sewing machine needle often

When the needle is dull, the sewing machine has to work harder. This could wear out your machine quicker. I like to change my needle at the first sign that it's becoming dull or about every two to three large projects. I can tell it's dull by the slight difference in how it pushes through the fabric. It's just a little slower than usual. It takes practice, so stick with changing it at a regular interval and you will be fine. Use the bottom of the free checklist to keep track of when you last changed the needle.

4. Cover your sewing machine when not in use

It's amazing to me how dust just seems to come from out of nowhere! When not in use, it's a good idea to cover your sewing machine to keep the dust from getting inside the machine and wreaking havoc. You don't need a fancy dust cover… a fat-quarter sized piece of fabric or small quilt will do the trick too.

5. Use the sewing machine as intended

I like to push my sewing machine to its limits on occasion, but I have learned to respect them. There are different types of sewing machines… industrial sewing machines, embroidery machines, general purpose machines… and each should be used according to the owner's manual. The same goes for sewing machine needles: universal needles tend to be able to do most everything but if you are sewing certain types of fabric like knit, jersey or jean, there's a special needle for that, too.

Don't forget to download my free Sewing Machine Care Checklist so you can ensure your sewing machine will last a long time!