Burda Style For people who sew
Hi
I’ve recently started sewing stuff and I’m using my grandma’s sewing machine which is a toyota and is probably 20 years old! I find that the tension is erratic – sometimes the stitches don’t interlock properly i.e. one just lies on top of the material, for no good reason. It’ll be fine and then will change even though Im using the same material and same setting. Is this cos the machine is old and needs replacing? or is it me? cos machines should last quite long. any help would be really appreciated! thank you!
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Sep 11, 2009, 12.07 AMby Judeb
1stly has it been serviced recently, if not get that done and tell them what is wrong so they can check it before you get it back. Also if you have a manual check the machine and bobbin is threaded correctly, sometimes just the way the tread is placed on the top spool or bobbin (clockwise or anticlockwise) can make a machine temperamental. If you don’t have a manual see if you can get one on line, a lot of the old manuals are now reproduced- some for free.
Sep 11, 2009, 01.16 AMby artgirl30
Sometimes the machine just isn’t good too. Cheap machines can sometimes just be lemons. I don’t know much about Toyotas. You don’t really need to invest in a new one if you can’t get the tension issues worked out. The old Singer 401 and Singer 500 (tan and cream) are wonderful reliable machines.
Sep 11, 2009, 02.50 AMby Spontique
Have you changed to a new needle? Sometimes this works for missed stitches. Sorry if you’ve already tried everything. If it was sitting around for a long time without use I would take it for a service. I think there is a lot of work left in a 20 year old machine generally, or it could be lemony like our friend says. Good luck with it.