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!

Sep 10, 2009, 12.14 PM by lenda

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4 Posts

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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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  Sep 8, 2010, 02.29 PMby sabrina

  If you are using cheap thread, it won’t work properly with the thread tension. You may want to try Coats Brand polyester thread. I use Coats on my Toyota 21 DES and it works fine. Gutermann seems to leave less lint as well.

  I have also tried thread that came with a sewing box and it wasn’t any good. Now I use the cheap thread just for practicing hand sewing and for basting.

  If the machine keeps jamming, you should probably get a new one. But I don’t recommend getting a cheap little one from reverse auction television. My Mum got me one and it didn’t work. It kept jamming. So we sent it to the charity shop. Maybe someone else could get it to work.

  Otherwise, maybe a service would help your sewing machine?

  Good luck!