The stitch that wrecked my sewing machine

April 25, 2009

Well it may not have completely wrecked my machine but since Celine hemmed her pants using this fancy stitch my machine only goes backwards!

My mother taught me to sew (supplemented by home-ec lessons) on this machine and passed it along to me years ago when she bought a newer model. I'm guessing it's at least 20 years old. She was always very cautious about me turning the stitch selector dial. Because of that I only used the straight stitch except for the occasional zig-zag.

But Celine wanted to use a more creative pattern when she was hemming her jeans this week. Click, click, click... Around the dial went and back again. I think it was worth it for this sweet stitch but I am hoping it will magically start to sew in the correct direction the next time I use it.

Any tips for caring for an old temperamental sewing machine?

SavvyChristine on April 26, 2009, 3:22 a.m.

A can of compressed air and some lubricant for the moving parts? And I suppose a knack for putting things back together again after you take them apart would help. The jeans look amazing! I hope your sewing machine starts behaving soon.

SavvyChristine's last blog post... Food That Makes You Happy

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Karen on April 26, 2009, 10:11 a.m.

The stitching looks great. I hope you can get the machine repaired. I know of an available used sewing machine you can have, Great-Grandma-Forsberg's is still sitting in Auntie Ruth's basement. Just have to get it here...I'll keep my eye open for one that's closer.

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kirwin on April 26, 2009, 11:04 p.m.

Oh no! That's terrible! (The jeans sure look cute, though.)

Would you believe that I was a Home Economics major at college? I think I was the last of my kind. They've since cut the major. : (

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nicola on April 27, 2009, 4:02 a.m.

that is odd (and annoying!) but celine, you did a great job and those pants look fabulous! nicola http://whichname.blogspot.com

nicola's last blog post... weekend musings

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Denny on April 27, 2009, 7:02 p.m.

Renee

The jeans look great!!

I suggest that you take the machine to a sewing machine technician and have it cleaned, oiled, and adjusted. It will probably cost about $75. Machines that get used somewhat regularly need it about once a year.

After all, our cars need an oil change and a tune up every so often. Our sewing machines need TLC from time to time, too.

And . . . sewing machines aren't made to last forever. After while, parts just get worn so they don't work so well anymore, no matter how well the machine was made in the first place. Also, with age, some replacement parts don't exist anymore.

From the one photo of your machine, I'm guessing that a service by a technician will have your machine going again and that parts might still be available.

Check your local fabric or quilt shop to learn who might work on sewing machines for you. Sewing machine dealers should have a technician who can work on most any machines.

Good luck,

Denny in ARizona

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Pamela on April 27, 2009, 7:15 p.m.

Eagerly watching your comments, as both my old machine and my mom's machine recently stopped working well at all. I picked up a cheapie one (I don't need anything fancy) so I could keep sewing until I got my others into the shop or figured out myself what is wrong with them. Not frugal, I know, but I'll pass the new one, which is really basic, to my daughter once I've got my others working again.

Oh, sew woes!

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Anonymous on Dec. 14, 2012, 2:29 a.m.

Hi, Did you solve the problem. I know it's too late to ask. Right now I am having this problem. I got an old sewing machine. Forward stitch was working fine for straight and zigzag. I simply tried all the stretch stitches and now the machine is stitching in reverse. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks, Neel

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