Problems with Singer Sewing Machine?

Question

I recently bought a Singer Sewing Machine from someone and am now remembering how hard it may be. I just need tips on things to watch out for so far I broke the needle, and cannot remember how to properly thread the bobbin. I'm ordering the manual now to help but any tips could help. I seem to have a problem with the stitches catching and also the petal seems to go to fast is there a better way to control how much pressure I put on it as to not sew to fast and get everything knotted up. I saw some other tips here that seemed useful but pointers for most common problems may help me out.

Answer 1

Quick tip for pedals: If it's the hinged type, you can stick an
eraser or block of wood inside the pedal so you can't depress
it all the way. If it's the type with the button, you can cut a hole
out of a piece of wood and slip it over the button so you can't depress it so far. I've done both for kids learning to sew.

One thing to watch for, however, is that the older controllers get hot when you sew slowly. So check the controller after a few minutes of stitching, and always be sure to unplug the machine when you're done for the day.

Answer 2

When you start working on a machine new to you, use white paper or cheap textile.
Clean out the lint and dust you see, oil the machine and start 'stitching' without thread.
Put the stitch width on straight, and the length rather big, (4 out of 5 would be a nice starting length.)
First hand driven, and when you feel any hesitation in the machine, stop and look.

Take out the bobbin case, take out the bobbin, replace the case, does it slit in easy?
Now replace the bobbin, does the case still slip into its place easy? If not, check if the bobbin belongs to the machine or is a cheap replacement that does not really fit.

After you have done a few inches by hand powering, change to motor power.
If the top part of your pedal has a hinge at one end and moves as one whole, put your heel on the floor just back or the hinge, and if you can, go barefoot, so you feel what you do.
If the pedal has 2 buttons or lumps, one stable and one moving, put them near your toes, your foot steady on the fixed one and the other one so that you can press it in tiny increments.
If it is a different design again, put it so that you feel every movement and you have the best control over it.

After you have tried sewing with no thread on machine power, do a couple of lengths of your paper, also good to clean the extra oil out of the machine, it is time to thread the machine.

This site has threading diagrams for many machines, so you can already look at how that should be done: http://www.sewusa.com/Sewing_Machine_Threading_Diagrams.htm

Keep hold of the tail of the thread, and bring the needle down and up again, (going the same direction that the motor would spin the wheel), and pull up the bobbin thread, now hold both tails and put the paper or fabrik in position.
Still work on the paper, (or cheap white fabrik) and try on hand power till you are sure the machine is making proper stitches.
If you use different colours for top and bobbin thread you see the difference, and you can see which one is making a mess, if any.

If you have the proper threading diagram, and have threaded the machine right, and the thread is making a mess on the underside of the work, feel if the thread is stuck between the disks of the tensioner, if not try setting the tension on the middle position, (that is 5 if the scale runs to 10)
and try again.

After you are convinced that your machine is set correct and not leaking oil anymore and tried different stitches and different lengths and width of stitches, you can switch to proper fabric and make your first clothes.

If you are really stuck, ask a neighbour who sews too, because mostly someone experienced on one kind of machine will also see what is wrong on a different kind.

Have a good time using the machine!

Answer 3

The bobbin can be installed upside down that makes the thread come off the bobbin in the opposite direction. This would also cause the stitch formation to breakdown. Look in the manual and follow the drawings and the instructions step by step.