sewing machine troubleshooting

valk_scot

Quick tip for reducing breakage while sewing across pins...put them crossways to the seamline rather than parallel to it. The needle will just skip over the pin then, unless it's a very tightly woven fabric with no give or very bulky. It's best to take the needle out before sewing that bit of course and tacking is even better but we've all been there, no? Anyway, crosswise pins reduce needle breakage.

You're going to have to get new needles anyway, so why not Google for them and buy a selection? Remember, new project, new needle, and you'll need a selection of needle thicknesses so you can match the needle to the project weight. Most folk don't change needles nearly often enough but they are supposed to be disposables. I buy them ten at a time, including for my one machine that takes totally different needles to my other machines.

If you've got the instruction book btw it will give the needle size in there. The standard needles you buy in the shops are 15 x 1 size, for all others Ebay is a good reliable source, there are a lot of sewing machine spares shops sell there.

zippychick

I've merged this with our sewing machine troubleshooting thread which may have some other ideas

Alternatively, you could ring the shop, explain the problem an ask for an approximate charge? Do let us know how you get on

Zip

SpikyHedgehog

valk_scot wrote: »

Quick tip for reducing breakage while sewing across pins...put them crossways to the seamline rather than parallel to it. The needle will just skip over the pin then, unless it's a very tightly woven fabric with no give or very bulky. It's best to take the needle out before sewing that bit of course and tacking is even better but we've all been there, no? Anyway, crosswise pins reduce needle breakage.

You're going to have to get new needles anyway, so why not Google for them and buy a selection? Remember, new project, new needle, and you'll need a selection of needle thicknesses so you can match the needle to the project weight. Most folk don't change needles nearly often enough but they are supposed to be disposables. I buy them ten at a time, including for my one machine that takes totally different needles to my other machines.

If you've got the instruction book btw it will give the needle size in there. The standard needles you buy in the shops are 15 x 1 size, for all others Ebay is a good reliable source, there are a lot of sewing machine spares shops sell there.

Success! I'd already got 'general purpose' needles for my machine before I saw your post, but will get more needles for it - I hadn't realised till I read the whole thread (thank you, Zippy chick!) How important changing the needles was... Oops!

The new needle went in & stayed in with no problems, but then the tension decided to be wrong ;-) or possibly when DS1 & I had been working on it last night. So that's given me a bit of fun sorting it out.

I bought cheap thread the other week, which is what I'm using at the moment, & boy do I wish I didn't have cheap thread! I can really tell the difference with using this, & using the better quality thread I was using before I'd run out of navy.

So I'll be stocking up on better quality thread in the colours I use often (mainly school uniform colours!) & will buy new as needed in other colours.

I realised last night I'd not got enough curtain tape for the curtains, but didn't think to get any when in the sewing shop earlier! So will not be able to finish the curtains till next week... Grrr!

Finefoot

Use the cheap thread for basting and tacking
Less broken needles, and your thread wont go to waste..

sarra63

Hi, Bought a necchi pro300, tried it today, found the shank to be very low it is barely lifting up or down, changing foot is difficult and when trying to fit the button maker it was impossible to go underneath. Could it be faulty or is there anything that could be pressed to lift it a bit higher?  Couldn't figure out how the needle threader work as well, bought especially for this feature. Please advise. 

halfamo

Are there no instructions with it? There should be a lever that you lift to raise the shank part higher for fitting the new feet. Is it new or bought used? If used, check that the feet are the correct ones for that shank. I have 2 machines and one is low shank and one is high shank so the feet are not interchangeable between the 2 machines. One of mine has a needle threader too and you must hook the thread in the correct way, There is probably  a youtuber with a guide to how to do it.

PipneyJane

I second @halfamo's advice.  Have you tried Googling to find the manual?  (A quick Google on the make+model+ instructions, gave me this site.  I can't check it, because it's blocked by my work's security settings.)

HTH.  I'm not familiar with the machine you have.

- Pip