Sewing Machine Doesn't Feed Straight - Any Solutions?
#1
Sewing Machine Doesn't Feed Straight - Any Solutions?
I was wondering if I could tap into the knowledge base here to ask, what can I do if my sewing machine doesn't feed straight? It's been a problem as long as I can remember but as I get into more traditional piecing it is starting to affect the accuracy of my quilt blocks. It pulls slightly towards the outside of the machine, or the left.
Is this problem fixable or will I have to replace the machine? It is a ten year old Janome Harmony 8080.
Is this problem fixable or will I have to replace the machine? It is a ten year old Janome Harmony 8080.
#5
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,463
The modern machines that have wider feed dogs and throat plates will not feed as straight as the old straight stitch only machines. You give up some precision for the fancy stitches. Clean/oil your machine and see if it improves, if not maybe a trip to the doctor will help.
#6
Power Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 12,930
It sounds as if the feed dogs are out of alignment. It's an easy fix -- usually it's just adjusting a screw or two in the bobbin area. If this is a vintage machine, you can probably find out how to do it by joining one of the Yahoo groups for your type of vintage machine. It might be more difficult to do if it's a newer machine, but a technician would certainly know how. Definitely a fixable thing, especially with a Janome.
#8
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Illinois
Posts: 9,312
It can also be your feed dogs have lint build up , or are not raised all the way . Also check the pressure on your foot, it may be too little and any weight of the project will cause it to pull to the outside.
#9
Thank you everyone for the advice and tips. I took it apart to clean again (even though I did that a week or so ago) and found out that feed dogs, when dropped, can no longer be raised via the switch. It will be making a trip to the Sewing Machine Fixer tomorrow and hopefully they will be able to solve both problems.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: The California Hills
Posts: 626
My Babylock Espire has never feed in/out straight, even after annual cleanings. I have always wondered it I got a bit of a "lemon" as it's straight stitch looks like my machine is an alcholic on a bender with every stitch at a slightly different angle to one side or the other from stitch to stitch.
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Jennalyn
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08-15-2013 07:17 PM