Clean Your Machine of lint!
 

I quilt, quilt and quilt! Last few days thinking a bad problem at hand. Irregular stitches. This AM the fabric was grabbed. Thankful not a whole. I took off my feed dog plate and...... There was so much lint my feed dogs were not working well! Compacted lint too! My world is back! I quilt, quilt and quilt! Back to regular stitches and happy! :0)

thanks for the reminder!

Yes, lint is a FOUR LETTER word to sewers........make it a point to check and clean each sewing day

I clean the bobbin area every time I change the bobbin. I learned the hard way too. I was making an embroidered shirt for my grandson. The machine kept staying in the same spot, or going way off the design. I went through five shirts before I tried cleaning it.

I was amazed the first time I opened my Bernina 801 (bought it used on eBay) how much lint a small space could hold. Lint was felted under and around the feed dogs. A week later, I took a class on machine care and she showed me how to open other areas of the machine and I found even more lint packed in. I dust out at each bobbin change and about every third bobbin, I oil my machine and open everything up to make sure it is lint free.

Packed lint is probably why my Singer sends everything to the left. I plan to give that one a good cleaning before donating it as it is my fourth string machine, so someone else should have a chance to enjoy it.

Cheers, K

I'll clean mine out again today. I've gone thru four bobbins of thread with my current quilt project and I did clean it out twice so probably time to do it again.

It really does build up fast!!!!

When I start a project, I wind three bobbins. When they are gone, it's time to clean & oil. When the project is finished, I toss the needle (unless it was a small project). I haven't been at this long, but I've read enough on this wonderful board to know that good habits can save me a lot of agony. I seem to create enough of that myself.

Good point, I use to wonder why machine would be so loud while sewing! I also learned that you need to oil it as well.

This is why I fill only two bobbins at a time. When I run out of bobbin thread,
I know it's time to clean my machine. Otherwise I would probably just keep going.
Who likes to stop and clean? LOL

I will also testify to the benefits of cleaning the machine. It is quite amazing how much lint can accumulate around the feed dogs from a short period of sewing. I like the idea of filling only two bobbins. I may have to change my ways a little because I usually wind maybe 10 or 15 bobbins so I can keep right on quilting without stopping to fill a bobbin. Another thing that goes along with the cleaning of the lint is to change the needle. It may look perfect but I have found that changing the needle after 2 or maybe 3 lap quilting projects is a very good idea.

A sewing machine repairman told me that my machine's greatest enemy, apart from just letting it sit unused, is lint.
And I feel guilty about my older machines that don't get used any more since I bought my Juki, cause they do just sit there, unused.

I clean mine first thing everyday, if used heavy the day before I oil lightly, make bobbins and press, cut, then sew.

Just wanted to bump this. Saw the thread and DID NOT read it but it stuck in my head.

Going to get my quilt from LAQ tomorrow and MUST have it all done by April 13th. Needless to say, my machine was running great this afternoon. Not so after dinner. Nearly had a fit! Thanks to this title for floating through my mind as I was trying to solve the problem.

Lint was the problem and now my machine is running beautifully again. Thanks :D

What a birds nest could be made with all are lint! It would be enough for an eagle's nest and nice and soft.

My dealer told me about a lady who brought her machine in for repair because the feed dogs wouldn't go down. Well guess what? She had so much lint built up under the feed dogs that they couldn't go down.

My friend came to class after just picking up her machine from repairman. She was in a flap so I went over on moving the plate all the feed dogs were thick in lint and below bobbin had thick bunnies. Repairman had not touched It. It was a first service .

Don't think I would go to that repairman again!
In addition to cleaning the lint out of your bobbin area, you need to check your walking foot periodically as well. Last night I was having trouble with mine and discovered that guess what - it had accumulated lint in the mechanism.

Never let a machine that is self lubricating sit unused for a long time without running it. The lubrication comes from the turning of the silicone parts. The parts will seize up.

Thanks for the reminder - I do clean my machine regularly and oil it with every project. Just took it in for service and a good shop cleaning. It is amazing how much better the machine sews when cleaned and oiled!

When cleaning your machine we all know NOT to use those compressed air cans when cleaning out machines, right?

If you wonder "Why not?", check out this link and click on the pictures: http://bearhugquiltworks.blogspot.co...s-to-wise.html

Been there. Didn't realize it had gotten that bad, just guess I got lost in "sewing land." LOL
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