Why you should ALWAYS put a piece of fabric in your machine when not in use!
08-12-2012, 10:20 AM
#22
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 862
Huh. I always thought that the reason why we put the fabric in was to remind you to put the needle down. I do remember vaguely (really vaguely) that my Home Ec teacher said to always store the machine with a needle in it. Couldn't remember why. Now I know. 
08-12-2012, 10:29 AM
#23
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 319
I’m old school with my mechanical Featherweight and 301, needle down into fabric, then presser foot down. Just like my 7th grade Home Economics teacher had on her list of class rules many decades ago.
The manual of my old reliable electronic Pfaff 1222 is very precise about what to do when you’ve completed sewing. It says turn stitch selector to straight stitch, needle position to central position, presser foot control lever to horizontal position which means presser foot is not down. The presser foot lever on this machine has 4 positions which control the needle position, tension discs, and presser foot placement.
The computerized machines are a whole different ballgame. So, it seems that the type and age of machine we use matters. If the machine is mechanical, electronic, or computerized makes a difference. One size does not fit all.
The manual of my old reliable electronic Pfaff 1222 is very precise about what to do when you’ve completed sewing. It says turn stitch selector to straight stitch, needle position to central position, presser foot control lever to horizontal position which means presser foot is not down. The presser foot lever on this machine has 4 positions which control the needle position, tension discs, and presser foot placement.
The computerized machines are a whole different ballgame. So, it seems that the type and age of machine we use matters. If the machine is mechanical, electronic, or computerized makes a difference. One size does not fit all.
08-12-2012, 01:42 PM
#24
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: North Wales UK
Posts: 2,028
Originally Posted by jitkaau
I never put them away - they are all out on the tables, so luckily I can spot any problems quite quickly. It is only the occasional visitor who thinks they need to be put in a cupboard...
I oil them, dust them and leave the presser foot down etc as they are my pieces of furniture.
I oil them, dust them and leave the presser foot down etc as they are my pieces of furniture.
08-12-2012, 03:22 PM
#27
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Seale, Alabama
Posts: 617
Like Jan in VA, I'm a bad one for leaving my machine uncovered. And I also put the presser foot and needle down to transport, but "forget" to do it when not in use. I really must make a cover for it, that plastic case that came is too awkward for regular usage.
08-12-2012, 05:42 PM
#29
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,688
If it's so very important to put the presser foot down and lower the needle when your machine is not being used, why isn't that mentioned in the owner's manual anywhere? All mine says is to unplug the machine when not in use. No mention of anything else whatsoever. And if you all learned to do that in Home Ec, wasn't that on purely mechanical machines? Not electronic or computerized? Just curious.
08-13-2012, 03:11 AM
#30
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: North Wales UK
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Originally Posted by ghostrider
If it's so very important to put the presser foot down and lower the needle when your machine is not being used, why isn't that mentioned in the owner's manual anywhere? All mine says is to unplug the machine when not in use. No mention of anything else whatsoever. And if you all learned to do that in Home Ec, wasn't that on purely mechanical machines? Not electronic or computerized? Just curious.
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