Sewing Machine Service


I consider myself a pretty loving caretaker of my sewing machine, a Janome 6600P. I clean under and around the bobbin case area in between projects. I mostly use polyester thread so there's less lint build-up. I put a drop of oil on the wick under the bobbin occasionally. I don't sew over pins.

free motion quilting set up
My machine ready for free motion quilting. I'm using painter's tape to patch a few tears from snagging Peltex on the edges of my Supreme Slider.
And yet, I haven't had my machine cleaned and serviced in the nearly 3 years I've had the machine. My dealer provides free servicing for 5 years after the purchase, so I have no excuse. And I have seriously worked this machine with all of my free motion quilting!

I finally took the machine in for a tune up and cleaning even though I wasn't having major issues. It seemd like it sounded a little louder than it used to and was having trouble with thicker threads.

Now I can tell it is quieter and the stitch quality is better. I haven't tried it again with the threads I was having trouble with, as I am working on a customer quilt. But I am definitely glad I took it in. In fact, I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner, since it did improve things! I was careful to wipe a little excess oil off the needle bar before beginning to quilt.

Basting before free motion quilting
Pin basting. I swear my pins run off inbetween uses! Had to buy more.

So, when is the last time your machine was serviced? Get it done, you'll be glad you did!


5 comments:

  1. Maybe your pins and my pins are eloping? I seem to have less and less too!
    ;-)
    Esther
    esthersipatchandquilt at yahoo dot com
    ipatchandquilt dot wordpress dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I take mine in about once a year, it seems...totally worth it to get it cleaned and oiled (and I care for mine really well, I think). Wish my dealer gave free maintenance for the first five years, what a deal!

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  3. Yep, must do! I had one that I didnt have serviced for 15 years. She purred much differently after she was all cleaned up!

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  4. Thanks for the reminder. I haven't serviced mine in awhile - I never want to be without it! But, we're doing some renovations right now, so it's a good time to do it.

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