​Tech Tips for Keeping Your Sewing Machine in Tip-Top Shape

By Dan Low, Authorized Bernina Service Technician, Sew Original, Winston-Salem, NC

Here are some tips to help you enjoy your machines and keep them in top running condition.
While this list provides tips on many aspects of machine care and maintenance, it is by no means a complete list of all the ways to care for your machine. Please refer to your Bernina User Guide if you have questions about a particular aspect of your machine or ask one of the staff members at Sew Original for assistance.

Don’t panic if things go wrong. If you experience problems sewing, carefully and slowly check for thread jams in the bobbin area as well as missed threading of take-up-lever in the top thread. Many problems can be easily solved by simply rethreading the machine. 

Always thread the machine with the presser foot in the up position. This will ensure that the tension disks are open so that the top thread can properly seat in the tension disks as you thread the machine.

If your machine is locked up, never force it. Forcing the handwheel or other parts of the machine can bend or break internal components. A common cause of the handwheel becoming hard to turn is thread that has accidentally wrapped around the main drive shaft or handwheel. This situation can sometimes occur when spare thread is stored atop the machine: A loose thread tail can inadvertently land on the handwheel and wind around the handwheel shaft as the machine is running. Should your machine become locked up and you find that you are unable to clear it, bring your machine in for service “as is” so the technician can diagnose the problem for you.

Bringing Your Machine in for Service
Sew Original has an authorized Bernina technician on site. We strive to provide fast, efficient service on all machines brought in for service. Bernina recommends that all machines be cleaned and serviced at least once a year; we call it giving our machines their annual "spa treatment!"
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If your machine has a problem that you can’t correct, or if it’s producing bad stitches that you can’t resolve on your own, it's probably best to bring it in so our technician can take a look at it. Here are some tips for what to do when bringing your machine for service:

• Leave the problem in/on the machine; don’t clear it out. 
• If it’s a stitch problem, leave a sample of the problem on the machine. Include the fabric, needle, and threads – both top and bobbin – that you were using. 
• It’s much easier to troubleshoot and correct a problem when the problem is readily visible or discernable.
• Include a list of all the things you want done. This includes any problems you have encountered, any functions that don’t seem to be working as expected, etc.

Schedule your machine’s annual “spa treatment.” Our technician will fully inspect your machine, remove all the exterior covers in order to fully clean and lubricate it, make any necessary adjustments, and ensure that it has the latest software/firmware installed. An annual cleaning and adjustment or your machine will help ensure that it stays in tip-top condition!  

Don’t allow your machine to sit for months and months without using it. If you plan on storing your machine for 6 months or more, bring it to your service technician and let them know that you plan to store the machine for an extended period. The technician can clean the machine and get it properly situated for best storage.

Lubricating Your Machine
It is vital that your machine is always properly lubricated.

• Use the correct type of oil for your machine. Different machine models may use a different weight (viscosity) of oil. Sew Original can help you obtain the correct Bernina oil for your machine.
• Oil the hook (bobbin area) of your Bernina machine at least every 8 hours of sewing time. 
• Apply oil sparingly. A half drop of oil is recommended. Don’t over-oil the machine.
• Signs of over-oiling may include oil found on the inside and around the base of the bobbin door.
• What's the harm in over-oiling your machine? Sewing machines run at a high rate of speed with lots of moving parts inside their covers. As these parts move, oil can become atomized and “float” around inside the machine. This atomized oil then settles on the various parts inside the covers. Over-oiling your machine causes excess oil to settle on internal parts, which can lead to problems such as obscuring sensors, creating a film on electronic components, etc. You want to be sure to oil your machine regularly, but just be careful not to over-oil it.
• Please don’t hesitate to ask the staff at Sew Original if you have questions about lubricating your machine.

Cleaning Your Machine
A clean machine is a happy machine!

• Use a cloth dampened with water to wipe the outside of your machine and its touch screen (if so equipped). Never use harsh chemicals or solvents as these can damage the finish or the touch screen.
• Use a brush and a vacuum to remove lint and dust from the bobbin area. Remove the stitch plate and clean around the feed dogs. Also, clean around and above the needle drive shaft. 
• Never use canned air to blow lint out of the machine; this can cause lint and dust to blow further inside the machine. This dust and lint can then combine with atomized oil inside the machine and “gum-up the works.”
• Carefully use tweezers to remove any thread build-up in and around the feed dogs. 
• When cleaning the feed dogs, you will need to remove the stitch plate. While the plate is off the machine, check for burrs or scratches on the plate by gently running your fingers around the edges and across the top and bottom of the plate. If you feel any rough spots, bring the plate to Sew Original and let our technician smooth them out for you. Burrs and scratches on the plate can potentially cause thread to catch or jam as the machine stitches.
• Keep the thread cutter clean. If your machine model is equipped with an automatic thread cutter, it will most likely prompt you to periodically clean the thread catcher. Refer to your user manual or ask a staff member at Sew Original for help in running the thread catcher cleaning mode on your machine.

Sewing Machine Electronics
Modern sewing machines are like small computers with sensitive electronic components inside.

• Always connect your sewing machine’s power cord to a surge protector. Surge protectors help protect sensitive electronic devices from sudden or momentary overvoltage conditions in the electrical power delivered to a home or office;. Just keep in mind, however, that surge protectors will not protect electronic devices from a direct lightning strike.
• When your machine is not is use, you should unplug the machine from the power source and cover the machine. Unplugging it from the power source is the best way to protect your investment from stray electrical surges. A cover helps keep dust from collecting on or inside your machine. Bernina has covers for most of its machine models. There are also many sewing patterns available to make your own custom machine cover. 

Tips about Needles and Threads
The following are some general tips regarding how the needles and threads we use can affect the operation of our machines.

• Match the needle size to the thread weight and fabric type. There are a myriad of needle and thread combinations for use in our machines. The staff at Sew Original can help you determine which needle and thread to use for your specific project. There are also many online resources available.
• When installing a new bobbin, check to make sure the thread pulls smoothly from the bobbin case. 
• When changing needles, be sure to insert the needle into the needle bar until it is fully seated. Also, be careful to not overtighten the needle retaining screw – it can break! Just snug it good; no need to overtighten. 
• A general rule-of-thumb is to install a new needle – fresh from the package – into your machine at least every 15 hours of sewing time. If you hear a popping sound as the needle enters the fabric, that can be an indication that the needle has become dull and needs changing. Also, if your thread starts to shred that can be an indication that you need a new needle. (This can also be a sign that the needle is too small for the thread being used.) The needle is probably the least expensive part of your sewing machine, yet it has a tremendous impact on how well your machine sews. Don’t be hesitant to change needles often.   
• If your machine is equipped with a semi-automatic/manual needle threader, be careful to never force the needle threader. It is delicate and it can break! If you are having trouble with the needle threader, the staff at Sew Original is happy to assist you in learning the best ways to use the needle threader. 
• Loops and “bird’s nests” in the bobbin area are a sign of a problem with your top tread tension or an incorrect thread path. Rethreading your machine is the first thing you want to do to address these issues. Be sure to always thread your machine with the presser foot in the up position.
• You may find that some thread weights require you to adjust your top thread tension for best results; however, it is never advisable to set your top thread tension to zero.
• Do not use hand-sewing threads for machine sewing. Hand-sewing threads are manufactured differently and will not hold up to use in a sewing machine.
• For best results, store threads in a covered container and out of direct sunlight. 
• Many of the Bernina machines have threaded holes in the sewing deck just to the right of the stitch plate. These are for securing attachments to the machine. Never put oil into these holes. You may even wish to place a piece of tape over these holes when not in use to prevent pins or other foreign objects from dropping into the holes. 
• You may wish to place a piece of fabric, paper, etc., over the holes in the stitch plate when changing needles to help prevent a needle from falling into the bobbin area if a needle is accidentally dropped during installation or removal.
• If you feel that a needle tip (broken needle, etc.) may have fallen into the bobbin area, use a small magnet to carefully search for the needle tip.