You and Your Sewing Machine

From the sewing machine whisperer comes this in-depth, visual guide to how a sewing machine works, how to keep it in good working order, and how to solve common problems. Perfect for sewists and quilters of all levels, this friendly approach to learning about and troubleshooting your sewing machine gives you the tools you need to sew and quilt with less frustration and better results!

Often, I have a love/hate relationship with my sewing machine because if something goes wrong (tension - I am looking at you!) I don't feel equipped for knowing how to sort it. This book is written by a sewing machine technician and offers a comprehensive guide for getting to know your sewing machine (including how a stitch is formed, needle plates, electronic vs mechanical vs computerised, foot controls, bobbins, feed dogs), maintaining a good relationship with your machine (including how to use the different feet such as applique, walking, 1/4", free-motion, cleaning & oiling the machine, using spray basting, turning the handwheel) and problems & how to fix them (including tension, burrs, threading, needles, anatomy of the needle, sizes, types, when to change needles, pressure-foot and buttonholes)!! I can 100% say that I believe this book should be supplied alongside the manual for every sewing machine! It covers EVERYTHING and has been a real game-changer for me in understanding my sewing machine and how to work with it!!

A complete explanation of the workings of a sewing machine. There is a list of questions to ask when buying a machine.

The maintenance section covers cleaning and lubrication stressing the importance of regular servicing, lint can accumulate in areas unseen by the user.

The section on tension tells how to achieve the perfect stitch, threading the machine correctly is essential e.g. lifting the presser foot when threading, opens the tension plates and enable the thread to sit correctly.

The qualities and differences of needles are explained clearly. There is a final troubleshooting section to solve problems. We are told not only how but why our machines work.

It is my Book of the Month. 

Bernie Tobisch started his career as a sewing machine technician in the mid 1970s and became a dealer in 1980. He now lives in Vancouver, Canada, with his wife Shelley and continues to service machines.

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