How Do You Work An Old Sewing Machine?
Finding or inheriting an old electric sewing machine can be a great find and treasure. Unfortunately, most old sewing machines don’t come with or have instruction manuals, so getting one up-to-speed and running can be a challenge. While not every machine can be saved, most can be gotten up and running by a good cleaning and by adjusting the tension. There are always unknown factors that may prohibit or prevent a machine from working initially, but with some tender loving care and an afternoon, a good old machine can be brought back to life. Before changing anything on the machine, examine it for how things are already set up and are “supposed” to be. Whether it’s from an auction, yard sale or family member, nine times out of 10, an old machine comes pre-threaded. Observe how the thread is laced through the machine and into the needle as well as how the bobbin is wound and placed into its case (clockwise or counterclockwise) and how it eventually ends up at the feed dogs. Bobbins and th
