Machine is Fixed!

Ok – When I was machine shopping the Janome salesman told me that 99% of problems with the machine are user errors.  In this case – he was right.  So I will tell you what happened and maybe it will save you the hassle in the future.

Keep in mind that I had not done too much machine sewing over the last two month because of the holidays and the move.  I generally buy one large spool of thread to do all my piecing with; I don’t change it until I run out.  A few months ago, I bought a new spool.

Like I said, I like to use large spools; but I don’t have a thread stand.  On my old machine, they always fit fine.  On my new machine the vertical holder was too short and the horizontal holder was to small.  It was a tight fit, but the spool was still turning.  I thought I would use up a good portion of it quick enough; no big deal.

My sewing machine guy says my bobbin case was broken, again – the last time, I broke it because I didn’t thread it right.  What he “thinks” happened was that the thread was putting putting too much tention on the bobbin case and rocking it back and forth.  Over time the case got knicks, scratchs, and rough spots.  My thread, passing under the case, caught on the rough spots and jammed it up.

The reason I was able to get it working when I filed it smooth was because that stopped the thread from catching.  What I didn’t solve was the tention caused by my big spool of thread getting stuck in the small thread holder.  So my machine was still running clunky and rough.

My sewing machine guy replaced the bobbin case and gave me a new, smaller, spool of thread.  They say that when you buy a machine, you are buying into a family; be sure you are comfortable with the people you are purchasing it from and who will be servicing it.

I will invest in a thread stand in the near future.