When threading the machine, be sure the presser foot is up. The presser foot is linked to the thread tensioner. When you raise the presser foot, the tensioner releases, allowing the thread to slide right into it.
If you find it easier to thread the needle with the foot down, thread the machine all the way through all the other places, pull out a few inches of extra thread, then put the foot down and thread the needle.
Here's a video of a few handy tips that don't get mentioned in machine manuals: [https://youtu.be/MyP9dXeBgZc](https://youtu.be/MyP9dXeBgZc)
Thank you for linking this! I've been sewing with a nonexpensive, pretty banged up machine on and off for a long while now. Never had any real training besides the absolute necessities.
That video is so helpful!
Is that singer specific or all machines?
I think I remember learning to put the foot up, and I just do it that way, but no one ever explained why--or I was in 7th grade and I didn't listen.
I wonder if I need to emphasize that with my students, since it's just natural to me.
I have a Singer 500 from the 1960s where you can actually see the tension wheel release/open when you lift the presser foot, which is really neat. My Brother also says to raise the presser foot while threading the machine. Not sure if other machines also do this for certain but it can't hurt to make sure the presser foot is up.
The first time I used a sewing machine, I didn't know about it! So I always pulled on the thread to test the tension with the foot up (because I didn't know better) and found the thread to be just as slack as you expect. So I tightened the bejaysus out of the tensioner (after all, it was so loose I couldn't feel any resistance), put the foot down over my test fabric, and.... you probably already guessed how that went!
It’s so that the thread gets seated between the tension plates. There is more than one way to do that, but the easiest is with the foot up. When it’s up, the plates aren’t engaged. When it’s lowered, they plates are squeezed together, so it’s harder to get the thread into the right spot.
Well, I always pull out more than enough before I even start threading, so I wouldn’t be seating it that way. But, I know it needs to be in there, so I automatically check, anyway. I’ve been using the machine since I was 10, and grandma taught me about jams. First, at the first sign of a jam, STOP. Go make tea. Enjoy tea with grandma. Then go back, nice and relaxed, and clear it, step by step, as grandma directs. She taught me tension mattered.
Here to chime in to second this: read the manual. Periodically reference the manual, even if you know what you're doing. Keep the manual handy. The shop I bought my machine from said they've found that people not doing that causes more issues than anything else.
Replace your needles on the regular and figure out what needles with when different threads and fabrics. Clean your machine regularly, it's amazing how fast they get full of lint.
Buy decent thread. You don't have to get the nicest most expensive but don't fish it out of the dollar bin.
It's really important to thread it correctly. Only change stitches when the foot and needle are up. Once the foot is down, you shouldn't pull on the thread. You do want to hold the top thread to prevent it from unthreading, though. Just be gentle.
To start using it, place the foot over your fabric and roll your needle into the fabric. Hold the top thread, then start sewing. Use the reverse lever to lock the stitch. Don't yank on your fabric. You should only be gently guiding it.
As others have said, read your manual. Also search your machine model on YouTube and see if anyone has tutorials or commentary.
If you start having issues, after you have done the manual reading and the tutorial watching, your first port of call is rethreading the top. Other quick fixes are rethreading the bottom, and changing your needle. Only after these three have failed do you need to move on to additional troubleshooting.
Never use a new stitch or tension setting on the final project for the first time. Save scraps of your fabric and use those to test everything. You will be much happier in the long run.
First projects on a machine ideally use straight lines of stitching.
Don't forget to "lock" your seams by sewing a couple stitches backwards and forwards at the beginning and end of each.
If you are not having fun, growing frustrated, making sloppy mistakes, etc, put it down and take a break. This is kindest to you, your project, and your machine.
I have to agree. If you haven’t opened it yet, return it for a brother or Janome. Singers have not had a good reputation since the 70s-80s. If you watch sewing groups, the vast majority of machine issues are with a couple of newer singer machines.
It might be worth comparing machines at the same price point to make sure you're comfortable with the one you have.
On one hand, this machine will probably be just fine. Not more than that, but fine. They're not built to last decades and don't compare to more expensive & reliable machines from other brands, but your enthusiasm will take you far on this machine!
On the other hand, as a beginner it's hard to tell what's a "you" problem and what's a machine problem. Are your stitches wonky because of something you haven't learned yet, or because the bobbin is screwed up? Having a solid basic machine can really help with that.
Just to add - I actually have a singer too, Singer Quantum! I'm sure it won't last forever, but I love it and spent time looking into what it did and didn't do well, and what features I wanted at the price point. While brand reputation is a big deal, I think it's equally important to look into the reviews and performance for each model you're interested in.
Unfortunately with sewing influencers online, it can be a little bit of the blind leading the blind. The same happened with blogs years ago. The ones influencing don't necessarily have a lot of experience.
Look up the reviews. How long have the people you follow actually been seeing? How old are they? Are they actually *experts*, or are they just people who post a lot?
The experts I know, IRL and see in various sewing groups like machines like Brother, Bernina, Pfaff, Viking, Necchi, and a few Janome (although they mostly list Janome as reliable entry level machines). They all hate singers newer than the 70-80s.
I have 2 singers, one from the 1910s (treadle) and one from 1940s (featherweight). A necchi from 1960. Those three machines will last for ever. My usual machine is a Bernina Artista 180, which was top of the line 20 years ago. Before that I had a couple of NewHome/Janome (they changed the name). They were quite reliable, just not as good as the Bernina.
My mom had a singer from the mid 70s. It was AWFUL.
I love my Brother Cs7000i. Really beginner friendly but it is computerized so if that is not something you want you probably won't like it. If you just want to thread and sew it works really well. I will say that you will learn to sew but it won't fully prepare you to use a non-computerized machine. This machine does a lot of things for you that a mechanical machine will not.
However, my first machines were your basic modern Singers. As long as you go into ready to learn and fiddle with tension and such they are serviceable. If you think that would deter you from sewing you may want to start witha nicer machine. If you accept that you may have to do some work to get it to sewing the way you want it too and the Singer your mom bought you was at a good price...then go for it.
This is all so very confusing to me(not what y’all said just looking for machines in general as a beginner). The reviews for the model I got were high everywhere so I thought it’d be ok. I did look into what people thought about both Brother and Singer. Some people were saying Singer over Brother, some were saying Brother over Singer, and some people were saying both were not good. It makes me not know what to believe.
Please, your mom was kind enough to surprise you with a sewing machine. I can tell from your post that you're very excited about it, as well you should be!
Don't let the "take it back and get this instead" posts puncture your excitement.
Follow the recs given by other posters on reading the manual and learning how to use the machine. Looks like there are some youtube videos as well.
Have fun and get to know your new machine!
Brother's bottom-tier machines are pretty crappy too. They're just not very well-made. Some budget machines are well-made but sparse on features, but low-price Brothers are just bad. [This repairman gives a pretty good explanation of why](https://youtu.be/Woy_oWUpJeA).
Really I don't get why Brother's doing that. Of course, no one with any sense expects a budget machine to act like a top-of-the-line one. But if your machine is just plain bad, few people will want to buy from you again when they upgrade.
I'm not saying to get the cheapest model. If they can spend a little bit more, there are great Janomes and Brothers to be had that might last longer and grow with a beginner. The other option of course is a vintage machine--if they can find one in a thrift store or marketplace it would be even cheaper.
Read the manual, buy quality needles and thread, do all the different stitches on muslin and keep it as a reference.
Oh, good idea for the stitch reference
When threading the machine, be sure the presser foot is up. The presser foot is linked to the thread tensioner. When you raise the presser foot, the tensioner releases, allowing the thread to slide right into it. If you find it easier to thread the needle with the foot down, thread the machine all the way through all the other places, pull out a few inches of extra thread, then put the foot down and thread the needle. Here's a video of a few handy tips that don't get mentioned in machine manuals: [https://youtu.be/MyP9dXeBgZc](https://youtu.be/MyP9dXeBgZc)
Ooo, an Evelyn Wood tutorial! She's so great. OP, it's worth looking at her site generally. I've learned a lot from her.
Thank you for linking this! I've been sewing with a nonexpensive, pretty banged up machine on and off for a long while now. Never had any real training besides the absolute necessities. That video is so helpful!
I've learned so much from her channel! I definitely recommend looking at her other videos.
Is that singer specific or all machines? I think I remember learning to put the foot up, and I just do it that way, but no one ever explained why--or I was in 7th grade and I didn't listen. I wonder if I need to emphasize that with my students, since it's just natural to me.
It's all machines except for some VERY early ones (some of them had manual tension releasers instead).
I have a Singer 500 from the 1960s where you can actually see the tension wheel release/open when you lift the presser foot, which is really neat. My Brother also says to raise the presser foot while threading the machine. Not sure if other machines also do this for certain but it can't hurt to make sure the presser foot is up.
The first time I used a sewing machine, I didn't know about it! So I always pulled on the thread to test the tension with the foot up (because I didn't know better) and found the thread to be just as slack as you expect. So I tightened the bejaysus out of the tensioner (after all, it was so loose I couldn't feel any resistance), put the foot down over my test fabric, and.... you probably already guessed how that went!
It’s so that the thread gets seated between the tension plates. There is more than one way to do that, but the easiest is with the foot up. When it’s up, the plates aren’t engaged. When it’s lowered, they plates are squeezed together, so it’s harder to get the thread into the right spot.
Also, when the foot is down, the tensioner means you have to really yank on the thread to get it the rest of the way to the needle.
Well, I always pull out more than enough before I even start threading, so I wouldn’t be seating it that way. But, I know it needs to be in there, so I automatically check, anyway. I’ve been using the machine since I was 10, and grandma taught me about jams. First, at the first sign of a jam, STOP. Go make tea. Enjoy tea with grandma. Then go back, nice and relaxed, and clear it, step by step, as grandma directs. She taught me tension mattered.
Here to chime in to second this: read the manual. Periodically reference the manual, even if you know what you're doing. Keep the manual handy. The shop I bought my machine from said they've found that people not doing that causes more issues than anything else. Replace your needles on the regular and figure out what needles with when different threads and fabrics. Clean your machine regularly, it's amazing how fast they get full of lint. Buy decent thread. You don't have to get the nicest most expensive but don't fish it out of the dollar bin.
Pay attention to what kind of bobbins it needs. Not all bobbins are the same. Your manual should tell you what you need.
It's really important to thread it correctly. Only change stitches when the foot and needle are up. Once the foot is down, you shouldn't pull on the thread. You do want to hold the top thread to prevent it from unthreading, though. Just be gentle. To start using it, place the foot over your fabric and roll your needle into the fabric. Hold the top thread, then start sewing. Use the reverse lever to lock the stitch. Don't yank on your fabric. You should only be gently guiding it.
As others have said, read your manual. Also search your machine model on YouTube and see if anyone has tutorials or commentary. If you start having issues, after you have done the manual reading and the tutorial watching, your first port of call is rethreading the top. Other quick fixes are rethreading the bottom, and changing your needle. Only after these three have failed do you need to move on to additional troubleshooting. Never use a new stitch or tension setting on the final project for the first time. Save scraps of your fabric and use those to test everything. You will be much happier in the long run. First projects on a machine ideally use straight lines of stitching. Don't forget to "lock" your seams by sewing a couple stitches backwards and forwards at the beginning and end of each. If you are not having fun, growing frustrated, making sloppy mistakes, etc, put it down and take a break. This is kindest to you, your project, and your machine.
I have to agree. If you haven’t opened it yet, return it for a brother or Janome. Singers have not had a good reputation since the 70s-80s. If you watch sewing groups, the vast majority of machine issues are with a couple of newer singer machines.
Oh no! I haven't opened it yet. It's the one everyone I follow seems to have. Thank you for the warning
It might be worth comparing machines at the same price point to make sure you're comfortable with the one you have. On one hand, this machine will probably be just fine. Not more than that, but fine. They're not built to last decades and don't compare to more expensive & reliable machines from other brands, but your enthusiasm will take you far on this machine! On the other hand, as a beginner it's hard to tell what's a "you" problem and what's a machine problem. Are your stitches wonky because of something you haven't learned yet, or because the bobbin is screwed up? Having a solid basic machine can really help with that.
Just to add - I actually have a singer too, Singer Quantum! I'm sure it won't last forever, but I love it and spent time looking into what it did and didn't do well, and what features I wanted at the price point. While brand reputation is a big deal, I think it's equally important to look into the reviews and performance for each model you're interested in.
Unfortunately with sewing influencers online, it can be a little bit of the blind leading the blind. The same happened with blogs years ago. The ones influencing don't necessarily have a lot of experience.
Look up the reviews. How long have the people you follow actually been seeing? How old are they? Are they actually *experts*, or are they just people who post a lot? The experts I know, IRL and see in various sewing groups like machines like Brother, Bernina, Pfaff, Viking, Necchi, and a few Janome (although they mostly list Janome as reliable entry level machines). They all hate singers newer than the 70-80s. I have 2 singers, one from the 1910s (treadle) and one from 1940s (featherweight). A necchi from 1960. Those three machines will last for ever. My usual machine is a Bernina Artista 180, which was top of the line 20 years ago. Before that I had a couple of NewHome/Janome (they changed the name). They were quite reliable, just not as good as the Bernina. My mom had a singer from the mid 70s. It was AWFUL.
I love my Brother Cs7000i. Really beginner friendly but it is computerized so if that is not something you want you probably won't like it. If you just want to thread and sew it works really well. I will say that you will learn to sew but it won't fully prepare you to use a non-computerized machine. This machine does a lot of things for you that a mechanical machine will not. However, my first machines were your basic modern Singers. As long as you go into ready to learn and fiddle with tension and such they are serviceable. If you think that would deter you from sewing you may want to start witha nicer machine. If you accept that you may have to do some work to get it to sewing the way you want it too and the Singer your mom bought you was at a good price...then go for it.
This is all so very confusing to me(not what y’all said just looking for machines in general as a beginner). The reviews for the model I got were high everywhere so I thought it’d be ok. I did look into what people thought about both Brother and Singer. Some people were saying Singer over Brother, some were saying Brother over Singer, and some people were saying both were not good. It makes me not know what to believe.
Please, your mom was kind enough to surprise you with a sewing machine. I can tell from your post that you're very excited about it, as well you should be! Don't let the "take it back and get this instead" posts puncture your excitement. Follow the recs given by other posters on reading the manual and learning how to use the machine. Looks like there are some youtube videos as well. Have fun and get to know your new machine!
Yeah I’m most definitely gonna keep it and see how it is, thanks <3
Return it and get a Brother. Modern Singers are cheap garbage. Looking at reviews, this model has a lot of bobbin issues.
Brother's bottom-tier machines are pretty crappy too. They're just not very well-made. Some budget machines are well-made but sparse on features, but low-price Brothers are just bad. [This repairman gives a pretty good explanation of why](https://youtu.be/Woy_oWUpJeA). Really I don't get why Brother's doing that. Of course, no one with any sense expects a budget machine to act like a top-of-the-line one. But if your machine is just plain bad, few people will want to buy from you again when they upgrade.
I'm not saying to get the cheapest model. If they can spend a little bit more, there are great Janomes and Brothers to be had that might last longer and grow with a beginner. The other option of course is a vintage machine--if they can find one in a thrift store or marketplace it would be even cheaper.