Use Your Domestic Sewing Machine for Quilting

IMPORTANT: Locate your domestic sewing machine's instruction manual and then...

...keep it handy for easy reference. You'll need it for troubleshooting, instructions on how to use accessories, install feet and small maintenance jobs. It's the place to start when a problem arises!

A Clean Machine is a Happy Machine

Your domestic machine should be clean and lubricated.

Regularly.

No excuses.

Oil according to your instruction manual

Check your instruction manual before using any oil.

Some domestic machines, and particularly the newer computerized ones, are made with parts that are impregnated with oil.

If this is the case, any machine lubrication will be done by your sewing machine dealer at the machine's annual “well baby” check up. Most manufacturers recommend a checkup once a year for your sewing machine. It will be cleaned, lubricated and the timing will be checked.

If you have an older or mechanical model, the manual tells you if, when, how and with what kind of oil to lubricate your sewing machine.

Lint robs your machine of lubrication

As you quilt, remember to brush out your bobbin case after every bobbin or two. After you see all the lint that builds up, you'll know why.

Be sure to check the space surrounding your feed dogs. There is not supposed to be a felt pad there. If there is, it's lint. Get rid of it! 

When you change needle thread, clip it close to the spool and then pull the tail all the way through your domestic sewing machine and out the needle eye.

This keeps lint from being pulled back up into the sewing machine.

Why the fuss about cleaning and maintenance?

When we use our domestic sewing machine for quilting it runs pretty near constantly. It’s not like piecing where we sew a little, press a little, and trim a little.

When we are in the quilting “zone”, the pedal will be to the metal for the entire bobbin. The bobbin runs out, we quick wind another and off to quilting again.

A clean and well maintained sewing machine produces better stitches and has fewer problems during quilting, thus saving us time and frustration.

A walking foot and a darning foot are a must!

In order to quilt, you need a walking foot for straight line and “in-the-ditch” quilting and a free motion or darning foot for free motion quilting. I highly suggest purchasing these feet from your dealer instead of purchasing a generic version.

Those from your dealer are specifically engineered for your domestic sewing machine model.

Read the instructions to understand how to install both types of feet.

Problems with installation? Take both your machine and the foot/feet to your dealer for help.

Drop those Feed Dogs

You must be able to disengage the feed dogs either by dropping them or, for older model machines, by covering them for free motion quilting.

Consult your manual if you're not sure how to do it.

Visit Your Dealer

Do keep up with the latest feet offered by your sewing machine dealer.

My manufacturer added an open toe walking foot, as well as an offset “big foot” and darning foot for my domestic sewing machine. These are big improvements over the original offerings because it’s now easier to see where you’re going.

These changes were made in response to input from quilters like you and me.

So make sure to let your dealer know about the things you like about your machine and the changes that would improve it.

One final tidbit to keep in mind while you are quilting...if your machine seems to be getting too hot...like you could fry an egg on it...take a break…you probably need one too!