Many of the machines brought to us for repair are not broken at all. The fault that looks serious usually turns out to be packed lint, a dry hook, or a needle that should have gone in the bin months ago.
A few minutes of care after each project keeps a machine sewing sweetly for decades. Here is what to do at home, how to fix the problems you will meet most often, and when it is time to hand the machine to a technician.
Four habits that prevent most problems
Change the needle often
Bernina advises a new needle for every new project, or after about 8 to 10 hours of sewing. A blunt or burred needle causes skipped stitches long before it looks damaged.
Brush out the lint
Every seam sheds fibres into the bobbin area. Left there, they pack into a felt that drags on the thread and blocks the feed dogs.
Keep it covered
Dust and strong sunlight both shorten a machine's life. Put the cover on whenever you finish sewing.
Use the right bobbins
A bobbin that is almost the right size will still sew, but you get loose loops underneath and uneven tension. Buy the bobbins made for your machine.
How to clean your machine
Do this after a big project, or whenever you see grey fluff under the stitch plate. Your manual shows exactly which parts come off on your model.
1. Switch off and unplug
Never put your fingers near the needle area with the power on.
2. Take off the needle and foot
Remove the needle and the presser foot so you have room to see.
3. Open up the bobbin area
Lift out the bobbin, then remove the stitch plate and bobbin case if your manual says they come out.
4. Brush the feed dogs
Use a soft lint brush to sweep out the feed dogs and the area around the bobbin. Work the fluff out towards you, not down into the machine.
5. Wipe the hook area
Wipe the hook and bobbin case with a soft, dry cloth to lift fine dust the brush leaves behind.
6. Reassemble and test
Put everything back, fit a new needle, and sew a line on a scrap of fabric before you go back to your project.
Never use compressed air
Bernina is firm on this: a can of air blows lint deeper into the machine, where you cannot reach it. Do not blow into it with your mouth either, because the moisture in your breath can lead to rust. A brush and a cloth are all you need.
Oiling: less than you think
Check your manual before you oil anything. Many modern machines need oil only in the hook area, and some need no oil from the owner at all. Oil in the wrong place attracts lint and can end up on your fabric.
Use proper sewing machine oil only. Cooking oil and general household oils are too thick and turn gummy inside the machine.
One drop is enough at each point your manual shows. More is not better.
For machines that do need the hook oiled, Bernina's rule of thumb is a drop after every three or four bobbins, or after each full day of sewing.
After oiling, sew a few lines on a scrap of fabric to soak up any extra before you touch your good cloth.
Everything for home cleaning
Prym Sewing Machine Maintenance Set
KES 1,500
Screwdrivers to change the needle and lift the stitch plate, and a brush to clear lint from the feed dogs and bobbin case. It is the kit that turns cleaning from a job you put off into a five-minute habit.
See the maintenance set
A light, clear oil
Prym Sewing Machine Oil
KES 1,300
A light oil made for sewing machines. It lubricates without gumming up, and it will not stain fabric if a drop escapes. Prefer more control? The Prym oil pen (KES 1,800) puts a single drop exactly where you aim it.
See the oilLooking after a machine in Kenya
Dust. In the dry months dust settles on everything. Cover the machine between sessions and brush it out more often.
Power. Plug into a surge protector, and switch off and unplug during storms and power cuts. Computerised machines are the most sensitive to surges.
Humidity. At the coast, damp air can rust metal parts. Store the machine somewhere dry and use it regularly, because a machine that sits for months is more likely to seize.
Common problems and quick fixes
Try these before you book a repair. Most of them take a minute.
| Problem | Likely cause | Try this |
|---|---|---|
| Skipped stitches | Blunt needle, or the wrong type for the fabric | Fit a new needle of the right type. See our needle guide. |
| A tangle of thread under the fabric | The top thread has missed the tension discs | Raise the presser foot, then rethread the top thread from the beginning. |
| Thread keeps breaking | Damaged needle, poor thread, or tension too tight | New needle, good-quality thread, then check the tension setting. |
| Noisy or clunking | Lint build-up or a dry hook | Clean the bobbin area, and oil if your manual says to. |
| Fabric will not move | Lint packed in the feed dogs, or feed dogs lowered | Brush the feed dogs and check they are raised. |
| Needle breaks | Pulling the fabric, or a needle too fine for the job | Let the machine feed the fabric, and use a heavier needle on thick seams. |
| Loose loops underneath | The wrong bobbin, or a badly wound one | Use the bobbins made for your machine and rewind evenly. |
For bernette owners, the right bobbin is the bernette plastic bobbin at KES 250. We also stock metal bobbins for machines that take them.
When to book a service
Bernina recommends a professional service once a year for every machine, however carefully you look after it at home. A technician opens up the parts you should not, cleans and oils inside, and sets the timing and tension so the machine sews as it did when new. Book sooner if a problem in the table above does not clear after cleaning and a new needle.
Repairs and servicing
Sewing Machine Repair & Service
From KES 4,500
A routine service covers cleaning, oiling, and timing and tension adjustment. We also fix skipped stitches, thread nesting, jamming, noise and broken needles. Bring the machine with its foot pedal and power cable, plus a scrap of the fabric it is struggling with, so we can test it on the real thing.
Book a serviceBring your machine in
Drop your machine at our shop at Muthaiga Mini Market, or message us first and tell us what it is doing.
Book a serviceOr message us on 0798 316 860
Care advice based on Bernina's guidance on cleaning and oiling and machine maintenance. Always follow the manual for your own machine.
In Stitches is the authorised Bernina and bernette distributor in Kenya.
Prices correct at the time of writing.
