Put a magnet in a plastic bag and slide it around on the floor and around table and chair legs. (Screws love to hide around these places.) You might just find the screw to be replaced into the bobbin case. 

Ever had one of those days where your bobbin is keeping more thread than it can use? It bunches in the bobbin case, it bunches on the seam, it's enough to make a person scream!
This problem has many names: tangling, nesting, clotting, boogering-up....
Whatever you call it, it can turn a good sewing day into a nightmare.

It doesn't have to be this way! Here's what's going on, and how to fix it:

Thankfully, there's an easy way to make sure the thread is in the right position before you start sewing.
Just give that upper thread a simple little tug to make sure it's safely in the tension disks.

Some Upper Tensions are hidden in the machine, so you won't be able to see the tension disks, but gentle tugging will still work.

What does your Upper Tension control look like? Here are some examples:

You get three stitches into a sewing project and suddenly the thread breaks!
Never fear, the culprit is probably just your Take-Up Finger.

Let's break this down:

Why does this happen?
The Take-Up Finger is needed to pull the upper thread around the bobbin and back to the surface. Without it, the thread is taut and is unable to give.


Next time the Three Stitch Problem turns up, take a look at your Take-Up Finger. Rethreading the machine may save you a lot of sewing anguish.

What does your Take-Up Finger look like? Here are a few different examples

Thank you to everyone who showed their support! We raised $140 for Family Promise of Shenandoah County.
Miss the special, but still want to help? Check out the Website.

Family Promise is a parachurch ministry that helps homeless families regain their dignity and independence.
Unlike many homeless shelters, families are given private living quarters during their stay and receive financial training and assistance in applying for employment.
Most "graduate" (achieve independence) from the program in six weeks.

Shenandoah Sew and Vac wants to help give homeless families the light of hope.
That's why we're offering a special deal this December:
Bring in any lamp for repair with Family Promise Gift Certificate and get $5.00 off Labor (printable Certificate available at bottom of page).
For every Certificate used, Shenandoah Sew and Vac will donate $5.00 to Family Promise of Shenandoah County, a new affiliate which will serve Shenandoah County starting in 2016.

Here's How It Works:

Here's a video explaining the ministry.           "IHN" is Family Promise's former title.

Vacuum cleaners are a great invention. They keep us from having to beat our rugs.
There are some things, though, that just shouldn't be vacuumed up--for your health and that of your machine.

1. Carpet Powder

Love my carpet-hate my vacuum powders adding scent to your home and machine.
Problem: Carpet powder is so fine it escapes bags and filters and gets into the bearings, motors, and the fans of your machine. This, in addition to damaging critical inner-workings, sends the dust into the air and your lungs. Carpet powder is also known to clog the pores in vacuum bags and filters. This means your vacuum can not breath and could overheat--possibly to the point of burning out the motor.
Solution: If you want to improve the smell of your vacuum, spray a favorite scent onto a tissue and vacuum it into the machine. (Do NOT spray anything directly onto a bag or filter, it will cause damage)

So your vacuum just quit working.
What now?
Well, before you take it into the shop, why not do a quick diagnosis of the problem--it might be simpler than you expect.

1. Check the electrical outlet
  There's not much more embarrassing than taking something into the shop and having it run just fine when it was dead at home. If the vacuum doesn't run, see if the outlet is giving power (this is a pretty easy fix).

2. Belt
    Unplug and flip the vacuum over. Does the belt look loose, broken, or melted? If so, it is time to replace it. There's often a distinctive smell that goes along with this problem-- burning rubber.

3. Bags/filters
    When was the last time you emptied the bag and/or cleaned the filters? Replacing a full bag will often get a vacuum back to running like new. Filters are very important--especially on bag-less machines--they keep dirt from getting into important places like the motor.  Some filters are washable, look in your instructions to see how to clean them.

4. Hose
    One frequent problem is clogging, especially if you have pets, long hair, new carpets, or like to vacuum up large pieces of rubbish. Without airflow, the vacuum will overheat and shut down. Remove your hose and drop a quarter in one end. Hold the hose vertically. Did the quarter come out? If not, you have a clog. Use a yard stick to clear out the blockage--be careful not to compact the dirt inside.
(Do NOT use coat hangers to clear a clog, they can destroy your hose)

5. Reset Button
    Locate the reset button and press. If it restarts, diagnose what caused the problem in the first place--see above options.