From Patricia:  If you are having trouble threading your sewing machine needle, remove the needle from the machine and thread it. Be sure to pass the thread through the eye of the needle in the right direction and then put the needle back into the machine.

From Terri:  Instead of taping labels on my black machine cords, chargers, etc., I discovered silver Sharpie markers. I just write directly on the cord or charger what its use is.

From NiftySewer:  When stitching out a dense design or a very large one, I sometimes have a problem with the thread and/or needle breaking. If you have a machine that allows you to adjust the motor speed, this can be a life saver. I slowed mine down by 40% and had amazing results.

From Nancy:  I LOVE the gripper style shelf liner (look for it at your local dollar store) and always keep a fresh roll in my sewing room. Put a double thickness under your machine to keep it from 'walking' away. Put a chunk under your presser foot so it will stay put! Put a sheet between your cutting mat and your Quilter's Cut 'N Press board to keep it from scooting around the table. Put some between your chair and your chair cushion to keep the cushion in place when moving from sewing machine to iron to cutting board. Keep a small sheet next to your machine and place your tools on it, helps keep them from ending up on the floor. Use a sheet between your cutting mat and the table to keep the cutting mat from sliding and causing problems.

From Sharon: I use dental tooth picks that have "feathers" on one end to help pull threads through the needle. The feathers easily catch the thread so you don't have to have your fingers around the needle. I've bloodied several projects attempting to pull threads through a needle.

From Joyce: I was having endless trouble with my thread looping, fraying and birds-nesting. I even had the machine serviced but everything only provided temporary relief. I finally tried cleaning the bobbins using rubbing alcohol and a scrap of fabric which has solved the problem. I do a lot of biker patches and projects using temporary spray adhesive and was, no doubt, getting the sticky adhesive onto the bobbins which was causing feed and tension problems. I'm now cleaning my bobbins (and my fingers) regularly and my jobs are running neatly and smoothly.

From Donna: To make it easier to turn the tightening screw on my hoop I took the rubber grippers that you slide onto a pencil, cut in half and they fit perfectly over the tightening screw making it easier to grip.

From Marie: I make a habit of thoroughly cleaning both my sewing machines and the sewing room at the completion of every project. I am then ready to start the next project with everything clean, organized, and easy to get to.

From Cindy: When I start a project or a gift item, I check the bobbin thread in the machine. It is a big disappointment when you start to sew and you see little white loops popping up all over the place.

From Christine: Sewing rooms tend to get very dusty and so do my machines. I make use out of my old bath towels using them as dust covers. I first measure my machine from front over the top (highest point) down the back side. Add 6 inches to this measurement. I serge the cut edges then sew the short sides together. The cover fits over the machine like a tent. These wash and wear well and are practical.

From Pattie: I bought some extra light fixtures to put light right where I needed it, under the last shelf above my embroidery machine. You just attach them with screws and clips and plug them in. They have a touch on and off switch and work great. They have cool fluorescent bulbs and come in different sizes. They are very inexpensive and I did it myself.

From HC: Rather than use my fingers on my screen to select designs, I use a rounded eraser at the end of a pencil. You can have a sharpened pencil to make notes, or if you have a tendency to poke yourself like I have done, you can keep the pencil completely unsharpened. Works great!

From Elisabeth: I have more than one embroidery machine, so in order to keep the various cables (power, USB, etc.) organized when not in use, or when I go to class, I fold them accordion style and put one in a repurposed cardboard (toilet paper) tube. Then, I write the name of the machine and the type of cable. Keeps them neat and labeled at home and when traveling.

From Chickee:  I use the computer vacuum attachment to clean my sewing machine. Dust and fibers get sucked out, rather than blown into my machine.

From EllenMay:  When cleaning the fuzz out of your machine, take a flexible drinking straw and hold one end in between your ring and pinkie fingers. Hold on to the end of your vacuum hose with the rest of your fingers and use the straw to suck up all of the lint. You will find that you can reach areas with the flexible straw that weren't accessible before. Avoid using canned air, it just pushes lint farther into your machine and ends up causing costly repairs.

From Teresa: I have labeled all of my plugs using masking tape. So, If I want to unplug my laptop and not my machine, I know which plug to pull.

From Meredith: Use a plastic table cover to protect your embroidery machine and computer screens. You can find this product at almost any department store.

Tip from Sherry: Even though I try to keep my machine clean, I know how important it is to have it professionally serviced regularly. Your dealer can recommend what is best for you and your machine, but for me, I have it done every year around my birthday. Always easy to remember.

Tip from Patricia L.:  Even though I try to keep my machine clean, I know how important it is to have it professionally serviced regularly. Your dealer can recommend what is best for you and your machine, but for me, I have it done every year around my birthday. Always easy to remember.

Tip from Connie: When changing your machine needle, always cover the throat plate in case the needle falls out during the process. It will save a big repair bill to retrieve it!

Tip from Sue: I was told by a member of a group I belong to that my thread and needle breakage might be due to trash in my thread tension discs. She told me to take a long piece of unwaxed dental floss and thread it like you would normally thread your machine. Then, pull it through from the needle end of the floss. Do it several times. My needle and thread breakage stopped! And the bobbin thread stopped pulling to the top!

Tip from Steph:  I have noticed that when I use large spools of thread on my embroidery machine, the thread loops up and out of the thread guide and ends up causing the thread to break. To keep this from happening, I just run a small piece of scotch tape across the top guide to the body of the machine after I have threaded it, and it works perfectly.

Tip from Molly: I always make sure to stop my machine before cutting jump stitches. It may take a little longer but the damage caused to a embroidery/sewing machine can be very expensive if the needle were to hit the scissors.

Tip from Lisa: I always unplug and cover my embroidery machine when it's not in use. I have made several machine covers and experimented with colors and fun embroidery designs! Covers are great to protect the machine from dust build-up.

Tip from Charlene: Use a new sponge-tipped eye shadow applicator to keep your bobbin case clean and lint-free. It does a great job of picking up the 'fuzz' and tiny threads left after all those creative projects.

Tip from Jan: I bought a sticky back pen holder at the office supplies store and stuck it to the side of my sewing machine. It is a handy place to keep the machine's screwdriver, so I don't waste time looking for it when changing needles.

Tip from Lacey: When using an embroidery machine, keep a dryer sheet nearby and touch it from time to time to eliminate static electricity.

Tip from Maria:  When cleaning your bobbin area and removing the plate, use a quarter or nickel coin. It is a lot easier than using a screwdriver.

Tip from Cindy:  My 2 cats love anything on a string, including my stylus for my machine. So I used the Teddy Bear Cupid In-the-Hoop Lollipop Holder to hold my stylus. Its big enough to hold and soft too. No more strings!

Tip from Charlene:  Instead of buying an expensive adjustable table, I bought a set of bed risers from a home improvement store to heighten my sewing room table to a comfortable height for cutting, hooping, etc. They come in different sizes ranging from 3 6 inches and can also be found at Target and some furniture stores.

Tip from Gloria Jean:  I have been using backup batteries for my computers for years, so when I got my new computerized machine, I purchased another backup battery and plugged in the sewing machine and serger. It protects against power surges, and if the power does go out, it gives you a few extra minutes to stop your design at a convenient place so you can resume sewing and not loose your work.

Tip from Jean: To keep your foot control from slipping on vinyl floors, not wood, cut a piece of shelf & drawer liner. I get mine at a dollar store. Works great!

Tip from Ruth C.: I have my sewing and embroidery machines all on a power surge bar. As added protection, when I am going away, or if there is a storm, I simply unplug the bar. I don't have to worry about any power or weather-related problems. And when I want to sew, I simply plug in the bar.

Tip from Jennifer: I work in a building that is very dry. To keep myself from getting shocked by the machine, I brought in a small humidifier to put moisture into the air. It benefits the plants too!

Tip from Jane: One of the best ways to clean your hoops from all the sticky stuff is to soak them in hot water and use an enzyme cleaner such as Biz. This will eat off all the gooey stuff and it comes off so easy.

Tip from Lysa: Be careful when using canned air to clean the parts of your machine. I have been told by repair experts that canned air introduces moisture to the area you are spraying and over time, the metal parts will rust. So, use your canned air sparingly!

Tip from Frecia K.: My embroidery machine vibrates the entire house when it is running at top speed. My husband says "How did you get my bulldozer upstairs?". I put two back seat floor mats (stacked) under the machine. You can still hear it on the first floor, but now it doesn't rattle the dishes.

Tip from Janet B.:  I keep a small strip of very fine 400 grit sandpaper (which is black in color) in my sewing kit for sanding off friction burrs on the needle plate and needle tips.

Tip from Carole: I keep my embroidery field clean by taking a piece of masking tape and dabbing up the thread ends as I cut the thread skips.

Tip from Pat H.: I put a section of rubber shelf liner under my sewing and serger machines. It prevents the machines from sliding on the surface.

Tip from Dawn: When cleaning the hook race and feed dog, I use a small clean paintbrush (not used for anything else) and swirl it around to collect the lint. It works wonders.

Tip from Susan G.: My Baby Lock embroidery machine's take-up arm (the round elbow for it) occasionally picks up thread and wraps around the thing, stopping it. While the problem is tough, I usually can, with tweezers or small scissors get it out. However, stuff occasionally remains. Someone in the business told me about dental floss. Amazing! Wrap it around the round piece of metal and floss gently and VOILA -- gets rid of thread and cleans the joint.

Tip from Charlene G.: Use a new sponge-tipped eye shadow applicator to keep your bobbin case clean and lint-free. Does a great job of picking up the "fuzz" and tiny threads left after all those creative projects.

Tip from Katherine W.: To remember to clean my machine on a regular basis, I only thread 3-4 bobbins at a time. When they are empty, it's time to clean my machine, which protects my investment.

Tip from Rhonda H., Jean W. and Adelyn G.: If your thread does the bird nest under your fabric, while it is still in the hoop, use a serrated bread knife to slide under the hoop and cut the threads. This allows you to keep from having to pull on the design, just in case there is a chance of saving the design.

Tip from Arlene: I attached a piece of non-skid shelf liner to my control foot so it doesn't slide around on hard floors.

Tip from Gail: I keep a cotton ball and some rubbing alcohol in my sewing desk. When I am using liquid adhesive I place the cotton ball with some alcohol on it under the needle and manually lower the needle in order to clean off excess glue.

Tip from Denise: To tilt your machine forward instead of straining your neck, insert two door stops under your machine. Works like a charm.

Click here to submit your tip.

---