Inaccurate sewing machine threading commonly causes so much user frustration that they either stop sewing or require professional sewing machine repair.

Thread is a necessity. The sewing machine needs thread to form stitches and connect fabrics. In most cases, it uses two threads.

One thread fills a bobbin and is placed under the arm of the sewing machine. One thread comes from above through the eye of the needle.

The mechanism moves the needle up and down through the needle plate and into the bobbin area. The upper thread is picked up by the sewing machine hook and pulled around the bobbin thread. As the needle pulls out and moves higher, it tightens the threads into a locked stitch in the middle of the fabric.

There is only one right way to thread a sewing machine. With the thousands of different makes and models, it can be challenging to properly thread unfamiliar machines. Thread it right.

What is the procedure for threading a Janome MC4000? Or a Singer 730? Or a Bernina 240? What steps are needed to insure proper threading? What is the proper procedure for threading most sewing machines? What easy techniques helps make sure threading is right?

If you follow this procedure, you will achieve perfect threading almost every time. It is a quick and easy way to thread most machines.

Start threading with the top thread spool. There are many different designs of spools fat old wooden spools, plastic fat spools, and plastic narrow spools. They all work about the same, however, some work better horizontally or vertically. Therefore always set the spool pin on the best spool (available) for your machine. Use a spool cap on horizontal pins to prevent snagging.

Look over the top of the sewing machine from right to left. Do you see a series of thread guides? Check these to make sure they are all smooth and free of surfaces that might snag thread. File or smooth as necessary. Pull the thread through each guide from right to left. Check the thread as it comes off the spool and through the guides to insure even smooth flow.

Spool pins are sometimes mounted on the back or behind the motor at the base of the machine. Some users employ a free standing accessory spool pin placed behind the machine. A thread net may be helpful with some threads. Make sure the thread flows freely.

Once you have threaded the top of the sewing machine, draw the thread through the tension assembly. Older machines have front mounted tension assemblies, while more modern machines have enclosed tensions. Tension assemblies consist of two or more spring loaded disc shaped parts that press against the thread as it moves through them. This creates resistance.

At this point, it is not uncommon for even experienced users to mess up. The thread must properly slide between the tension discs in order to produce the right amount of tension. Sometimes lint, rust, or rust spots can cause the thread to snag or apply undue resistance. Frequently, thread fails to slide between the tension discs and simply rides on the out edge. This reduces or eliminates proper pressure on the thread.

Prevent this problem by lifting the presser foot when you begin threading. Keep it up until you have threaded the needle. The raised presser foot keeps the tension discs open, making it easy for the thread to slide into position. Also clean out the tension assembly. Remove any lint, debris, rust, or rough spots.

With the tension threaded, stability is insured by the tension take up spring. Failure to thread the tension spring will result in flopping thread and will mess up the tension.

Next the take up lever must be threaded. Make sure this lever is threaded or the stitches will be a mess. Follow any remaining threading guides to the needle.

Test the upper threading now by taking hold of the thread with your left hand and gently tugging. The thread should flow freely. If it drags or snags, there is a problem that you must trace back to its origin. Now release the presser foot. Test the thread again. When you tug on the thread you should feel significant resistance. If you do not, double check the threading of the tension assembly. This completes the upper threading once you thread the needle.

To complete the threading, insert the filled bobbin into the bobbin carrier. Make sure the thread is smoothly and snugly wound. Pull the thread through the bobbin tension spring.

Pull the bobbin thread through the needle plate by holding the thread behind the needle with your left hand while you advance the hand wheel with your right. Turn the hand wheel around until the needle goes all the way down and rises back up above the needle plate. Pull with your left and to draw up the bobbin thread.

How many stitches does a modern sewing machine have? For the first hundred years, the sewing machines only had straight stitches. Today, sewing machines are very different. Today there are whole sets of stitches including, decorative stitches, alphabetic lettering, utility stitches, and over casting stitches. Today sewing machines boast twenty to a thousand different stitches. Most machines enable variations of length and width.

How many different types of sewing machines are there? It can be a challenge to understand all the subtle differences and all the major differences. Stitches vary not only in number, purpose, and design; they are made in different ways.

The least expensive sewing machines today are mechanical sewing machines. By this we mean, they use levers, gears, and belts driven by an AC electric motor to run the sewing machine. There are two shafts, an upper one drives the needle bar. A lower shaft drives the feed system and hook assembly. There is an absence of advanced electronics.

Mechanical implies levers and gears working together. When you examine the insides of a mechanical sewing machine, you see a large gear with strange ridges and valleys around it. Then you see levers that rub against or run along the edge of this large gear. This motion conveys this motion to the needle bar enabling the bar to create a variety of stitches.

Surface mounted dials, levers, and buttons known as stitch selector control the position of the cam tracker levers in relation to the cam gear. To produce the desired stitch, the cam tracker must line up precisely with the appropriate groove on the cam gear. Often this connection slips out of alignment, and requires realignment. Also it is common for plastic cam gears to split, deteriorate, or otherwise break. When this happens, it is necessary to replace the cam gear.

Sewing machines that use electronic controls and switches is called an electronic sewing machine. There is a wide range of machines in this category. Some use only limited electronics and depend largely on traditional mechanical systems. Others use electronic parts aggressively and may even include computer chip controls.

Primarily the electronic machines add improved power control and smoother operation of the sewing machine. The hum of the mechanical sewing machines AC motor is reduced or eliminated. Electronic sewing machines offer many more stitches.

Computerized sewing machines use the most advanced technologies to produce the greatest number of different stitches, smoothest sewing, and most dependable operations. Computer input is made either by pre-programming, touching buttons on the computer keypad, or a touch screen. The computer takes the signal and manages a set of DC pulse motors to create and manage stitches. It is common for computerized sewing machines to offer hundreds of different stitches.

To choose a stitch on a mechanical sewing machine turn a dial, move a lever, or press a button.

On an electronic sewing machine, press a button attached to an electronic switch.

On a computerized sewing machine, press a button on the computer keypad or touch the selection on a computerize touch screen.

Learn to take advantage of all the features your sewing machine offers. Make your own stitch book for easy reference. Make sets of 5 by 7 pieces of fabric. Sew one seam across the top of the piece about an inch down. Drop down another inch and sew a new seam using a different stitch. Continue down the piece until the piece is complete. Start another piece and continue sewing all the different stitches of until you have a sample of every stitch on your sewing machine. Finally, seam the collection of pieces together into your own stitch book.

Grasp the full potential of your sewing machine. Learn every stitch on your machine. Master the selection, settings, and use of each stitch. Then you will have real confidence sewing with your sewing machine.

Have you ever heard of someone with a 1/4 foot? How about somebody in the ditch? Or something called a Clapper?

The ladies in the classroom were having so much fun, they could be heard down the sidewalk. A lady stopped me as I was carrying some items into the store and asked, What are they talking about? Is sounds like a strange form of English?

Have you ever overheard a group of people using words you didnt understand? You might think they are talking a strange language. It sure did not seam like English, but it did not sound much like it.

Many hobbies, fields of endeavor, and professions use their own set of special words to communicate within their group. These words are unique to that group of people.

I have been sewing since I was nine years old, so you would think that I would have learned the language of sewing by now. Yet, once in a while, I too get stumped. You may be new to sewing or quilting; or you may have been around for a while. I suspect you understand the challenge of keeping up with all those sewing terms.

There is a whole unique vocabulary used by people who enjoy sewing and quilting. It can take years to learn all the ins and outs of this language. While the words themselves may sound familiar, they often have very specific meanings only understood by avid sewers.

The sewing word Clapper has nothing to do with applause or cheering at a football game. It is a special tool usually made of wood and used to press a crease. The tool flattens the crease area while drawing the heat of the iron out of the fabric leaving the crease set.

The sewing word yoke sounds a lot like joke, but please do not laugh. A seamstress knows a yoke is that part or panel of a garment running horizontally across it such as on a shoulder, waist, back, or midriff.

In the language of sewing and quilting terms like 1/4 foot and scant quarter, are very common. They have nothing to do with short feet or with saving money. They are devices that are used on the sewing machine to help make consistent quarter inch wide seams on quilts.

If your sewing teacher told to sew in the ditch, she would not be talking about the gutter, or even the drain along side of the road. She would be talking about a sewing technique in which the sewer sews a seam in the well or crack formed when another seam has already been sewn on the opposite side of the fabric. The result is a seam that is all but invisible.

Words have meaning only if you understand them. For example, a serged edge is an edge of the fabric that you have sewn over using an overcastting stitch to prevent fray. It may seem weird at first, but once you understand it becomes easy.

Without help sewing words like, All Purpose Feet, Anchors, Arm Girth, Atique Window, and Auto Punch; may have no meaning whatsoever. And that is just a few out of the as.

There are literally thousands of sewing terms just like these. The learning process can be tedious and frustrating, but with a little help all these terms will make sense.

If you feel embarrassed about asking for help, relax. Most sewers, quilters, and sewing teachers are eager to share their knowledge. They really do want to help. There are many good sewing books too and some of these include limited glossaries. One of the best ways to learn the sewing language with all its sewing terms is with a good sewing dictionary.

When I was growing up, we had this big two volume dictionary. It must have been all of six inches wide side by side. They were heavy too. But every time, I would ask my mother what a word meant, she would say the same thing, If you really want to know look it up in the dictionary. A typical dictionary, however, deals with words in a generic way rather than specifically relating the terms to sewing. Therefore, it is important to use a good sewing dictionary. It will define and explain the sewing terms applied to sewing.

There is something special about silk - it has been the number one fabric for centuries. Nowadays you can find quite a few wholesale silk fabric suppliers that can offer silk to a better value. This is a great option for designers and clothes and lingerie producers that wants the best for their designs.

When you are getting your silk from a wholesale supplier, the quality is often the best. Why not get a sample of the fabrics you are interested or explain to the retailer what you are looking for?

Buying silk fabrics from a wholesale retailer is great also for the private person. For those projects that takes a bit more fabrics - may it be your wedding dress or a night gown - you are usually better off buying your silk from a wholesale supplier than from a regular fabric store.

If you get more than you need - congratulations. Now you have fabric of the best quality to use for anything your imagination can create. Maybe there is enough for sheets for your bed, a couple of pillow cases or why not make a blouse or lingerie of the leftovers?

Another good thing about getting your silk from a wholesale silk supplier is that the selection is much greater. They normally have contacts with a lot of suppliers all over the world and they can easily get you whatever silk type it is you are desiring. Simply let them know your needs and they will help you.

Silk is produced by threads, made by the silk caterpillar and is all natural. The way the silk is built up creates a material that has a natural glow that you don't find elsewhere. Since it is natural, silk has always slight variations in the fabric and this is something desirable since it tells that it is the real deal.

When you buy wholesale silk you can be sure that you get silk that has this amazing quality to it and you can choose which parts to use for your project.