1. Safety
Inspect the machine:
Check for loose parts, damaged cords, or a dull needle; replace needles if bent or damaged. We use a
test fabric to indicate that the last person who used the machine has left it in good working condition.
- Prepare your workspace:
- Ensure good lighting, clear clutter, dress appropriately, with long sleeves rolled up and long hair tied back.
- Never place fingers near the needle or the needle clamp, as this will cause injury.
- Start slow and never force fabric through; allow the feed dogs to feed the fabric, and just guide the direction you want the fabric to follow gently.
- Step away safely: Unplug the machine if you need to leave it, even for a moment (preventing others from having any avoidable accidents with foot pedals)
- Do not have drinks next to the machine while working, danger of electrocution!
- Never operate a sewing machine with wet hands
2. Threading the Machine: Following the guides correctly
3. Winding the Bobbin: Placing the bobbin on the holder, wrapping thread, and using the foot pedal to fill it, stopping before touching the metal guide and ensuring that the thread is not cut manually by force always with scissors; explain the this is to prevent the thread from digging in the already wound bobbin and, preventing any unnecessary thread puckering or changing thread tension when sawing resulting in braking the needle or worst damaging the machine.
4. Controlling the foot pedal speed: Knowing when to stop this must be made clear to users i.e. when the machine stalls, the fabric stops moving, and the needle is sewing on the same spot, pulling, jamming, and resulting in thread gathering or crooked and untidy sewing work.
5. Placing the bobbin in the correct manner and threading it. Getting the Bobbin Thread Up: Holding the top thread and rotating the handwheel towards you to bring the bobbin thread up through the needle plate.
6. Press Foot: Understanding that this component holds the fabric in place while sewing and that different presser feet are used for various sewing techniques and fabric types.
· Under no circumstances should members be allowed to change the press foot unless they have authorisation from the textile tech. If a press foot is changed, the one that was originally on the sewing machine should be placed back when finished with their project**. The original press foot should remain on the sawing machines as found at all times.**
****If the press foot is changed and the machine has been damaged because of this change, members should report the issue on discourse @textile techs immediately.
7. Basic Stitches: Practicing simple straight stitches and seams on scrap fabric to get a feel for machine movement and tension should be standard practice before starting on any project to ensure that things run smoothly before you start on your project.
8. Understanding Controls: Learning about stitch selectors, length/width dials, and the foot pedal for speed control, also ensuring the thread tension is correct.
9. Thread Tension Control: ensuring that the upper thread stitches are formed correctly without puckering or loosening for smooth sewing, dial controlling (advise inductees not to change the setting whilst the machine is running), the tension of the upper thread must be tested on scrap fabric before starting our project. Users must understand that thicker and finer fabrics require different settings on thread tension. If the user is using heavier fabrics, for example, denim, they must have an understanding of the settings required to use on heavier fabrics. Increase to 4-6 or higher, depending on the stitch used and stitch length (3.5-4.0). Stronger needles must be used for heavier fabrics, and thicker needles must be used to prevent breaking.
10. When finished ensuring that the red test fabric is placed back under the press foot as found and always stitched by the last person that used the machine, so the next operator is aware that this machine is left in good working order.
***** Industrial machines are not to be used unless the user has been signed off by a tech and is fully confident using the domestic machines first. It is a requirement to thoroughly study the available guide on the tool page and then tested before operating (just like they do with the heavy-duty machines in the wood workshop.**