[Sewing] straight stitch is busted

[Rachel McConnell]

Sewing machine is fixed.  Or at least, I got it so it's working fine for
me, forward and backward.  I didn't get it to make any strange noises.

Basically it was just a nasty thread jam plus the needle not being quite
far enough in.  I took the throat plate off to get the jam out and
cleaned the area a little with the tweezers.  Then I put it back and it
ran just fine.

But sewing machines like to run well for me, kinda as if they were cars
and I a mechanic.  So everyone, please let me know if you have trouble
with it still.

Rachel M

Rachel McConnell wrote:
> I'll take a look tonight, see if I can figure out what's wrong.  If not
> I'll give Billy a call tomorrow.
> 
> The flat-sided needles aren't supposed to be the right kind.  I compared
> one to one of the proper sort recently by eye and concluded that they
> were similar enough it would be worth trying the flat-sided ones in a
> pinch, but the tolerances are small enough that eyeballing it isn't good
> enough so I'm not actually confident they'd work.
> 
> Last time I used the machine was Wednesday; it had a needle in it that
> hadn't been shoved all the way into the holder and was therefore hitting
> the bobbin trace whenever a stitch was attempted.  It worked fine when I
> reseated the needle (although the tip, of course, was broken).
> 
> I also adjusted the knee lever for the presser foot, which had come
> loose.  It's pretty thoroughly stripped at one place and could use a
> better repair.  I have an idea about this but haven't done it yet.
> 
> ALSO: We could use more needles!  If anyone wants to get any please see
> https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Sewing, I have edited it with needle info.
> 
> Rachel M
> 
> rachel lyra hospodar wrote:
>> the single needle industrial is currently nonfunctional.
>>
>> last time i came to use it, two+ weeks ago, there were no needles and i 
>> had to use some of my own, conveniently they are the same.
>>
>> sometime in between then and now, Something Else happened.  it appears 
>> to be a timing issue.  i cleared some cruft/thread clots out of the 
>> works under the throat plate (you know, where the bobbin goes) and fixed 
>> a weird problem with the knee lever (you know, for lifting the presser 
>> foot) but when i got it all back together and tried to sew with it, the 
>> stiches did not engage properly and made a big knot inside... and then 
>> the backstitch thingy started making a sad high-pitched whining noise, 
>> so I turned the whole thing off.
>>
>> the needle that's in there now is a round shank, the only kind i have 
>> ever used with this type of machine, but there is a packet of needles in 
>> the drawer with a flat-sided shank.  i don't know for sure but strongly 
>> suspect they are not totally compatible with this machine.  i am putting 
>> them in the general sewing needles drawer.  Rachel M, do you know if 
>> these work with it?
>>
>> anyway, that's what's up.  i'm going to finish serging and go home and 
>> use my functional sewing machine.  le sigh.
>>
>> xoxxx
>> R.
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