After a quick search online, I found a local sewing machine repair person who came to my house the following evening. After a quick assessment, he gave me a quote, took the machine away, and delivered it back to me on Wednesday evening. Easy! I felt very lucky to live in a city, and have such a great service available. I even took the opportunity to ask him for his recommendations for good machines if I wanted to replace mine (a Janome in the £200 region, if you're interested).
My machine - a Singer Inspiration 4205.
The problem with my bobbin winder was apparently caused by something hitting the top of it. Rather than something falling on it, I think this may have happened on one of the rare occasions when I actually put it away in the sideboard, and knocked the winder against the top of the cupboard. In any case, my helpful repairman reckoned that the break was an unusual one, explained how he had fixed it and made the part more sturdy and said that I had a pretty solid machine, despite it being a cheap one.
Have you ever had a problem with your sewing machine? What did you do about it? Are you lucky enough to have a local sewing machine repairman? I think mine might join my short list of essential 'fixers', along with my hairdresser and my local cobbler!
K x
Your machine is lovely! Mine has never broken, but if it does I hope I have a handy service like that in Glasgow!
ReplyDeleteI recently broke the needle threader on my machine by stupidly putting my foot down on the pedal at the wrong moment. I haven't bothered to get it fixed and - ssshhhh, don't tell anyone - I actually think it's simpler to thread the needle myself by squinting and poking the thread through the eye of the needle! Glad to hear your disaster quota was kept to a minimum!
ReplyDeleteOh dear! Well, if it's not inconveniencing you then that's not to bad. I've never used an automatic needle threader as my machine is super low tech.
DeleteMy baby lock had to be taken in one time when I first got it and thats why I have 3 machines now :) I have one similar to the one you have and my new favorite an all mechanical Janome Magnolia. My baby lock has a lot of computerized functions that I worry will malfunction so that's why my standbys are solid lower tech machines. I actually use my Janome more so all those bells and whistles are so not necessary.
ReplyDeleteYep, have to say I am a little scared of some of the computerized machines - more to go wrong. If I was to replace mine I would want something fairly similar, I think. Can see the advantages of more than one machine too!
DeleteShawnta, I have the Janome Magnolia, too, and I love it! I'm a bit of a Luddite in some regards and am totally overwhelmed by computerized machines (dumb, I know). It's my only machine (an upgrade from one I borrowed from my sister), and I love it!
DeleteI'd be scared by a computerised machine. I'm spending more than enough time at computer already, I sew to do something with my hands! :D So, yes, I'm a bit of a Luddite there, too.
DeleteOh no! I'm glad you could get your machine fixed! And so fast!! My local shop turnaround is a week minimum, but usually closer to 2 weeks. A back-up machine is a must for that kind of wait haha.
ReplyDeleteI've had a couple machine breaks, but nothing crazy like yours! My serger had to go to the shop a couple of years ago because the knife blade was messed up... turns out *someone* (I'm not naming names, but I will say that I let a friend use the serger while I was at work... ahem) was serging over pins. I had to buy a new blade and have the timing fixed- it was over $100 for that mess. I also recently had a problem with my Pfaff... it was squeaking when it sewed, and the tension was way off (I had it cranked up to 9, which you should never have to do on a Pfaff). I found out that the lady I'd paid to service it 8 months prior wasn't licensed to work on Pfaffs - which is pretty important, since they are German-engineered and they don't function like a Singer or a Brother - and she'd messed up my machine. So I had to pay another $80 to fix her mistakes. Not very happy with that! Fortunately, the shop is a Pfaff shop & they're only 20 miles away from me... I know some people who have to drive to entirely different states to get their machines worked on, so I feel pretty lucky in that sense!
Serging over pins...uh oh..Are you still friends?!
DeleteActually, we had a falling out shortly after that... serger unrelated (or was it? ::cackle::) But it's all good now - the machine works, that's all I care about :)
DeleteJust a few weeks ago my power cord stopped working! Luckily my husband saved the day. Though deep down, I wish it was done for so I can buy a better sewing machine and feel justified. :P
ReplyDeletehow fortunate to be able to get it fixed and up & running again so quickly!
ReplyDeleteI have a Janome in the £200 region, so glad it get the repairman's thumbs up!
Boy is it frustrating to have a broken machine when all you want to do is sew... I had to wait weeks to get mine "fixed", it wasn't actually broken per se, but the bobbin tension was all messed up and I kept trying to fix it, and yeah... it didn't work :P
ReplyDeleteMine is a cheapo one, which is very temperamental and the stitching often goes awry. To be honest, if it does give up the ghost I'll throw it away if it can't be mended by Husband. However...I have brought a new 'old' sewing machine this week, so look out for my post about it! ;-D
ReplyDeleteOoh, will do! :)
DeleteP.S.If I were to buy a new one, it would be a Janome
ReplyDeleteMy old Lucznik (essentially, my mother's) broke down some time ago... the thread was just acting up, as if it were tension, but it kept doing it no matter what I did with the tension. And the top thread was getting caught up in the bottom bobbin mechanism.
ReplyDeleteNow I have a new Singer, and still hope that I'll get around to fixing the Lucznik, somehow.
You're lucky to have a repairman at hand. We have to haul our sewing machines to a different town.
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ReplyDelete