How Does a Sewing Machine Work? How Do You Troubleshoot Common Issues?

Last Updated on January 10, 2023

You know that sewing machines can help complete a range of fabric and sewing projects at a much faster speed than you could achieve when sewing manually. You also know that sewing machines can make it easier to create more complicated stitches and improve the overall durability of garments.

But how does a sewing machine work? If you were to take your sewing machine apart, do you know what you’d find behind the casing?

A sewing machine isn’t just a great tool for hobbyists and textile professionals. It is made up of complex selections of various shafts, mechanical elements, and gears, all working together to ensure excellent outcomes.

Here’s what you need to know about the inner workings of a sewing machine.

What Are the Parts of a Sewing Machine?

The exact parts of your sewing machine may differ depending on the kind of device you buy. Some sewing machines might come with extra electronics to speed up the stitching process. Older solutions might feature more traditional and manual components. Some of the parts of a sewing machine are:

• Spool pin: Responsible for holding your spool of thread (when not in use)
• Bobbin spindle: Where you place your bobbin thread during winding
• Bobbin winder stopper: Prevents the winding of a bobbin after it reaches capacity
• Stich width dial: Means to control the width of a stitch
• Pattern selector dial: A dial you can twist to choose your stitching pattern
• Hand wheel: A wheel that manually raises or losers the needle
• Stitch length dial: A dial that adjusts the length of the stitch
• Reverse stitch level: A lever that allows you to stitch in reverse when pulled
• Power switch: The on-off switch that supplies the electric supply to your machine
• Thread tension dial: A dial that controls the tension of the top thread
• Thread take-up lever: The top thread will pass through this component, going up and down with the needle.
• Needle clamp: The component that holds the needle in place
• Feed dog: The part of the sewing machine that pulls your fabric forward
• Needle plate: This part sits between the needle and presser foot. There’s a hole in the foot that allows the needle to pass through during stitching
• Needle: The needle responsible for performing the stitch.

How Does a Sewing Machine Stitch?

Most modern sewing machines today are electrical devices. Although there are a handful of mechanical sewing machines out there, most professionals prefer to use a machine with electrical power to allow for faster, more accurate sewing.

In an electric sewing machine, the most important component is the electric motor, which sits near the power cord in your device. This motor drives a selection of crucial mechanisms that operate in quick succession with each other. These mechanisms include cranks and cams, the feed dog, and the presser foot (responsible for holding the material in place).

The motor in your sewing machine drives three distinct functions which allow you to sew clothes and other projects. These are:

The Needle and Thread Mechanism

The needle and thread mechanism for your sewing machine is a metal drive shaft that drives a wheel and crankshaft to cause your needle to rise and fall over the plate. The crank moves the motor rotary around, allowing for an up-and-down chain stitch motion. The needle mechanism is how you push the needle through the fabric pieces you’re using to create various kinds of stitches or seam work.

The Bobbin Thread and Shuttle

The bobbin thread and shuttle mechanism are made up of a hook device that must move slightly faster than the needle. You’ll need to ensure that the bobbin remains supplied with thread so you can continue sewing your fabric.

The Feed Dog Mechanism

The feed dog mechanism moves the fabric you’re sewing with through the machine at a steady speed, relying on the turning of gears as you’re stitching. The system works by moving upwards and forwards at the same time, essentially pulling your fabric forward.

What Does a Modern Sewing Machine Do?

If you removed the casing on a sewing machine, you would discover a lot of interconnected devices that are connected to make the device work.

Sewing machines are often more intricate than many people realise. Every component of the machine needs to work with the correct coordination and timing to make your machine work. The mechanisms mentioned above are powered by the electric motor and created in such a way that you can make equal-sized stitching, without relying on your hand.

Omg omg omg I got a new sewing machine as a gift from my sensei.. ( my aunt who is teaching me). I graduated to medium level machine. Its a completely new machine. pic.twitter.com/bD2CmVFJf9

— ekoi – queen of 35 sqft (@thundho) March 7, 2021

When you switch a sewing machine on, after threading your needle, the needle will start high and move down towards the fabric as you begin to sew. What the needle is doing at this point is feeding a length of the top thread through the fabric to create the next stitch. The needle thread is tightened a bit to avoid pulling the thread too fast.

As the needle punches the material, taking the top thread with it, the shuttle underneath the fabric rotates, and the hook on the end approaches the needle thread. As the needle begins to rise again, it leaves a loop of top thread to start the next stitch. The shuttle hook can pass through the loop and the needle continues to rise. Underneath the fabric, it is dragging your top thread around, so it locks around the thread from the bobbin. The needle will tighten the top thread and pull it off the shuttle hook again.

As the needle returns to its upright position, it pulls the stitch tightly into place, and the two threads lock together, completing a single stitch. Depending on the kind of sewing machine you have, you might be able to create a range of different styles of stitches. Ensure that your sewing machine can work properly. Follow the instructions provided, and avoid using threads, needles and fabrics that don’t work well together.

How Do You Sew Clothes in a Sewing Machine?

Learning how to sew clothes with a sewing machine is just like learning how to manually sew with a needle and thread. A specific model of sewing machine may not have the same features as another. However, most of the basic features remain the same, such as the drive shafts, needle bar, and bobbin section.

As you discover the answer to, “how does a sewing machine work?” you can begin to work on your own sewing projects, getting to know the intricate parts of your machine as you go.

 

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Notably, using a machine sewing system is quite different from using your standard needle and thread. When you first learn to stitch manually, you probably learned how to do a running stitch. Sewing machines generally don’t do a running stitch but instead, use the combination of a top thread and the thread around the bobbing to create something called a lock stitch.

Using a sewing machine means using a thread loop and another kind of thread to create a very different kind of thread. A machine can’t stitch in the same way you would when hand sewing, as the components would become tangled. Instead, the system needs two completely different sets of thread. One thread (the top thread) feeds in from above, using the needle. The other thread, fed from below (from a reel known as a bobbin), creates the connection between the two pieces of thread.

As the needle pushes thread from the machine into the fabric, it forms a loop of thread that catches on the shuttle hook. The loop twists around the bobbin as the needle collects the next section of thread, pulling it back through the fabric. What your needle is doing in a sewing machine is moving thread down through fabrics to form a successive range of stitches that you finish with the bobbin in the machine.

It might sound complicated, but a sewing machine is simply a series of mechanisms, cranks, and mechanical components driven by an electric motor. Because everything works in perfect timing, you can create perfect stitches just by carefully feeding the fabric through at the right speed.

Do All Sewing Machines Work the Same?

Most electronic sewing machines will have similar components and mechanisms to those we’ve outlined above. However, there are various kinds of sewing machine out there. As new models enter the market, you may find solutions that operate slightly differently. For instance, there are models of sewing machine that are hand-held and work somewhat differently because of their small size.

The wide range of different sewing machines available today is why its so important to check the details provided in the instructions by your manufacturer before you begin sewing. You should be able to find information on how to use the spool, where to thread the needle, and so on, to ensure that you get the right results.

If you’re new to sewing machines, you might prefer to keep an eye out for models that are similar to those that you’ve worked with before. Although the details of your sewing machine might change, you’ll find that similar products will be much easier to use in the long run. If you have any problems with more modern machines, you could always turn on your computer and look for guidance on how to use a certain part of the machine online.

Many companies selling sewing machines today will have blogs and videos on their website that show you the way to use the most popular devices.

Common Troubleshooting Tips for Your Sewing Machine

If the reason you’re looking for information about how sewing machines work is that your device isn’t working as it should, don’t panic.

First, check your sewing machine warranty to see if you’re covered for any problems. If you don’t have coverage, you can try troubleshooting some common problems with modern sewing machines.

Problems with the Needle

If your needle isn’t sharp or long enough, or it’s broken in some way, it can’t work properly. Try changing your needle and cleaning the machine of any lint or fluff that might have gathered underneath the needle plate. Follow the instructions provided on how to clean your machine properly.

Check the Threading

If you notice huge loops in your chain stitch, you might have a problem with poor tension. Try increasing the tension and making sure that the thread is firmly set within the right grooves. Check that you’re using a high-quality thread too. This is particularly important if you’re sewing thick fabric. Although sewing machines can operate with low-quality thread, your stitches are less likely to last in the end.

Issues With the Bobbin Thread and Bobbin Assembly

The bobbin thread is a big contributor to how your sewing machine works. Make sure that the thread has its own tension, or the stitch will seem unbalanced. The bobbin thread should click into place to make your sewing machine work. Check everything is in place before you add the fabric.

Presser Foot and Needle Plate Issues

Nicks or scratches in the needle plate that happen when a needle breaks could be affecting how your sewing machine works. If fabrics are often getting caught in your machines, or you don’t like the messy way that your stitches are coming out, it might be a problem with the needle plate. You may also have an issue if the presser foot isn’t holding the fabric in place correctly.

Problems With Your Materials

Your sewing machine can only do so much on its own. You need to provide the right spool of thread to loop the stitches into place. You’ll also need to use the right size of needle to support your machines’ performance and stay away from any fabrics that might be too thick for machine stitching. Remember, small needles and thick threads are a bad combination

If none of the problems above seems to be responsible for your problem, and you’re still not getting a quality lock stitch from your fabric, then you might need to return the device. Consider using a different machine if you know someone who can let you borrow one, just to check that your technique isn’t off. Once you know it’s nothing to do with you, it may be possible to return the machine and try something different.

Final Thoughts

For whichever reason you are researching how does a sewing machine work, we hope we have answered your questions and you have all the information you need. As with any machinery, it is a good idea to understand how they function to be able to easily troubleshoot any problems and ensure it gives you the best results each time.

Do you have any sewing machine tips and tricks? We’d be happy to hear your thoughts.