There are other small things the machines will do that you have to keep an eye on.  For example, my machine appears to have a real dislike for sewing velcro – the rough part.  The thread keeps popping out of the little hook that directs the thread down to the needle.  I have no earthly idea why it does this, but does  it only when sewing velcro.  After the first couple of times of getting the thread knotted up, I’ve learned to keep one eye on the fabric/velcro and the other eye on the little hook to see if the thread has popped out so I can get it back in line and continue sewing.

The “Sewing Machine Repair for the Home Sewer” is a perfect book to get you through the many problems that can occur, and keep your machine out of the repair shop.  This book goes through many problem/solution scenerios such as thread knotting in the bobbon area or on the fabric under the presser foot, in addition to teaching you how to “time” your machine and even shows you how to take apart the tension and put it back together again.   If you’re like me, I just can’t do without my machine, and anything I can do to keep it out of the repair shop (and those super high repair prices!), the happier I am!

Check out the Sewing Machine Repair for the Home Sewer book and the do-it-yourself information it contains!

Here’s a hot deal on a Brother Sewing Machine LX2500 Lightweight – 17 Stitch – 4 Step Buttonholer just in time for the holidays!  This sewing machine retails for $109.99 but it is on overstock deal right now for just $49.99 with FREE shipping.  It would make a great starter machine for someone who is learning to sew, or a terrific backup or travel machine for you pros!

Disclosure: This post contains one or more referral links that may yield commissions for Shopper Strategy without any additional cost to you. See our disclosure statement for more details.

Visit any participating Authorized Brother Innov-ís Dealer and test drive one of their five featured machines to get a scratch off ticket! Every ticket gives you a chance to be one of 20 $1,000 Prize Winners or the $5,000 Prize Winner! Drawings are held every Monday in October, with four $1,000 winners every week. Plus, one $5,000 winner will be drawn on October 31st.  Check out the official rules or click here to find an authorized dealer near you.

Enter to win a Brother Free-Arm Sewing Machine with 26 Stitches – XL2600I from J. Leigh Designz and CSN Stores.  It’s easy to enter with up to ten different entry methods, click here for official rules and be sure to enter before June 11th!

Sewing machines are a little like cars, they last a long time but new models keep coming out with new features.  Heck, the new Bernina 8 Series machines even have alarm clocks if you need to be reminded that it’s time to do something else   They pretty much do everything but make coffee (at least I didn’t see a place for a filter).  My trusted Bernina 817 is almost 30 years old so it doesn’t have NEAR as many features as the new computerized models, but it sure was fancy when I got it new as a teenager.  It’s still a workhorse and I’d never give it up, but momma needs a new Bernina!  Since I’ll have to wait on that a little bit, I’m happy to enter the Spring 2010 Bernina Favorite Feature Contest for a chance to win a box full of goodies from Bernina, OESD, Benartex and Brewer!  All you have to do to enter is post a comment on the Bernina blog about your favorite sewing machine feature!

Brother International Corporation recently earned two “Best Buy” awards in the sewing machine category from Consumers Digest magazine.  Their limited edition Project Runway model, available only at WalMart for under $140, was rated a “Best Buy” in the economy category of computerized sewing machines.  Brother also received the “Best Buy” rating in the premium category of embroidery and sewing combination machines with their Quattro(TM) 6000D, an innovative 4-in-1 sewing, embroidery, quilting and crafting machine.

To celebrate their brand new series of do it yourself videos, DIY Dish and Janome have teamed up for a great giveaway.  All you have to do to enter is sign up for their free newsletter or post a comment on this DIY Dish page and you could win one of two terrific prizes – a Janome DC4030 sewing machine or a Janome 350e embroidery machine.  There are lots of other ways to enter to increase your chances of winning, check out the official rules here, plus you can see some of the latest and greatest DIY projects in sewing, crafting, scrapbooking, home decor, kid projects, machine embroidery, hand embroidery, and more!  Enter by March 30th as two winners will be randomly selected on March 31st.  Giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 years of age and older.

Lots of people are re-using and re-purposing items these days, and when I saw this sewing machine that had been turned into a scroll saw I just had to share it with our readers.  Older sewing machines are typically very well made, however lots of them tend to get thrown out by people who just don’t have the time or don’t know how to maintain them to keep their sewing machines in good working order.  Well the people at Instructables got creative and they turned an old, non-working sewing machine into this perfectly usable scroll saw using only some basic hand tools and epoxy.

Of course I’m not going to let my husband see this post and I should warn you that attempting this with your machine will likely void the warranty!

The U-handbag blog is hosting an exciting Extreme Sewing Holiday Giveaway with some terrific prizes!  All you have to do to enter is submit a picture of yourself doing some extreme sewing, which simply means grab your sewing machine and take it somewhere that you normally wouldn’t sew, like this hilarious lady who is sewing up a fitted bedsheet in the Indian Ocean off the southwest coast of Western Australia. Once you’ve submitted your picture, just post a comment and a link to it on the official giveaway page.

The grand prize is a new Janome 8077 sewing machine, which will shipped out by Janome so the contest is open to everyone regardless of location.  There are also two runner up prizes – a Janome Mega Sewing & Craft Tote plus a “Sewing Bible: Curtains”, book AND a Janome Mega Sewing & Craft Tote along with a “Free & Easy Stitch Style” book.

The three winners will be randomly selected on December 20th so there is still time to enter, and there are only 44 entries so far so your chances of winning are good!  Go do some extreme sewing and maybe you can win yourself a nice Christmas gift!

The correct way of bringing the bobbin thread up after changing the bobbin is as follows:

A.  While holding the top thread with the left hand, turn the handwheel with the right hand until the needle is all the way down into the bobbin area.

B.  Keep holding the thread and rotating the handwheel, bring the needle up to the highest point.  As the needle comes up, a loop of bobbin thread will come up with it.  Pull on the top thread to draw up more of the bobbin thread.

C.  Turn loose of the top thread, and pull on the loop of the bobbin thread to bring up the free end of the bobbin thread.

D.  Pass both the top and bobbin threads under the presser foot and take them back toward the right.  Both thread ends should be at least 4″ long to prevent them from being pulled into the bobbin and jamming as you begin sewing.

Before beginning the sewing process, lay both threads under and toward the back of the presser foot – hold them gently as you begin to sew.  This will prevent the threads from being pulled into the bobbin area and jamming.

This may be “old hat” information to many of you; however if you are teaching children or adults how to sew, this would be excellent information to print out and give them for a reference.

**The above information is an excerpt from the Sewing Machine Repair for the Home Sewer book.