If you are new to sewing and have just bought a sewing machine, you might be wondering what all of the different parts are and what they do. Or you might have inherited a machine which doesn't have a manual. Different brands of sewing machine may have slightly different layouts but there are always the same standard parts which you’ll need to become familiar with. Here is a break down of my machine to help you start out on the right track with your own! (The pictures are all above their individual explanation!)
Presser Foot Pressure Dial
This is located on the top of the machine and does what it says it will! It controls the pressure of the presser foot on the fabric. Most of the time you shouldn’t need to fiddle around with it too much. The general rule is the lighter the fabric, the lower the number should be set to.
Spool holder and spool pin
Your reel of thread will sit on the spool pin and be held in place by the spool holder. This is the thread that eventually feeds into your needle.
Needle plate
This is a removable plate which covers the bobbin case and has useful seam lines like 5/8’s, 3/8s, etc to guide you with your seam allowances as you sew.
Thread tension dial
The perfect straight stitch locks in the middle of the two layers of fabric. If either the bobbin or the needle thread is showing on the opposite side of the fabric then you should check your tension and use the tension dial to either tighten or loosen the tension.
Thread take up lever
This is located above the presser foot and goes up and down as you sew. The thread is looped round this lever as part of the needle threading process and the lever helps to draw the thread from the spool as you sew
Thread cutter
This can be used to cut your threads after sewing a seam. Draw the thread out and to the left hand side of the machine – loop it through the cutter and pull gently to cut the thread.
Hook cover plate
This plate is removable and covers the bobbin case. It has a diagram of how to thread the bobbin on its surface and also some seam guide lines.
Bobbin case / holder
This is where the bobbin is placed in order to sew. It has metal grooves around the edge to guide the thread which comes off the bobbin.
Touch panel
This is where you can select which type of stitches you use and their width and length.
LCD Display and operating buttons
This includes the needle up/down button, the automatic thread cutter button, twin needle button and also the speed control slider.
Thread guide
This section is used to guide the thread – the circular metal piece guides it when the bobbin is winding. The rest of this section guides the thread when threading the needle.
Bobbin winder spindle
This is what the bobbin sits on when you are winding thread onto it. It can be pushed to the right so that the bobbin thread comes into contact with the bobbin winder stopper when its full.
Accessories draw
This houses spare bobbins, various presser feet and other accessories for the machine, like a mini screwdriver. It can be pulled off to allow access to the ‘free arm’ of the machine which helps when sewing sleeves or loops.
Free arm of the machine as mentioned above!
More operating buttons
The start / stop button which you can use if you disengage the foot pedal. The reverse stitch button to sew backwards and the auto-lock button to sew a locking stitch.
Handwheel
Located on the right-hand side of the machine. You can use this to manually lower the needle.
Feed dogs
These are the little metal teeth that help the fabric pass through the sewing machine as you are stitching. They appear up through holes in the needle plate.
Needle threader
This can be pulled down from inside the machine to automatically thread the needle (if you are struggling to do it manually).
Hole for additional spool pin
This is used for twin needle sewing and holds the second spool pin for the additional thread. It's located on top of the machine. You can also use it to wind a new bobbin without unthreading the machine.
Needle – needle clamp screw – foot holder and presser foot
Hopefully these are all self explanatory!
Presser foot lifter
Used to manually lift the presser foot. This picture is taken from the back of the machine and the lever is inside the middle 'arch' of the machine.
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