Safety instructions | Part 2
Be Attentive
Let’s remember a few important safety rules when working with a sewing machine.
1
Keep your hair out of the sewing machine. Better is to pulling hair back.
2
Maybe, you need a table lamp to light up the working space. It’s dangerous to sew in dimmed light and you will increase the risk of stitching the wrong things together (like your fingers).
P.S. Once, when I already had more than 10 years of experience in sewing, I stitched my finger on an industrial machine. It was very painful and I had pain for about a month! Please, be attentive.
3
If you don’t have much experience with the sewing machine you definitely need to start out slow.
4
Before sewing, pull the threads UNDER and BEHIND the presser foot about 10cm ~ 4 inches. Gently hold these threads when you start a new seam, otherwise the threads may get caught in the machine.
5
Keep your fingers away from the moving needle and flat on the machine to the sides of the presser foot, to help guide the fabric as you sew.
6
Take pins out of the fabric when you sew. Do not stitch over pins.
7
Keep your feet off the pedal when you are setting or threading the needle. Otherwise, you might end up injuring yourself if you accidentally hit the pedal.
8
Do not use your hand to stop and start the hand wheel. Use your hand only to set the hand wheel.
9
Turn the motor off:
- Before cleaning or oiling the machine
- In case of an emergency
- Before unplugging the machine
10
Unplug the sewing machine at the end of the work day.
- Have you just started sewing?
- Did You make a break from sewing?
- Have you bought a new sewing machine?
How can we try a new sewing machine, such as speed of machine and how accurate are our sewing movements?
We can try everything on paper just like hand stitches. In the photo you can see that I used a template from cutting training.
So, we don’t need thread in the sewing machine for that exercise.
And I will also pull out the bobbin.
I use a 2mm straight stitch. We need to remember: the more curly the line, the shorter the stitch should be. Thus, we can repeat the line as accurately as possible.
We remember about safety, and do not put our fingers under the needle, we keep the paper around the foot and we will also work with the fabric. It is when working with very curly lines that I hold the paper with one hand, because the other hand is on the wheel and sometimes I scroll the stitch with my hand. Such situations will be also when sewing lingerie, when we will sew small curly details.
Do not try to sew everything with the pedal – learn to sew some difficult areas moving the heel by hand.
