I have been servicing and repairing sewing machines professionally for over 10 years. Be they vintage machines or modern, as long as they are domestic machines I can help. I don’t look after industrial machines nor do I do home visits but there are other mechanics that do. I don’t fix timing issues or issues with electrics/ electronics/ broken gears, but I can put you in touch with people who do.
I am passionate about repair and about keeping machines from going to landfill. Some shops may try to sell you a new machine rather than help you repair yours, but that is not how I roll. I will only condemn machines when there is no hope at all of saving them and believe me it takes a lot! I will always try for a workaround even if parts are missing and have a stash of parts and contacts galore to help keep your machine purring.
I am part of the repair network in the UK who fight for our right to repair everything from toasters to phones and have contacts also for people who repair toys, cashmere jumpers etc. I myself repair quilts with my colleague Amy so if you want anything textile repaired pls feel free to ask me if I know someone. I am also part of the Monday Mending Club which meets in E17 once a month to repair bags and socks etc. Repair not replace!
I am passionate about empowering people to look after their own machines and am always happy to provide details of what I have done to sort your machine out so you next time you can hopefully do it yourself! Or we can book in a slot where I show you how to service a machine and fix the human mistakes that make it an unhappy beast.
Please note: I’ll always consult before carrying out any repairs beyond the basics or will let you know if your machine is not economical to repair or needs to be looked at by another mechanic.
Machines are looked at by appointment only, please contact me on 07944 863932 or [email protected] to book your machine in. I don’t have a shop and you cannot just turn up.
Please know though that some machines are made only to be sold and are not fit for purpose. Please think twice before buying a machine especially on FB marketplace as what you are sold is rarely what you actually get, please buy second hand from a reputable dealer (Regent Home of Sewing on 020 8478 0669 are fab). If you buy a machine in a supermarket you are likely to buy something that proper shops prefer not to sell as they have so many issues. You wouldn’t buy a car with your potatoes so please don’t buy a sewing machine in Aldi either. Battery operated machines or machines aimed at small children are not any good and if they work at all they won’t do so for long or consistently.
REPAIRS
I charge £50 (plus parts). I usually turn repairs around fairly quickly but it all depends on what else I have on and what issues your machine has. I try to be as clear as I can about the time frame but it is not always predictable.
STAY AND PLAY MACHINE SERVICE CLASSES
I can teach you how to clean, service and look after your machine AND how to use it , all for £70 (1 hour). Please use the same contact details to contact me for an appointment. The price includes needles, advice, and any bits it may need if I have them to hand (bulbs, bobbins etc)
ADVICE
And now for some free and invaluable repair advice!…I have a YouTube channel for repair videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0UKAQxdUCMQ00Vm41YkgCA
Bobbin Tension
If you have a machine and you just can’t get the tension right you may have to adjust using the bobbin. Grab a tiny screwdriver – it will only take 5 minutes. I promise this will get rid of 90% of ‘my machine won’t work’ issues!!
Take your bobbin out, case and all (if it don’t come in a case I will tell you what to do later). Hold the thread in your right hand and gently let the case go. If the case drops to the floor, the bobbin tension is too loose. If it does not drop at all, not even when you gently push it away (like a yoyo), the tension is too tight. It should gently drop a bit when you yoyo it. The tiny screw on the bobbin case just gets rattled loose over the years and this causes the top tension to be un-adjustable. I bet it has gone too loose. Just gently turn the tiny screw a little anti-clockwise until the case drops as described above. If you don’t have a case and your bobbin drops in, there should still be a tiny screw near the front of where the bobbin drops in. If you’d would prefer to see this in action check out the video below.
Now pat yourself on the back and have some biscuits, you have saved yourself money and time and learned something in the process too!
Machine Seized Up
And here’s a short video on how to get your machine going again after a thread jam or maybe a bit of needle snapped off, and nothing will move. It may just help!
If these videos or advice have helped you I’m so pleased! Do buy me a coffee or some tulips here (PayPal). Many thanks!
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“Jennie was amazing! I bought my machine on eBay and didn’t really know the basics of sewing, let alone how to tackle problems. She showed me around the machine, how to change tension and why, belt problems, even how to thread it correctly. And in about 20 minutes a machine I had spent around two days messing with was producing perfect stitches. She really knows her stuff and even better as my machine is old and heavy she did this all on Skype. I’m so pleased with the service and had a nice chat at the same time. She’s my go-to woman for sewing from now on!” (Diane)
“Jennie’s sewing machine maintenance class was great – it’s given me the confidence to open up my machines , give them a good clean and a tweak , put them back together and now they run sooooo quietly ! She is a sewing machine wizard !” (Simon)