Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-16
PROPER USE OF
THE SEWING MACHINE

K TO one need expect good results IN
III machine sewing IL care has not
been given to the selection of the
needle. thread and stitch necessary for
different materials. Do not use
coarse needle with fine threads or silk
and a short stitch, nor too fine needle
and thread with a long stitch. Ma
chine needles of recognized manu-
facture are graded in six or seven
sizes, each size being suitable for GER
tain sizes Of thread or silk. for certain
lengths of stitches and for certain
materials Each package of these
needles is marked either by mineral
or letter. The length Of stitch is reg
uIated by a small lever conveniently
placed on the sewing plate. The stitch
lever should be adjusted each time
the material to be stitched requires a
different needle and thread. This selec-
ton of needle. thread and stitch is OK
vital Importance.
If a needle is improperly placed the
sewing results Will be poor. In some .
machines the needle adjustment is
easier than in others, but in all ma
chimes the adjustment should be care
fully accomplished, not only because or
the effect on the work, but also because
of injury to the machine il this Is not
will not work successfully, SO there
is no economy in buying them. Always
endeavor to procure needles manu-
featured by the makers of the particu-
lar machine.
X
Cheap qualities of thread are de-
fusion and a snare. This Is not an
article to be bought at the bargain
counter To make a smooth, even
stitch it is necessary to use a good.
firmly twisted and smoothly nnlshed
thread. Some makes of machines re-
Quire glazed thread, and such ma :
chimes should not be expected TO DO
the proper work unless this thread Is
useds
to run heavily and jerkily, the use OF
too much oil is equally detrimental, and
there is always the danger or the OH
spotting the garment which Is being
made. Good oil is an absolute necessity
Rad oil is an enemy, and will do more
damage to the machine than almost any
other one thing that can be mentioned.
Bad oil is never pure. being usually CON-
bination of other ingredients oesioes oii'
charged heavily with a gummy sediment
which clogs the parts or the macnine,
and makes the movement at hrst heavy
and stiff and at last impossible. rms
sediment in bad oil clogs the OIL hoIeS,
the bearings preventing efficient work
and rapidly wearing away the mechanicai
parts of the machine.
An old silk or linen rag Is best 10 use
when cleaning, as these have less lint
and loose threads than wooden or cotton
rags. To prevent the parts from becom-
ing rusty, a machine should De ca.e1uhy
covered when not In use, and under no
circumstances should it be left to stand
by an open window. or in any part OF the
house that is not thoroughly dry.
< x
If a machine is to be stored for any
length Of time, it should he thoroughly
cleaned, we'll saturated with oil. care
fully. covered on the inside, and then the
cabinet covered with heavy paper or
cloth. Thus treated a sewing machine
may be put away for any length OF time,
and vet be in perfect condition when
needed for use again. When a machine is
in constant use it should be cleaned once
a week and sparingly oiled every day. ~
used less frequently once a month VIII
probably be often enough for thorough
cleaning, oiling il when ii is to be used.
Every machine has a certain speed limit.
lust as an automobile or an engine has
q speed limit. and no effort on the part
of the operator Will increase this limit.
A regular. even movement OF the feet is
more conducive to good results Is less
harmful to the machine. and less labori-
Gus to the operator. a Jerky movement,
starting with great rapidity and then les
SEEMING until 1t stops abruptly because of
lack of endurance on the part Of the
operator, is a common fault and does not
work for good to the machine, the work
or the operator.
All standard machines have a splendid
assortment of attachments which help
to accomplish almost unthought-of re-
suits, but success may not be acquired II
the proper adjustment Of the attachments
is not understood. BY the use Of these
various attachments both time and labor
are saved. and as time is a valuable asset
to every one, it will pay the home sewer to