FACTS ABOUT A MACHINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19163, 31 October 1925, Page 6 (Supplement)

FACTS ABOUT A MACHINE.

Don't, forget that if Hie cotton breaks, or the machine slips a stitch, it is frequently the needle that is at fault. A needle that is blunt, set wrongly or 100 fine will cause all these troubles. If the band attached to the wheel of the machine is slack, try moistening it with a liHle castor oil, and turn the handle rapidly for a few minutes. This treatment should make the leather shrink and the machine move more smoothly. Paraffin is excellent for cleaning a machine when it has not been used for some time, but it should never be used for oiling the bearings. After cleaning, thoroughly wipe every part with a clean rag, then oil with the. best machine oil. If a machine runs stiffly in cold weather, instead of oiling, try the following treatment:—Expose the underneath parts to the heat of the fire, then wipe thoroughly with a paraffin rag. Much may .be accomplished by a sewing machine without the use of special attachments. Gathering, for instance, is quite simple,' if the stitch is lengthened, the tension loosened, and the threads drawn up as required. Hemstitching, also, can be done quite quickly by machine. After drawing the threads, tack carefully so that the edge of the hem rests on the middle of the drawn work. Machine-stitch close to tlie edge, undo the tackings and pull the hem into place, when the stitches will slip down and look remarkably like hand work.