General Questions

Can sewing machine oil go bad? In a word, yes, the oil for sewing machines will expire. On average sewing machine oil lasts for around five years. However if your oil isn’t stored properly that lifespan can be shortened. To have the longest life for your machine oil it’s recommended to not store your oil in extreme temperatures or in direct sunlight. It’s possible it could have an affect on the amount of air that resides within the container and this can degrade the oil to have a lesser lifespan. While oil itself is a liquid substance if it’s mixed...

Sewing machine without foot pedal or sewing machine without pedal Sometimes carrying around and or using a foot pedal might be obnoxious so can you use a sewing machine without a foot pedal? As with most answers to such broad questions, yes you can but only with certain machines. In fact there are numerous machines that can be used without a foot pedal and are listed by brand below.  These machines all generally have a start/stop button as well as the ability to change the speed on the machine to your liking. Here are a couple examples on Baby Lock...

Are sewing machine needles universal? Most sewing machine needles will work in the majority of sewing machines. There are some exceptions that you need to look out for such as if you are going to use a serger, longarm quilting or embroidery machine. With embroidery needles they are specifically designed and feature a wider hole to allow for multiple thread strands to pass freely. These are also ideal for people who have a hard time seeing.  Longarm quilting machines, like our Baby Lock Regalia and Coronet, take a round shank needle in contrast to a flat shank generally found in...

We admit it; there's a learning curve to every new hobby, and sewing is no different. Whether you've stumbled upon this page with the intention to start sewing or you're simply looking for information, you're in the right place. We have comprised a list of our favorite questions when searching Google for "sewing machines". This is meant to help you educate yourself and others. Maybe you'll even feel the inspiration to unpack that machine sitting in the closet or search out a dealer to help you get started. DISCLAIMER: We are an Authorized Baby Lock Retailer, so all answers are directly from...