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In this blog post we are going to go over some of the basic issues and problems that come up when servicing the machines.  Baby Lock Zest Basic Maintenance To start we have the basic threading on the Zest one of our sewing machines. You’ll take the thread from the spool stand and turn the hand wheel towards yourself so that the take up lever is at its highest point. Then you’ll take the thread through the thread guide, next to the take up lever that looks like a hook and make sure the presser foot is up using the...

It’s important to have a quality pin when pinning your fabric to quilt. You want to make sure your pin is long and strong. It needs to be able to pierce through all the fabric you are working with without causing harm to your fabric and keep put until you are able to return them to a cushion or tray.There are several different kinds of pins for sewing and quilting. The majority of pins have the ability to allow stitches while still in the fabric. If possible choose flat-headed pins to sew over. Always check the care instructions for the...

Wool has so many attributes to it that make it a wonderful material. On top of being flame resistant, long lasting, and not building up static because it is a tightly woven fabric, it makes it the perfect canvas for embroidery. When using wool it has the ability to crimp which basically means that the fibers bunch together and allows for insulation. There are many different kinds of wool such as Lambswool, Merino, Cashmere, Mohair, Angora Alpaca etc. The finer the wool the more crimps per inch and on the opposite end the rougher the wool is the fewer crimps...

     Happy Earth Day! Even though Earth Day typically isn't a holiday that's celebrated in traditional ways, it's purpose is too important to overlook. There are things that we can do every day to live more sustainably and reduce the impact that we have on our environment. We've all heard the 3 R's of waste management: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. When you think about what that looks like, you might think of recycling the materials from products that you've purchased, walking instead of driving, or donating items that no longer serve a purpose in your house, rather than throwing them...

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...