What to Do With an Old Sewing Machine You No Longer Want
A practical decision guide for the machine that has not sewn in years: whether to sell it, donate it, give it away, part it out, repurpose it, or send it…
Amit Sisodia
Amit Sisodia is a longtime sewing enthusiast and hobbyist repair tinkerer who has spent years diagnosing tension quirks, jammed bobbins, and stubborn feed dogs across everything from vintage treadle Singers to modern computerized machines. He writes practical, tested guides for BobbinWise so home sewists can spot problems early, tackle safe repairs themselves, and know when it's smarter to call in a technician.
Published guides
Latest from this author
Bobbin Winding Problems That Ruin Your Stitches
A stitch problem that starts on the winder cannot be fixed at the tension dial. Here are the winding faults that wreck stitches, and the habits that prevent every one…
Wavy Seams on Stretch Fabric: Get Hems to Lie Flat
Knit hems that ripple like a lettuce edge are a feeding problem, not a fabric flaw. Here is the fix stack, from presser foot pressure to differential feed, plus how…
Belt Replacement: Motor Belts Made Simple
A stretched, cracked, or squealing motor belt is one of the friendliest repairs on a sewing machine. Identify your belt type, order the right size, and set the tension so…
Husqvarna Viking Problems: Sensors, Feet, and Fixes
Husqvarna Viking machines pack in real engineering, motorized feet, an automatic cutter, and sensors, and each feature has its own particular way of acting up. Here is what actually causes…
Cleaning a Vintage Sewing Machine Without Ruining It
A vintage machine can survive fifty years of neglect and not survive one aggressive cleaning session. Here is the order of operations that protects the shellac, the decals, and the…
Pfaff IDT Problems: When the Built-In Walking Foot Acts Up
IDT problems trace back to one of a handful of exact causes: a rushed engagement, the wrong foot, or a worn rubber gripper. Here is how to tell them apart…
5 Repairs You Should Never DIY (and Why)
Some sewing machine repairs are built to punish a good attempt. These five explain why professional sewing machine repair wins the price comparison every time, even against a free video…
Grinding Noise When Sewing: Locate It Before It Costs You
A grinding sewing machine is not being dramatic. It is telling you exactly where to look, and a ten minute test finds the exact zone before you spend a cent.
Automatic Tension Machines: Who Adjusts What
Computerized machines promise to set thread tension for you. Here is what that promise actually covers, what the computer cannot see, and when your own hands still do it better.
Computerized Machine Care: What Changes When There Is a Screen
A computerized sewing machine is still a sewing machine underneath, but the circuit board on top changes the rules for oiling, power, screens, and storage temperature.
Machine Eating Fabric? Stop the Needle Plate Black Hole
Lightweight fabric follows the needle into the wide zigzag hole and jams at the start of the seam. The cure is a small plate, a sharp needle, and a better…