Sewing Machine Service and Repair
All service is done on site with generally less than a week turnaround time. It is recommended to have your machines serviced annually to keep them properly cleaned, adjusted and lubricated. A well maintained machine will aid in the longevity of your machine, providing you with years of sewing enjoyment.
Michelle is our machine technician. She grew up in Northern Albemarle where she now resides with her husband and three children. She has a collection of antique and vintage sewing machines of all makes! One of her favorite things about working at Cottonwood is meeting different customers and helping select fabric. 2021 brought new opportunities and Michelle has now completed the Tech program and is a part of our Tech team!
Our COA - clean, oil and adjust - fee includes various adjustments, cleaning and oiling the inner workings of the machine and wiping down the outside. Repairs or extra cleaning may require additional time and will be charged an hourly rate, currently $120 per hour with a minimum charge of 1/2 hour or $60. We recommend a COA with all repairs. We cannot guarantee fixing a dry, unclean machine, as it is often a contributing factor to poor performance. If you have questions on oiling or maintenance of your machine, let us know and we would be glad to assist you. A well maintained machine runs better over time and costs less to service. Remember to change your needle every 8 hours of sewing time, and oil your hook area and other spots regularly per your machine manual.
Tech Dept: tech.cottonwood@gmail.com
What to bring:
Machine with All Purpose Foot or Zig-Zag Foot
Foot Pedal and Power Cord
Bobbin and Bobbin Case
Stitch Plate for Zig Zag Stitching
Stitch Plate for Zig Zag Stitching
Samples and/or list of stitching problems
Specific fabric and/or thread causing problems
Embroidery Module with Hoop and Embroidery Foot for Sewing/Embroidery Machines
Have you hugged your machine today?
Give it a little TLC, dust it off, dust it out and give it one drop of machine oil. It only takes 2 minutes and your machine will love you for it.
Problems? Try T-N-T
-Thread - rethread and check the thread path for stray threads left behind. Make sure your thread is of good quality and lint free.
-Needle - check the needle for burrs and bends. Replace the needle with every project or with every 2 bobbins. Needles do the tough work of punching holes for the thread to pass through, use the right one for the job.
-Tension - what your mother told you, "don't touch that tension dial," doesn't apply anymore. If you use different weight threads on the top than in the bobbin case, you need to adjust the tension. Refer to your machine manual or make a test swatch of the fabrics and threads you will be using, start at the normal setting, sew an inch and adjust until you get the proper tension.