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Sewing is a practical art that has been around since humans first began using animal skins to shield their bodies from harsh weather and extreme conditions. Hand sewing will always have a place in both practical and artistic endeavors, but the development and use of sewing machines have made it possible to create clothing, furnishings, and other products far faster and on a much larger scale. 

But machine sewn items must have sturdy, uniform stitches to create durable seams that look and perform correctly for clothing and other items. If your stitches seem to have gone awry, here are some sewing machine repairs you may need. 

Timing issues

As a sewing machine works, the components that guide the thread must all work together to form each stitch. Because sewing machines are capable of making thousands of stitches per hour, the timing of each component's movement during the process must be precise. If the timing is off, even slightly, poor stitch quality ensues. 

Sewing machine operators who notice that their stitches no longer look precise and uniform when viewed from the top and bottom of the sewn fabric may be seeing the first signs that their sewing machine is developing a timing issue. As timing issues progress, sewing machine operators may notice that their stitches are no longer holding together or that too much thread is accumulating on the underside of seams as they go through the stitching process. 

Sewing machines can develop timing issues for a variety of reasons, including being bumped or dropped, or when dirt or wear causes components to become damaged or move out of adjustment. Timing issues can usually be solved by having the machine cleaned and the components adjusted by a skilled sewing machine repair technician. If parts are found too worn or damaged, they may need to be replaced before the timing issue can be corrected. 

Tension issues

Another sewing machine repair issue that often causes poor stitch quality is related to the development of thread tension issues. While some tension issues can be due to a worn or damaged needle, others may be due to operator mistakes, such as incorrectly filling the bobbin or threading the machine. Tension issues can also develop when the components that control thread tension become worn, damaged, or are improperly adjusted.

Sewing machine operators who continue to experience stitch quality issues after installing a fresh needle and bobbin and verifying that the machine is properly threaded will want to have the machine's thread tension components examined by a reputable sewing machine repair technician in their area.