Newly shipped sewing machine. Need help.

Question

I just got a sewing machine shipped to me from Brother. For safety, they put a pin where normally the needle goes. Its pretty thick and goes through all the way down. I've never owned a sewing machine. I'm totally new, so I know this is supposed to be Really easy for someone who knows what they're doing, but I don't. Can someone tell me how to either lift the pin??

Its a brother XR7700. I've already tried contacting brother, but they are closed on the east coast.

The manual doesn't mention anything.

Answer 1

Use the handwheel* (the thing on the right side, fairly high up) to raise the needle bar (the thingie that holds the needle).  Your manual will tell you the correct way to turn the handwheel (toward you or away from you).

  *handwheel, aka balance wheel

http://msucares.com/pubs/images/p1302%2D...

Bring the needlebar up as far as it will go.

Just above #3 in the diagram, you'll see sort of a blob on the right side just above the needle.  That's the little thumbscrew you'll turn to get the needles in and out -- it may be differently shaped on your machine.

Turn the thumbscrew counterclockwise and the pin should fall out of the needleholder.  Then you can insert a new needle (check your manual for which way the needle goes in -- flat side to the back is common, but I don't know your machine.)  

While you're at it, get out some tape (Scotch magic tape works well,

as does blue painter's tape) and make yourself some labels for any unlabeled dials or k***s.  Also make a label to remind yourself whether to push or pull on the handwheel to turn it in the "correct direction".

Two mistakes newbies often make when threading their machines:

1) they don't raise the presser foot when threading, so the tension doesn't open and the thread doesn't get in the tension.  Then they get loops of thread on the back of the fabric when sewing.

2) they don't have the needle in right way around -- sewing machine needles are not symmetrical, and if the needle isn't the right way around, the machine may not pick up the bobbin thread, or it will skip stitches.

For some photos of sewing machine needles, front, back and side views, see:

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/vi...

Answer 2

You need to turn the mechanism forward so that the needle carrier moves upward.    At that point you should be able to remove the pin the same way you'd loosen and remove a needle.