Sewing machine helps please?

Question

can someone please give me possible reasons for why the feeder stopped working (it dosent move the fabric through anymore). i lost my instruction sheet :0(

Answer 1

I have an Elna machine that this happens to.  Under the footplate is a little lever on the right hand side that you can use to swithch the fabric feed on or off.  It is supposed to be up for feed and down for no feed.  Mine slips down from time to time and then the fabric just stops feeding.  Have a look.

Answer 2

You've either found the switch to drop the feed dogs, or got the stitch length set to 0 or the feed dogs have become packed with lint and/or in need of oil.  

If you set the stitch length to as long as it will go, then rotate the handwheel, you'll see the feed dogs move if they're not jammed with lint and oil or frozen with gunked up improper oil.  

If you then put a scrap of fabric under the presser foot and continue to rotate the handwheel, the fabric will be transported unless the feed dogs are dropped.

In any case, give it a good cleaning and oiling anyhow.  Use real sewing machine oil, not 3-in-1 (which gums up and freezes things) or WD-40 (a solvent, not an oil).  Make sure the stitch length is set for more than 0, and look for a switch or lever to raise the feed dogs again if needed.

Answer 3

Many sewing machines allow you to drop the feed dogs so you can control the feed for free-motion sewing such as embroidery or quilting.  You have done this accidentally.  Look around your machine near the feed dogs and find the mechanism to raise them again.