There are very few things that are as embarrassing as a wardrobe malfunction. Whether your pants decided to give way while you walked through the park, or your zipper just popped out as you stepped out of the loo before a career-defining presentation.
Of course, you shudder at the thought of these embarrassing situations but the only reason we brought these up is so that we can come up with a contingency for any future mishaps. All you need is to learn how to use handheld sewing machines and you will be saved from the embarrassment of going by your affairs, even after a wardrobe malfunction.
PS. It doesn’t matter what kind of wardrobe malfunction you find yourself in, because a handheld sewing machine can fix whatever you’re dealing with.
Benefits of Using a Handheld Sewing Machine
- Cordless and easy to use
- Can be used for quick repairs that involve a straight stitch
- Some machines also have a double thread feed, dual speed controls and automatic winding functions
- They are sold with thread spindles, needs and bobbins
- Compact design makes them easy to store or carry on your person
- Affordable
1. Get Your Handheld Sewing Machine Ready
The most important thing you need to remember is that handheld sewing machines cannot operate without batteries. For this reason, your first step toward repairing your wardrobe malfunction is to load batteries into the machine.
Typically, these types of machines use AA batteries, however, the number of batteries needed may vary from machine to machine. These batteries are generally inserted into the bottom of the machine and once this has been done, you will be required to set up its bobbin.
2. Set Up Its Bobbin
In sewing terms, a bobbin refers to the reel design or small wheel that is made out of metal, wood or plastic and is responsible for holding the thread that is being used by the sew. For this reason, you can use the bobbin holder on the side to position your thread appropriately. After you’ve pulled out the bobbin holder and the spring that lies under it, slide the bobbin in. Next, go ahead and position the spring over this compartment and then follow this up by sliding the bobbin holder to hold the bobbin in place.
3. Thread the Needle
In order for all your thread to enter and exit the bobbin in clockwise direction, try and position your thread toward the bobbin from the handheld device’s side. While inching toward the front of the machine, pull the end of the thread away from over the bobbin and toward the front. Now position the end of the thread into the additional threader that came with the product.
Next, fix the theader’s threaded side through the needle’s eye, which is fixed inside the handheld sewing machine. After pulling your thread from the other side of the hole, remove the threader. Now you should adjust the thread so that you can see a minimum of 2 inches of string on both sides, hanging out of the needle’s eye.
Remember that your thread is going to travel to bobbin by first passing through the 1st thread guide along the needle’s arm. You’ll also notice that the thread has to first pass through two plates, which are also known as the ‘tension control’.
Additionally, your thread will also pass through a 2nd thread guide, which is at one end of the needle’s arm. After doing so, you can finally feed your thread through the needle’s eye. Once this has been done, you should turn the rotary on the machine once, allowing the thread to be pulled beneath the fastening plate.
Finally, it is time for you to pick this fastening plate up and use a seam ripper or a pair of tweezers to pull out the end of the thread from beneath the plate.
4. Get to Sewing Fabric
With the needle’s arm still raised, turn your hand-wheel on your handheld sewing machine, once in either direction. Next, pick up your presser with one hand while using your other hand to position the fabric in any way you feel comfortable. To make sure that the needle is over the area you want to start from, move the fabric and not the device itself.
Now, using just one hand, grip tightly on the handheld device and switch on the power button and you’ll feel the machine begin to sew. When this happens, use your other hand to guide the cloth and switch off the power when you’re done or wish to adjust the fabric again.
5. Secure the Stitches
The 5th and final step toward learning how to use handheld sewing machines is to secure your row of stitches, in order to make sure that they don’t get untangled. Traditionally, this is done with the help of a single reverse stitch. However, since we’re using handheld sewing machines, things are going to work a little differently.
Here, you will have to raise the needle’s arm once again by giving the rotary wheel a turn. After doing so, pick up the fastening plate and then pick the thread up before cutting it with a seam ripper. After doing so, turn your rotary wheel once more, allowing your needle to move up and down once more so that a loop in the thread is made on the backside of the fabric.
Now, pick up your fastening plate and pull the fabric out. Locate the loop you just formed and then tub at it. In doing so, you will have allowed the trailing end of the thread to travel from the front of the fabric to the back. Voila! Your rows of stitching are never going to untangle.
Our Final Thoughts
By learning how to use handheld sewing machines and having one on your person at all times, you have finally made sure that you will avoid embarrassing yourself, at least in the wardrobe malfunctioning department. All you need to do is make sure you pack it before boarding a train, bus or flight and while walking into your office or restaurant, and you’re golden.
