​Over 90% of tension and stitch problems are resolved simply by completely unthreading both the top thread and the bobbin, and threading them again from scratch.

Always lift your presser foot when threading the upper machine. This opens up the tension discs, allowing the thread to sit deeply inside them where it belongs.

When you start a seam, hold both thread tails for the first few stitches. This prevents them from being sucked down into the bobbin area and nesting under your fabric.

 Let the feed dogs do the work. Forcing fabric through can bend your needle, pucker your seams, or ruin your machine's feed settings. If it gets jammed, gently cut or wiggle the threads free instead of pulling.

If you sew on a vintage machine, never keep it plugged in when you aren't using it. Older foot controllers can build up electricity, causing them to overheat or present a fire hazard. Always plug your machine into a surge protector!

Swap out your needle every couple of projects (or after about 8 hours of sewing) to prevent snags and skipped stitches.