Episode 109—When Your Sewing Machine Suddenly Hates You
Have you ever sat down to sew and thought, “What is wrong with my sewing machine?” Skipped stitches, bird’s nests, weird noises—it can feel like your machine has turned against you. The tool that worked perfectly yesterday now seems to be throwing a fit. In this episode, we break down the most common sewing machine problems, why they happen, and how to troubleshoot them without panic. You’ll learn how to think like a sewing machine, spot simple fixes fast, and know when it’s time to stop troubleshooting and call for service. If you’ve ever blamed yourself for a machine misbehaving, this episode is your reminder: most problems are normal, fixable, and not your fault. Plus, grab the printable troubleshooting checklist to keep by your machine for the next “What just happened?” moment.
SHOW NOTES
Laundry Basket Quilts “Alaska” pattern
Downloadable sewing machine troubleshooting PDF
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Janet Szabo’s website
Big Sky Knitting Designs website—Purchase digital copies of Janet’s knitting patterns and order copies of her books.
The ‘Suck It Up, Buttercup’ Blog—Janet’s commentary on life in Montana
Janet will be teaching at Sew Expo 2026 in Puyallup, Washington, in February!
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