7/8 Technology and

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Livelihood Education
DRESSMAKING
Quarter 1-Module 7
Sewing Machine Troubles and Remedies
TLE_HEDM7/8BM-Oi-7
T.L.E (Dressmaking) – Grade 7/8
Quarter 1 – Module 7:
Sewing Machine Troubles and Remedies
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Published by the Department of Education - Region III

Secretary : Leonor M Briones
Undersecretary : Analyn M. Sevilla
Assistant Secretary : Alberto T. Escobarte
Development Team of the Module

Author : Cherry DJ Garcia

Language Reviewer :
Content Editor :
Illustrator :
Layout Artist :
Management Team
Gregorio C. Quinto, Jr., EdD
Chief, Curriculum Implementation Division
Rainelda M. Blanco, PhD
Education Program Supervisor - LRMDS
Agnes R. Bernardo, PhD
EPS-Division ADM Coordinator
Glenda S. Constantino
Project Development Officer II
Joel I. Vasallo, PhD
EPS – Technology and Livelihood Education
Joannarie C. Gracia
Librarian II

Department of Education, Schools Division of Bulacan

Curriculum Implementation Division
Learning Resource Management and Development System (LRMDS)
Capitol Compound, Guinhawa St., City of Malolos, Bulacan
TLE– Grade 8
Supplementary Learning Resource

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 7/8
Technology and
Livelihood Education
Quarter 1-Module 7
Sewing Machine Troubles
and Remedies
TLE_HEDM7/8BM-Oi-7

3
 Introductory Message

For the facilitator:

Welcome to the echnology and Livelihood Education - Grade 7/8

Home Economics Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module in Dressmaking!

This module was collaboratively designed, developed and reviewed by

educators both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher
or facilitator in helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12
Curriculum while overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints
in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and
independent learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this
also aims to help learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking
into consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in
the body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while
allowing them to manage their own learning. Furthermore, you are
expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks
included in the module.
For the learner:

Welcome to the echnology and Livelihood Education - Grade 7/8 Home

Economics Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Dressmaking!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and
time. You will be enabled to process the contents of the learning resource
while being an active learner.
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This module has the following parts and corresponding icons.
This will give you an idea of the skills or
What I Need to know competencies you are expected to learn in the
module.
This part includes an activity that aims to check
what you already know about the lesson to take. If
What I Know you get all the answers correct (100%), you may
decide to skip this module.

This is a brief drill or review to help you link the

What’ In current lesson with the previous one.

In this portion, the new lesson will be introduced to

What’s New you in various ways such as a story, a song, a
poem, a problem opener, an activity or a situation.

This section provides a brief discussion of the

What is It lesson. This aims to help you discover and
understand new concepts and skills.
This comprises activities for independence
practice to solidify your understanding and skills of
What’s More the topic. You may check the answers to the
exercises using the Answer Key at the end of the
module.
This includes questions or blank sentence/
What paragraph to be filled into process what you
I Have Learned learned from the lesson.
This section provides an activity which will help you
What I Can Do transfer your new knowledge or skill into real life
situations or concerns.

This is a task which aims to evaluate your level of

Assessment mastery in achieving the learning competency.

Additional In this portion, another activity will be given to you

Activities to enrich your knowledge or skill of the lesson
learned.
Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the
module.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in

developing this module.

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The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don't forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.

If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are not
alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and
gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

What I Need to Know

SEWING MACHINE TROUBLES AND REMEDIES

In this module the learner will learn the common causes of troubles of sewing
machine and how to make remedies on the certain troubles.

The lesson is made to follow the standard measures of the course.

At the end of this module the learners are expected to:

 Resolve common sewing machine troubles.\

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 What I Know

PRE - TEST

DIRECTIONS: Read each item carefully and choose the letter of the best answer from
the choices below. Write your answer in your quiz notebook.

1. Something is wrong with the machine, system, design etc, which prevents it
from working properly.
a. fault c. remedies
b. jam d. insufficient
2. It causes the machine to stuck fast so that it cannot work.
a. bent c. pucker
b. jam d. lift
3. It changed present setting as in adjusting tensions
a. adjust c. replace
b. lift d. pucker
4. A machine problem when there is incorrect size of needle or thread is:
a. fabric jams c. needle break
b. seam pucker d. skipped stitches
5. The oil that lubricates and gives the machine longer life.
a. cooking oil c. coconut oil
b. machine oil d. crude oil
6. A machine problem when too tight pressure on presser foot.
a. fabric does not move c. fabric jam
b. looping stitches d. pucker seam
7. An indispensable equipment used in any sewing activities.
a. Needle c. sewing machine
b. Tape measure d. ironing board
8. The act of managing or operating manually or mechanically a given tool
equipment.
a. marking c. manipulation
b. measuring d. cutting
9. A machine problem when the machine runs noisily.
a. insufficient oil c. dull needle
b. improper treading d. poor quality of thread
10. The correct cloth used in wiping spilled oils during cleaning.
a. damp cloth c. wet cloth
b. dry cloth d. oiled cloth

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 What’s In

Cleaning and Lubricating Sewing Machine

LOOKING BACK/REVIEW

1. How to clean and lubricate the lower mechanism (rotary oscillating hook) of
the sewing machine?
Ans.____________________________________________
2. How to clean and lubricate the upper tension (Disc Spring and Dial) of the
sewing machine?
Ans.____________________________________________

What’s New

DIRECTIONS: Challenge your mind and vocabulary.

1. Problem 2. Oil 3. Clean

Happy Water Soil
Content Juice Dirty
Trouble Lubricant Wipe
\ Ans._____ Ans._____ Ans.___

4. Treatment 5. Root
Harm Development
Remedies Result
Injury Cause
Ans.____ Ans.____

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 What is it

Common Sewing troubles and Remedies

As you enjoy using your sewing machine, problems cannot be avoided, but knowing
its causes is another challenging skill to develop. How can you classify these problems
or troubles?

Definition of Terms
Fault – something is wrong with the machine, system, design etc, which prevents it
from working properly.
Replace – putting something new in the place of an old or damaged part.
Jam – to cause a machine to stuck fast so that it cannot work.
Vital – extremely important and necessary for something to succeed or exist
Trend – a general tendency in the way a situation in changing or developing.
Manipulation – the act of managing or operating manually or mechanically a given
tool or equipment.
Pucker – wrinkling of fabric caused by very tight stitches.
Adjust – change present setting as in adjusting tensions.
Bent – a change of shape or angle caused by pulling or pricking to a harder part such
as machine needle driven out of throat plate slot.
Insufficient – not enough in amount.
Clogged – blocked with an accumulation of thick particles or matter.
Blunt – refers to an unsharp or dull needlepoint that is irreplaceable.

CLASSIFICATIONS OF SEWING MACHINE TROUBLES

If the sewing machine in your laboratory are kept in good condition and are
carefully adjusted and properly threaded, not too many things can go wrong. But there
are certain difficulties that occur during an operation so often, so you should know
these minor and common problems their causes and remedies. There are two
classifications of sewing machine troubles, namely:

1. Minor sewing machine trouble

This refers to problems that arise involving incorrectly attached accessories or
supplies, unadjusted tensions, or that requires a little dusting or oiling.
2. Major sewing machine trouble
Involves replacing or removing damage spare parts that made the sewing
machine not totally functioning.

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 COMMON SEWING MACHINE TROUBLES

Machine
Causes Remedies
Troubles

1. Machine runs  insufficient oil  oil the sewing machine

noisily  loose screw  tighten loose screw
 thread or dust  clean the shuttle race
clogged in the shuttle before oiling
race.
2. Machine  too tight belt  change belt if already old
rotates heavily  insufficient oil  oil the arm shaft
 bearings or shuttle race is  clean the shuttle race and
clogged with dust or thread bearing, then oil
3. Needle  improper threading  check the threading, change the
thread breaks  tight tension texture of thread and attach the
 thread too coarse needle properly to the needle bar
 needle blunt set (flat side of the needle should face
incorrectly the needle bar)
 presser foot not properly  use correct presser foot, check if
adjusted presser foot is secured and
 poor quality thread properly fastened
 seam maybe too thick or  if seam is too heavy change
heavy needle to correct size
 bobbin case turns  check the position of the bobbin
 fabric is pulled forcibly case, reset the shuttle race
assembly
 needle may be bent
 change the bent needle
 size of needle
 to avoid needle bending, pull the
 tension
upper and lower threads toward the
rear of the presser foot after
stitching and cut the threads
 don‘t force the fabric, just guide it
 change the size of needle
 adjust tension
4. Skipping  bent needle, dull needle or  change the needle or correct
stitches wrongly attached needle positioning
 unmatched size of needle  change needle size and thread
or thread to the texture of  increase pressure on the presser
fabric foot
 no enough pressure on  check the threading
the presser foot
 threading maybe incorrect

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5. Looping  dull needle  use blunt needle
stitches  improper threading  check the threading; if loops
 unbalance tension of the appear under the fabric, check the
upper and lower threads upper threading; adjust the upper
 defective thread take up tension regulator; if the loops
lever appear on top of the fabric, check
the lower threading; the thread may
be inserted in the tension groove of
the bobbin ; check also the latch
spring of the bobbin case
 balance the tension of the both
threads
 change the thread take up lever
spring.
6. Upper thread  Improper threading  correct threading  attached the
breaks  Improperly attached needle correctly
needle  change to blunt needle
 Bent or dull needle  reset the upper tension regulator
 Tight upper thread  use good quality thread and
 poor quality thread thread size or texture
 unmatched needle
7. Lower or  improper winding of the  winding the thread in the bobbin
under thread thread in the bobbin uniformly
breaks  bent or dull needle  change the needle
 poor quality thread  use good quality thread
incorrectly set feed dog  lower the feed dog if the fabric is
 bobbin does not freely turn thin; raise the feed dog if the fabric
 too tight bobbin case is thick
spring  check if bobbin is clogged with dirt
or thread
 loosen the adjusting screw of the
bobbin case or adjusting the
tension of the upper thread
8. Seams  too long stitch length for  adjust stitch regulator to correct
Pucker the fabric length
 tension is too tight  adjust the upper and lower tension
 size of needle and thread regulator
do not match  use appropriate size of needle
 too high feed dog and thread
adjustment  adjust the height of the feed dog
 too heavy pressure on the depending on the thickness or
presser foot thinness of the fabric
 lessen pressure on the presser
foot

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 9. Fabric does  feed dog not in proper  adjust the feed dog to proper
not move sewing position sewing position
 stitch regulator not set on  adjust stitch regulator to desired
zero stitch length
 too tight pressure on  add pressure to presser foot by
presser foot adjusting the pressure regulator
screw
10.Fabric jams  Needle may be too big  Change the size of needle
in machine  Throat plate  Needs round hole plate

What’s More

Show that you learned something by doing this activity

Activity 1. Sewing machine troubles and causes
Identify the causes of the following sewing machine troubles

Troubles Causes
1.Fabric jams in machine 1.
2.
2. Machine runs noisily 3.
4.
5.
3. Machine rotates heavily 6.
7.
8.

..
What I Have Learned

ASSESSMENT 1:
True or False: Write T if the statement is correct and write the correct answer if
the statement is false. Write your answer in your quiz notebook.
____1. Change the needle of the sewing machine if it is bent or dull.
____2. Lift the presser foot if the stitch of the machine is too long.
____3. If the upper thread breaks use quality of threads and thread size and
texture.
____4. Looping stitches cause bent or dull needle.
____5. One cause of needle breaks is bobbin case turns.
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____6. The possible cause of running noisy sewing machine is sufficient oil.
____7. Lower or under thread breaks cause correct setting of feed dog.
____8. If the fabric does not move while sewing the cause is too tight pressure
on presser foot.
____9. If the fabric jams while sewing the needle may be too big.
____10. If the fabric does not move while sewing the presser foot is too tight.

ause
What I can do
Activity 2: Sewing Machine Troubles and Remedies
DIRECTIONS: What are the possible remedies for the following sewing machine
troubles.
TROUBLES REMEDIES
A. Upper thread breaks 1.
2.
3.
4.
B. Skipping stitches 5.
6.
7.
8.
C. Machine rotates heavily 9.
10.

Post Assessment
DIRECTIONS: Fill in the blanks with the correct answers. Write the correct letter of
your answer in your quiz notebook.
1. It is blocked with an accumulation of thick particles or matter.
a. jam c. clogged
b. spill d. dust
2. Putting something new in the place of an old or damaged part.
a. replace c. damaged
b. restore d. repair
3. Refers to an unsharp or dull needlepoint that is irreplaceable.
a. pointed c. sharp
b. bent d. needle
4. Wrinkling of fabric caused by very tight stitches.
a. seam c. manipulation
b. insufficient d. pucker
5. It means not enough in amount.
a. sufficient c. insufficient
b. full d. loaded
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6 – 10. Enumerate at least five sewing machine troubles
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7
8
9
10

What’s more to do?

Common Sewing Machine Troubles and Remedies

DIRECTIONS: Write the causes and remedies of the following sewing machine
troubles.
Troubles Causes Remedies
A. Fabric jams in the 1. 1.
machine 2. 2.
3. 3.
B. Fabric does not 1. 1.
move 2. 2.
3. 3.

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 Answer Key

Looking Back/Review
1.
 Remove outer bolt, tension dial, discs and disc spring
 Lay each part in your front table following its disassembling for easier
assembling.
 Brush dust and wipe with absorbent cloth with oil.
 Assemble by following the laid parts in your table.
2.
 Remove bobbin case.
 Fasten sides of oscillating hook.
 Remove dust with lint brush.
 Put a little amount of machine oil on moving parts.
 Return spare parts in place.

What’s New Post Assessment

1. trouble 1. C 6-10.
2. lubricant 2. A Possible answer
3. wipe 3. B Machine runs noisily
4. remedies 4. D Machine rotates heavily
5. cause 5. C Needle thread breaks
Skipping stitches
Pre – Test Looping stitches
1. a 6. A Upper thread breaks
2. b 7. C Lower or under thread breaks
3. a 8. C Seam pucker
4. d 9. A Fabric does not move
5. b 10.b Fabric jams in the machine

Activity 1
1. needle may be too big
2. throat plate
3. insufficient oil
4. loose screw
5. thread or dust clogged in the shuttle race
6. too tight belt
7. insufficient oil
8. bearing or shuttle race is clogged with dust or thread

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Assessment 1
1. T
2. F set the stitch regulator
3. T
4. T
5. T
6. F insufficient oil
7. F incorrect setting of feed dog
8. T
9. T
10. T
Activity 2
A.
Possible answers
 correct threading
 attached the needle correctly
 change to blunt needle
 reset the upper tension regulator
 use good quality thread and thread size and texture
B.
Possible answers
 change the needle or correct positioning
 change needle size and thread
 increase pressure on the presser foot
 check the threading
C.
Possible answers
 change belt if already old
 oil the arm shaft
 clean the shuttle race and bearing , then oil

What’s more to do
Causes
1.
 Needle may be too big
 Needle may be too big
2.
 Needle may be too big
 stitch regulator not set on zero
 too tight pressure on presser foot
Remedies
 Change the size of needle
 Needs round hole plate
 adjust the feed dog to proper sewing
position
 adjust stitch regulator to desired
Stitch length
 add pressure to presser foot by
adjusting the pressure regulator
screw

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 References

K to 12 Basic Education Curriculum Technology and Livelihood Education

Learning Module in Dressmaking/Tailoring Course Grade 7 and 8

You can now proceed to the

next lesson!

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