(no subject)

[aprilvalentine.livejournal.com]

Why is it when every time I'm nearly done a project and on a deadline to get it completed, does my sewing machine break down? This has happened with some regularity in the last year or so and it's gotten really frustrating, especially since my 'other' machine, which was taken in for repair, isn't working either.

Here's what happened last night/this morning as I was finishing an outfit I wanted to wear today. Everything was going along fine when suddenly the machine seized up, that annoying beeping sound occurred and the needle wouldn't go up or down and I had to pull the fabric out from under the presser foot and needle, finding a bird's nest of bobbin thread when I managed to get it free. I took the bobbin out, as well as the bobbin case, and used my brush to clean out some fuzz and dust, put it all back...and the same thing happened. Three or four more times. I was literally 3 seams away from finishing the project. Argh! I'm not sure how to fix this. Usually after doing it over and over again a sufficient number of times, things just start working again. I hate to have to get it serviced again, especially since I have two projects for other people that I was planning on doing this week.

Any suggestions? My machine is a Singer 2638, which came out for Singer's 150th anniversary.

ETA: Thanks for all the suggestions -- tension it is. I adjusted it and now it's sewing again. I had to wear something else yesterday but now at least I can do those projects I promised for other people this week. I will never understand how machines can be set the same as always and just suddenly not work. Cars, sewing machines... oh well, thanks again to everyone who responded.