Sewing Machine Needle Plates & Feed Dogs
What is a Needle Plate?
A needle plate, also known as the throat plate, is a removable metal shield found on all sewing machines. This little metal shield is used to cover the bobbin area of your machine. However, some machines use special needle plates to help you with your sewing.
Some machines have marks on their needle plates that show seams allowance and needle placement. You can use these lines as a guide to help you sew straighter seems rather than “eyeballing” it and hoping it comes out well. The right needle plate will help you sew the perfect seems and simplify your sewing.
Your needle plate can make the difference between the perfect sewing project and one that is full of flaws.
What is a Feed Dog?
A feed dog is a basic component of any sewing machine, and it helps you keep your fabric moving as you sew.
Feed dogs are the little metal teeth that are found inside of your sewing machine’s needle plate. The purpose of the feed dogs is to grab your fabric and feed it through the sewing machine so that you can focus on all of your other sewing needs. As you press on the pedal of your sewing machine, this is what controls how fast your fabric moves. The harder you press on the pedal, the faster the feed dogs work.
It is the job of the feed dogs to help you sew a more consistent and high-quality stitch.
Many machines allow you to lower the feed dogs to allow more control over their project, as this eliminates the pull of the fabric through the machine. This is an option if you are someone who likes to freehand.
How to Choose the Right Needle Plate and Feed Dog for Your Sewing Machine
Be sure to check your sewing machine’s make and model before purchasing your needle plate. Not all needle plates and feed dogs will fit all machines, and many are made specifically to a machine’s make and model.
If you are unsure about what type of needle plate or feed dog you need for your machine, be sure to contact us and we can help you locate the perfect part for your sewing machine.
Shop GoldStar Tool for Your Needle Plate and Feed Dog Needs
Whether you are buying a new needle plate or feed dog for your sewing machine, you want to be sure you pick out the right one to fit your needs. Give GoldStar Tools a call at 1-800-868-4419 or contact us online for help finding the right part for your sewing machine.
Caring for Your Shears and Scissors
The first thing you should NEVER do is cut anything but fabric with your scissors and shears intended for fabrics. The second is to never cut into a pin or needle since it will damage them permanently. When you’re finished using your shears, the best thing you can do is wipe the blades with a dry cloth to remove lint, threads, dust, and other small particles that can make them harder to use. Synthetic fibers can also dull the blades. Clean away the dry particles after every use. Keep your shears and scissors working smoothly with a small drop of quality sewing machine oil in the fulcrum or the pivot screw. Carefully open and close them a few times (point down) to distribute the oil, and wipe them, spreading some of the remnant oil over the blades. You want to oil your scissors and shears about once a month, more if you use them daily. Of course, be careful not to drop them, or they could be damaged to the point of being unworkable.
When they just don’t cut like they used to, sharpening is a must to prevent damage to your fabrics. You may have heard that cutting through aluminum foil steel wool and/or sandpaper as a way to quickly sharpen your dulled scissors. Despite their popularity, we don’t recommend these methods. Think about it—if you shouldn’t use your sewing shears and scissors for paper and other things, or attempt to cut through a pin or needle, why would you use either of these to sharpen a blade? There are better ways to sharpen your shears at home or in your commercial shop. Need something small and efficient to keep around? These handy Scissors And Blade Sharpeners are economical, convenient, and sharpen on the fly. Our ExtremEdge V2 Knife and Shear Sharpener is a fast, easy way to sharpen non-serrated scissors and knives safely. The bottom section holds it in place for simple one-handed operation, and it’s sold for a reasonable price. If you have more than a few pairs of scissors, sending them out for sharpening can shut down operations. Our Wolff Industrial Twice as Sharp Scissor Sharpening System is an investment that will save you and your workers time and money, and keep your scissor arsenal sharp and cutting perfectly every time. Priced at under $500, you can sharpen your tools in-house whenever you need to. Plus, it comes with instructions so that anyone can learn to use it for fast on-demand sharpening. Pinking shears, like our own soft-handled or heavy-duty shears, are best sharpened by a professional. There’s no reason to keep working with dull scissors and shears. Get one of our exclusive sharpening tools today.