The most frustrating thing about learning to sew is dealing with a sewing machine. Beginners will start out all excited about making something and then before they get very far their machine starts to have issues. The best way to tackle this is to understand how your machine works. All machines are different, but they all have the same basic functions.

Here is a really good explanation how a sewing machine works, with animated pictures:

How Stuff Works - Sewing Machines

It is also a good idea to read through your owner’s manual before to start sewing and always keep it with your machine in case you run into problems.

Sewing machine repair would be a great home business for someone. Every person that I have taken my machine to for repair or cleaning has been a man, perhaps because men are so much more mechanically inclined?