How to Use a Sewing Machine and its Features

Whew – we’ve had an amazing overview of the Husqvarna Viking Opal 690Q, it’s important to know how to use a sewing machine and its features. Who knew that one sewing machine was capable of so much. If you’re like me – you just want to sew all day. 

I get asked many questions as I’m teaching and I thought I would share some of those questions with you today. I love to know the reasons WHY we are supposed to do things or why one thing works better than another. Here are a couple of topics that I hope you’ll enjoy and learn something at the same time.

The Husqvarna VIking Opal 690Q comes with a stylus. Now the big question is – Do you really need to use that stylus?

If you have never used one, I know you’re asking yourself that question and thinking it’s going to be way too fiddly to remember to use the stylus every time you want to change something on the screen.

Let’s refresh our memories of what the stylus looks like and where it’s stored.

The stylus is mounted just to the right of the TouchScreen. A very handy location. As I went to make changes on the TouchScreen, I found my hand easily went to the stylus. I made the changes and then it was easy to put the stylus back in its holder.

OK – so the stylus is good for accuracy, but do you NEED to use it? I asked that question to the experts at Husqvarna Viking.

Here’s the response I received: ‘In addition to accuracy, it appears that the less pressure on the screen the better.’

“The stylus is for accuracy in touching the screen. If you use the tip/pad of your finger you may not touch the right icon and it’s more about the pressure of the press on the screen than the oil from your hands. If you press too hard with the pad of your finger, besides not being accurate, the screen can start to “remember” how much pressure you’re putting on the screen and require it. When using the stylus you can be extremely accurate in selecting the icons and it’s a more delicate touch. If the machine isn’t responding directly to where you are pressing on an icon you may need to calibrate the touch screen through the Set Menu.”

I’m winding the bobbin with the sewing machine threaded. A nice feature if the thread you want in the bobbin happens to be the thread that you’re using on top. Make sure you use a metal presser foot when winding the bobbin with the sewing machine threaded.

As that thread comes up from the needle it rubs against the surface of the sewing machine. Those two metal bars protect the surface of the sewing machine. Running that thread along the surface at high speed would soon wear a groove in the plastic surface. The metal bars prevent that from happening. Who knew!

Spools caps – we know they are for holding the spools of thread – right? The Opal 690Q comes with three different sizes. I figured it was time to finally figure just where and how they were all to be used.

The Husqvarna Viking Opal 690Q comes with THREE different sized spool caps – a small, a medium and a large. It also comes with two large felt pads. So what am I supposed to do with them?

Let’s have a look again at the two spool pins that come on the Opal 690Q.

The main spool pin on the left can be used in a vertical or horizontal position. The auxiliary spool pin is used when winding a bobbin from a second spool of thread or to hold a second spool of thread when sewing with a twin needle.

Place the large spool cap on the main spool pin. If you’re using a large spool of thread, the weight of the spool will keep the thread from reeling too quickly. If the spool of thread you’re using is smaller than the diameter of the medium spool cap or you’re using a specialty thread, place one of the felt pads on the spool cap. This will prevent the thread from reeling too quickly off the spool which can cause a big mess.

Do not use a spool cap on the top of the spool of thread when the spool pin is in the vertical position.

The main spool pin in the vertical position with a felt pad on the large spool cap.

If you’re using the main spool pin in the horizontal position you want to start by placing a large spool cap on the spool pin. There is no need to put a felt pad on the spool cap.

Here is a large spool of thread in the horizontal position. Notice there is NO felt pad between the spool and the bottom spool cap. Insert a second spool cap over the other end of the spool of thread. You want to use a spool cap that is larger than the spool of thread. In this case, I used the medium spool cap. Because of the spool style, I had to turn the spool cap around. Make sure the two spool caps are tight against the spool of thread. You want the thread to reel off the spool – you do NOT want the spool to rotate.

How do you know if you should be using the spool in a horizontal or vertical position? I don’t really have a preference. What’s important is that the thread flows freely through the threading mechanism of the sewing machine. Sometimes I find that after threading the machine with the spool in the vertical position that the thread feels TIGHT.

Once I lower the spool into the horizontal position and add a spool cap, the thread now flows free through the threading mechanism.

If the thread isn’t flowing freely, make sure you try both positions to get the best stitch possible. As an experiment – take several types of thread – load them into your machine in both positions. Do you see a difference?

As you work on any project, make sure you keep your options open. I often start with one idea and as I start my stitch outs or even work on the project, I get other ideas. Do not get stuck in the box. If you think your new idea is better – then try it!

This is what happened when I was stitching the little tags last time.

I started out by programming one of the bicycle stitches. Then I added a second bicycle stitch which I mirrored so they were facing each other. Then I added a STOP function to end the sequence of stitches. Hmmmm – I still had to cut the threads manually and those bicycles were awfully close to each other.

There you have it – a few things that I thought I would share with you. Hopefully you found it as fascinating as I did. I know – I’m easily amused!

Whether you’re a quilter, a casual crafter, a home dec sewist or you make your own clothes – it’s important to know how to use your sewing machine and its features. You’ll find The Husqvarna Viking Opal 690Q, with its vast range of functions and extreme versatility will suit all your needs.

Have a great day!

Ciao!