Have you ever attempted a sewing machine repair at home? Not me! I love my mechanics and am very happy to turn over the complex repair/tune-up process to them. I double-heart all my sewing machines (yes, I do have, errrr, more than one!), and I take a lot of pride in the fact that my oldest machine (36 years) still runs like a top. There is about nothing more frustrating to me than sitting down to use a machine, sewing or otherwise, and have it not work properly. Ask anyone in my family – they have all witnessed a few (more than a few?) explosions over the years when some @&^%$# machine was malfunctioning.
I do own mostly Berninas, which are very well-made , but I also make it a point to take extremely good care of all my machines. They get an annual check-up, same as me.  I am worth some preventative maintenance, and so are they. I believe that finding a great dealer/repair shop is an important part of keeping a sewing machine in top running order. Just as you have to put some time, effort, and money into maintaining your car, the same goes for your sewing machine if you expect it to perform for you.
Here are some tips to help you find a great repair shop/dealer in your area:
- Ask around.  If you are lucky enough to live in a place where sewing is still taught in schools, find out who maintains the sewing machines for your local school district.
- Contact your local chapter of ASG – the American Sewing Guild. You will find lots of passionate sewing nerds with opinions about dealerships in this group! 🙂
- Go talk to the dealers yourself. You will be establishing a relationship with this dealership, so find out if you like how they treat you. Do they always provide estimates? Do they provide good advice about the “value” of repairing an older or less expensive model? If you are not that knowledgeable about machines, will they take the time and trouble to explain problems and concerns in a way you can understand? You are not having a one-night stand with your repair shop, you want a committed relationship. Make sure you are as happy with their service as they are to get your business!
- Check online reviews, BUT, take this information with a grain of salt. You never know how reliable it actually is.
My favorite dealer on the Eastside? Hands down, Sewing Machines Service  in Renton wins my heart for friendly, courteous, knowledgeable, fast service. They totally rock, and if you haven’t tried them and your machine needs a tune-up, get your bad self on down there and see Cevin. You’ll be very glad you did.
Happy sewing!
Maris Olsen