Needle Guard For Sewing Machine (10 Sewing Safety Rules)
Risk and danger are subjective issues. Each person has their own idea of what is or isn’t risky or dangerous. Each person should decide for themselves how they will handle the same issue when it comes to sewing machines.
When it comes to safety rules and equipment for sewing machines, one of the best rules to have would be to make sure the child knows the needle is sharp and the machine is not a toy. Needle guards are for those who feel they need one.
To learn more about sewing machine risk and any safety rules that apply, just continue to read our article. It explores the issues and provides the best information possible so you can teach your children how to handle a sewing machine safely.
Needle Guard 101
Are Sewing Machines Dangerous?
Not really. The only real hazardous spot on a sewing machine would be the needle. Then with today’s computerized machines, a sewer’s hands are not always close enough to the needle to worry about being pricked or stuck.
With that said, the answer to this question will be up to your point of view. Some people do get overly afraid and that viewpoint influences their attitudes about everything, even something as good as a sewing machine.
But when looked at with the right attitude, sewing machines are no more dangerous than a bathtub, a set of stairs, or even a glass of cola. They are fine pieces of furniture that make a great positive contribution to a home.
To say that there is not an element of risk when one owns a sewing machine would be naive. There are parts of a sewing machine that can cause some injury if the machine is not respected or handled properly.
Needle Guard for Sewing Machine
To be frank, adding one of these to your sewing machine is strictly up to you and your situation. It is not up to us to demand that everyone use one to make their home ‘safe’ for all inhabitants and visitors. You should use one if you feel the need.
Most people may not have heard or even seen one of these sewing machine attachments. That is because they really are not a necessary or mandatory piece of sewing equipment. If you are careful, you shouldn’t need to put one on your sewing machine.
Although, some older sewers wished they put one on as accidents do happen at any age when one is sewing. These attachments are found on Amazon and for some people it may help them relax and concentrate better on their sewing task.
When it comes to children, the use of a needle guard is up to the parents. If they feel their child needs a little extra protection then, by all means, put one on. If the parents feel their child can be trusted and responsible, then don’t put one on.
The addition of a needle guard is up to the individual parents.
How Does Needle Guard Work?
In its basic form, needle guards generally attach to the presser bar and keep your fingers from getting too close to the sharp end of the needle. That is their whole function. they should be easy to attach and just as easy to remove when you have to thread the needle or replace it.
We are not downplaying their use as accidents do happen at any age and people need to be careful. Needle guards do come in handy for some people, especially if they are easily distracted.
But not everyone needs one of these and it is a judgment call. Some experienced sewers do not like the ones with a plastic shield or even those without as they find those needle guards get in the way of their line of sight.
You would have to test different types out to see if they will work for you or not. It is a good thing they are not that expensive as you may end up with a collection of unused needle guards.
What is a Needle Guard Used For?
The sole purpose of the needle guard is to protect your fingers from getting stabbed or pricked by the needle. When you are concentrating on making sure the machine stitches are right you can forget about how close your fingers are to the needle.
The needle guard doesn't help with getting the fabric through the needle area smoothly nor does it stop the needle from breaking or the thread from being tangled. It is there to protect your fingers only.
But not all needle pricks, etc., are painful. One sewer put the needle through her finger, did not feel any pain, continued to sew till she finished her sewing task, and then went to the doctor’s the next day.
What can be learned from her experience is that needle pricks are not that serious of an injury and should not be treated like it was a life-threatening situation. A little common sense will help you get through it even if your child pricks her finger.
Needle Guard for Brother Sewing Machine
These look to be very simple devices that are attached by using a small screw. There is a little hole in the straight end of the device and a little hook at the other end. That makes then easy to attach and take off when you need to.
There is no plexiglass or other plastic screen to hinder your vision although the hook may impede your line of sight slightly. The drawback to one model of a needle guard for a Brother sewing machine is that one device does not fit all of their models.
If you own several Brother sewing machines you may have to find a separate guard for each model. The price of this particular guard is roughly $10 but you may be able to find them a bit cheaper if you shop around. Universal finger guards may work here.
Needle Guard for Janome Sewing Machine
Janome seems to have several different styles of finger guards or needle guards. There is a front option, a rear one, and even a top-loading one. You will have to know your machine to know which guard you will need.
Like Brother, not all of these finger guards work on all of Janome models. If you are wanting one you may have to do a little search to make sure you find the right style for your specific model.
The good news is that these attachments are available in a wide range of parts stores, sewing machine outlets, and department stores as well as eBay and Amazon, and so on. Yet, there is more good news.
The cost of some of these needle guards is very low. One comes in at $2. You shouldn’t have to spend a lot to protect your fingers or your child’s fingers from accidents.
Needle Guard for Singer Sewing Machine
The story for Singer sewing machines is the same as it is for Brother and Janome. You should have ample attachments to look at and go through before finding one to fit your model of sewing machine.
The design is a bit different from the previously mentioned brands so you may have to do a little hunting to find the design that will fit your sewing style. The cost is between the Brother and the Janome selections, at least for the models we looked at.
Roughly $6 is all you need to buy a needle guard for your Singer sewing machine. No one is saying you have to rush out and buy one then attach it to your sewing machine right away. But they do perform a service and help your younger children learn to sew without fear.
When they get older you can always remove the finger guard and let them fine-tune their sewing style so that they can produce professional results injury-free.
Sewing Machine Safety Rules
Practicing safety at any time is always smart. Even when it comes to sewing machines there are always good safety rules to follow. By following good safety rules your sewing time should be more enjoyable for you and your young children who want to learn how to d this craft.
You have all read about the horror stories about needles getting stuck in arms and traveling to organs. You can minimize that risk by practicing good safety rules. Here are some to implement in your sewing routine:
- 1. When not in use, always unplug your sewing machine. This protects against children playing with the machine and from false starts that may hurt you.
- 2. Make sure needles and pincushions are kept hidden away from small curious hands. Store them in a safe place so they do not get swallowed or used to prick themselves or someone.
- 3. Keep sharp scissors, rotary cutters, and knives in their covers till needed. Also, make sure they are in a drawer well hidden from those same curious eyes.
- 4. Be careful when putting pins in your mouth. It is a common practice for some sewers as well as carpenters who put nails in their mouths for easy access. It doesn’t take much to harm yourself or swallow a pin.
- 5. Use a slow speed to begin. This will give you plenty of reaction time if something was not turned off or put away correctly and so on.
- 6. Know where your fingers are at all times before stepping on the foot pedal. Some needle pricks can be quite painful. Make sure your fingers are at a safe distance away from the needle before you start the machine.
- 7. When threading and you do not need the power on to do this task, turn your machine off first. This protects you from false starts that can be painful.
- 8. Check all your sewing machine parts near the needle. If they are loose tighten them up as the needle can hit one and break. When it breaks the needle can hit you in your eye or face.
- 9. Keep your sewing area neat and clean. There are untold stories of sewers and visitors slipping on bits and pieces of plastic and hurting themselves when they fell. Also, make sure your power cords are organized and not in the way of your feet.
- 10. Look in your manual for more sewing machine safety tips. Your owner’s manual should have these and more tips for you to implement.
How to Use a Sewing Machine Safely
The first step in using a sewing machine safely is to respect the machine. If you don’t respect it that is when accidents will happen. You should also teach your children to respect it as well.
The next step would be to find and implement those safety rules that apply to your situation. You do not always need safety equipment like needle guards but they may come in handy at some point.
The third step would be to learn and follow the rules of sewing and about the different fabrics and the different techniques needed to sew those fabrics. being experienced and knowledgeable will help you sew safely.
Some Final Words
It is not necessary to put a needle guard on your sewing machine. But if you think it is appropriate for you then go ahead and put one on. Being safe is better than being sorry but being overprotective is not always the best strategy.
Judge for yourself what the best direction will be for you and your family. Finger guards can always come off if they are truly in your way.
