Sewing is always more than just fabric and thread – it's patience, movement, sound, feeling… and very often a sewing machine that has its own character and life story.
That's why it's important for us to get to know the people behind these machines – those who maintain them, repair them and give them new life. This time we invite you to meet sewing machine service technician Gvido, for whom the equipment is not just a mechanism but a living process.
A person who, with patience, knowledge and heart, helps sewing continue – both in brand-new machines and century-old sewing machines.
What inspired you to become a sewing machine service technician and how did your journey in this field begin?
As a child I always liked taking things apart to see how they worked – clocks, radios, even my mother's old sewing machine that once stopped sewing. Of course, at first it was easier to take things apart than to put them back together… but that moment when I finally managed to reassemble it and it started working … Although as I grew up and began working, not all jobs were related to technical things and mechanisms, I've always enjoyed fixing equipment at home.
Sewing machines started quite by accident about 12 years ago when a friend asked me to fix his girlfriend's sewing machine, thinking I was technical enough to handle it. Yes, I managed :) … then a snowball effect followed: friends, friends of friends, acquaintances, until now: a wide circle of private clients who regularly have maintenance done, educational institutions across Latvia and the largest light industry companies in Latvia.
And yes, not just “home” sewing machines anymore, but also overlockers, industrial sewing machines, flatbed machines, etc. Over the years I've built good relationships with leading brands, which allowed me to expand my knowledge in industrial equipment, CNC cutting equipment maintenance and repair.
But I still repair century-old treadle sewing machines with great pleasure.
Which sewing machine brands and models do you repair most often, and what makes your approach special?
Statistically, the unambiguous top two are Singer and Brother sewing machines, and there's a reason: when people buy a Singer, often the name itself works because since old times everyone remembers grandma's treadle Singer that sewed everything. Unfortunately those days are gone, along with some of the quality, though these manufacturers also have models that are truly reliable. In short: you can't expect a budget-class sewing machine to sew upholstery fabric.
About my approach: Let's start with the fact that I don't represent any manufacturer brand, although over the years I've developed great cooperation with many, in spare parts and exchange of technical information.
Professional approach, excellent technical knowledge, patience.
Most importantly, I love what I do; I do it with my heart. I enjoy meeting new people every day, listening, finding a solution, bringing joy with the result.
Plus: nothing to hide — since I do repairs on-site at the client's location, the client has the opportunity to see the entire repair process and receive recommendations with clear examples. It's important to me that the client becomes more knowledgeable after the machine's repair, and yes, as a rule after every repair, to every client: “If you ever have any questions or need advice, feel free to call, you have my number.”
Tell us about a special case – for example, the restoration of a Soviet-era sewing machine or another challenge!
This is a section where one could write a book, or even several. The cases are varied and numerous, sometimes even unrelated to sewing machine repair 😀
But about sewing machines: here are two short stories:
A regular client's call: they needed the old Singer fixed, if I recall correctly from the 1920s, hand-operated. Winter, slippery roads, etc., a suburban private house village; I arrive at the client – parked in the yard is a fresh BMW vehicle with a rather damaged front (bumper, headlight) and a few other things …
And well, it's winter, accidents happen, I thought.
I greet the client, ask how the car ended up that way, and here's the client's story: I was driving home, dusk, slippery, the car slid off the gravel road and into a ditch, into the snow, etc., the speed wasn't high… helpers came, pulled the car out, but the headlight was broken right onto an old Singer sewing machine thrown into the ditch … and what do you know, I didn't think long, I took the “culprit” with me... Yes, it needs fixing.
That was more of a restoration than a repair; having been in the ditch it was probably there for a while, but we managed + the wood restorers restored the wooden parts and the whole assembled looked really good and most importantly - it works.
That's how people accidentally start sewing 🙂
But there really are many stories and good ones, which only proves that I'm in the right place and doing the right things.
What are the most common mistakes people make with their sewing machines, and how to prevent them?
Cleanliness, cleanliness and cleanliness again. That's the basis of everything! Many buy an unsuitable sewing machine and use it for inappropriate items.
Yes, you can adapt almost anything, but for how long and with what consequences.
That's why every time someone asks: “Which sewing machine would you recommend to me?”
I always respond with the question: “What will you sew with it?” and yes that's very important, not so much the fabric, but what products you'll make.
Many “mistakes” arise from small things: needles not replaced in time, thread quality, improperly adjusted sewing machines, etc…
What would be your main advice to someone who has just started sewing?
Always remember that sewing is a process, not a result, a process that should be easy and pleasant. If it is, the result will be excellent :)
This story reminds us again – sewing is not just about neat seams and a finished product. It's about attitude. About caring for your sewing machine, patience with yourself and the desire to understand rather than rush. A clean, maintained and correctly used sewing machine serves long, quietly and reliably – like a good ally on the creative journey.
We like to think that every sewing machine has its own story – just like everyone who sits down at its table. And if the process is easy and enjoyable, sewing becomes a joy, not an obligation.
The most beautiful things are created when we sew with calm, understanding and love 🤍
