Post your sewing machines! (posted in MISCellaneous!)

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How do I post directly to a picture from imgur phone app?

Great to see so many seamstresses and seamsters here! My Mom taught me to sew around age 7 on her Singer Stylist. It is certainly a handy thing to know, even if just for simple repairs.

My first machine was a hand-me-down Babylock when she upgraded to an Elna. I’ve made lots of camping gear, including hammocks, silnylon tarps, stuff sacks, and down quilts.

Down gear is lightweight and warm but very expensive. I made my first quilt using silnylon and repurposed down from a high-end comforter that I got for free. A comparable one would be $300 or more.

When I switched to hammocks, I built a down ‘underquilt.’ Even in mild weather, your back gets cold in a hammock. An underquilt is suspended just beneath the hammock to keep your body weight from compressing the insulation. You can drop it slightly to allow for more air circulation depending on the temperatures.

I rescued a few older sewing machines from the curb, including a 1970s Kenmore that was made in Japan. It has worked great since I picked it up.

I recently treated myself to a Janome HD3000, which gets good reviews and is still mostly metal. I just used it to recover an expensive Flexsteel recliner that I picked up for free because the fabric was worn. The Janome had no trouble with multiple layers of the heavy upholstery fabric.

I’d love a Sailrite but I need to find a project that will require a walking foot machine to justify the cost. :partying_face:

My Mom still has her first machine, a Singer Featherweight. It needs service but it’s still in excellent shape and has the case and all the original accessories. wle is right, they fetch big money on eBay nowadays!

You might take a look at these:

They seem to be the exact same as many sorta-branded machines. Good prices and depending on the model, claim complete parts interchangeability.
I’m lusting after a walking foot machine too.
My Singer 66 does OK with moderate duty home type stuff with the occasional push through something thicker.
I’ve been thinking about adding a servo to it. Mine’s nothing special so I’m not worried abouut making Mods.
All The Best,
Jeff

What is a walking foot machine ?

Most home sewing machines have just one mechanism that moves the fabric through the machine, called feed dogs. They grab and advance the fabric from underneath, pinching it against the stationary presser foot.

A walking foot adds movement of the foot to help the fabric along. It’s commonly found on industrial sewing machines.

Even more sophisticated is a needle feed function. The needle’s movement is elliptical rather than just straight up and down. It moves down into the fabric to begin the stitch as normal, but then advances along with the fabric before being drawn back up.

Here’s a video illustrating walking foot and needle feed functions. The machine demonstrated has both.

Thanks jeff, I have seen several ‘knockoff’ models that are about half the price, but I’ve seen mixed reviews. I’m convinced I need a Sailrite. :wink:

That reminds me, I bought Phifertex fabric from Sailrite to repair four outdoor sling chairs. You know, the aluminum chairs with the fabric that rots in the sun until an unsuspecting visitor falls through the seat? :smiley: The Japanese Kenmore model I mentioned earlier did great with multiple layers, using 4 oz V-69 thread. :+1:

The hard part was stretching the new panels onto the aluminum frames. It involved many clamps and some ratchet straps to string the chair between two of my cars. :partying_face: The whole time, my mind was busy imagining the fancy jig they must use at the factory to assemble the chairs. I’m not surprised they all end up on the curb instead of being repaired.

The sewing thing is another serious rabbit hole which I’m trying not to fall down.
For those interested in this stuff, I found The Thread Exchange to be one of the most useful sites as far as learning about Thread, Needles, and that sort of thing.

They list the characteristics of Nylon, Poly, Kevlar, Nomex - Etc. threads.

When shopping for thread in the big box stores, they never list a thread weight. That’s really a pisser.
For heaver duty home use that should work in most machines, I’ve found “Upholstery Weight” in the home sewing sections of Walmart, is “usually”
0.012” thick (as measured by me - but listed as 0.0115 in some specs) which is size 69, Tex 70, or Gov E. It sews fine on my old Singer 66 with a size 16 needle.
The old iron is supposed to handle a bit heavier with a #20 needle, but I’ve never tried it.

Some of the threads marked “Heavy Duty” are thinner than 0.012 but still thicker than typical sewing thread. Size 30, Tex 3, Gov AA, .0080

A size 16 will punch through 6 layers of denim where a thinner size 11 (with thinner thread) wants to deflect.

Some specialty stores sell thread that is water soluble. No idea why, but I can see some serious practical jokes involved.

All the Best,
Jeff

here is one tip: i wondered once if using monofilament fishing line to sew clothes would be better.
answer NO for many reasons
mainly it will destroy any nearby cotton or polyester thread or fabric
and it does not stretch at all

Years ago I bought some underwear. The damn stuff was sewn with monofilament.
Chewed through the fabric.
It abrasive as hell on skin too. Ended up pitching all of it.
All the Best,
Jeff

The wife is surprised this thread would show up on a flashlight forum.

My wife's 1949 Singer.

The wife's sewing/quilting area with Bernina 635 sewing machine.

A couple of her many quilts.

can;t see pix

Temporary problem with hosting provider.

Can you see the photos now?

no

not here or in the original post
wle

Saw the pics all the time

Strange, I've checked the photos from other computers, all is OK.

pics not showing.

Here ya go! It’s a real piece of sh*t. Of coarse anyone who knows anything about sewing is probably just face palming. Every time my girlfriend uses it she wants to go office space on it:

Was using a different hosting provider, which seems to cause problems for some web browsers. I've gone back to my original hosting provider. Everything is working now.

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Here it is for you.
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goshdogit,
I took a look at the Sailrite shop. I’ve looked at their machines in the past. Watching the videos, it looks like the Fabricator machines are the only ones they sell that are true 3 motion walking foot machines. That is the needle moves along with the top feed dog.
The lesser machines and the leather machine sure look like the needle is stationary and only the top and bottom dogs move.
Might be wrong, but that’s what it looks like.

Anyway, this might be a consideration to ahhh… consider when looking at the different models.

Their servo seems to be a better unit that anything that comes on the clones or even the “real” machines.
What do you call a clone of a clone?
Nice that they have parts listed and available. That’s a real plus instead of depending on an unknown supply.

I’m holding out for a cylinder bed machine. Just seems like that would be more versatile for what I want to do.
But boy, are they expensive…

I’ve got a Featherweight too. Came to us from my wife’s Aunt. Didn’t know what we had until I looked at what they are selling for. Really nifty for light duty sewing. Surprising too see so many of them here.

After giving the 66 I got last week a lube and workout, I’ve started a more in depth cleanup and lube.
The needle is slightly off center in the bobbin hole. The only adjustment is to loosen the three screws that hold the head to the base of the frame. Then try to tweak it into position.
That’s a little frightening. If I screw that up, well, it won’t be pretty.
I made a shim for the needle holder that gets it lined up - and it works. But my OCD brain half wants it perfect.

All the Best,
Jeff