I have a riccar sewing machine model number 12. I have posted about it before. I am currently having it in to be serviced. What is the best use for it? My singer 8606 is my piecing machine, and my singer 1027 is my quilting/relible machine. So, where does the Riccar fit into this picture? I know I didn't need three, but I fell in love with it at a thrift store, spent a lot of time figuring out if it worked or not... No manual so I do not know if the feedogs drop or if there is reverse stitching. Is there isn't, what do I do???
Thanks and sorry for the rambling
Emily

I guess I won't tell you about my machines then... 8)

1957 featherweight
a tan longbed and a black short bed 301 (great for piecing and beautiful for stippling)
15-90 in cabinet
66 treadle
237
185
401 in cabinet
brother 2003d
xl1000
bailey and frame (midarm)
godzilla 66 in cabinet
yucky 328k

I think that's all.... :mrgreen:

and I lied - I did tell you :roll:

My parents think 3 is too many, I don't myself :mrgreen: They said 3 is my limit...... :lol:

Emily, always good to have a backup in case something happens to the others. Does it have a bobbin winder? You could save it for just that. Today in the LQS I go to, a newbie was asking if her old machine would be OK and the teacher said yes,of course. As long as it sews consistently, use it. Nothing wrong with working on more than one project at a time.

:P Enjoy!

judee

When I took home ec--many many moons ago---LOL---we did not have the "reverse" feature. We were sewing garments, & at the end of stitching, we just stopped & lifted the pressure foot, turned the material & sewed back over the original stitches. Done.

Good luck

Billie G

I would say....the stitch. Nothing makes a wonderful lock-stitch like my Singer 221 (1950).

Kanoelani

I agree. A backup machine is wonderful when you have to send one in for service.

I have several machines and wish I had room to set up another of them with different color thread. When I need to do a couple pieces with white thread and the rest takes dark. You could just use a different machine instead of rethreading. :? I worked in a dry cleaners doing alterations during college and I had several machines/threads set up that way. It was nice! And a real time saver.

Keep them and enjoy them. I like the idea of having different color threads available! I wish I could set up more than one at a time. Oh, I could, I would just have to put the fabric away! THAT won't happen soon!
Another Sharon

if the serviceman is worth his salt, he should know how it works. as for the other, use the 10 to 1 rule:


are there 10 reasons not to keep it?

is there even 1 reason to keep it?

then guess what you should do. :lol: :lol:

I use my 40 yo machine to piece and quilt quilts, make garments (including wedding dresses and blue jeans), do alterations and mending... it's the one I use every day, and it's wonderful.