FMQ on an old Singer?

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12-30-2011, 08:05 AM

#11

GrandmaLola

Junior Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Arizona

Posts: 201

I have a Singer Confidence Quilter--but much prefer doing my FMQ on my Singer 301. The stitch on the 301 is perfect, it's so easy to lower the feed dogs and much easier to change the bobbin. That would be the only drawback, that the bobbins for the 301 seem to hold less thread, so you have to use a lot of bobbins, but at least it is much more accessible.

12-30-2011, 08:44 AM

#12

littlesurfer

Senior Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Palm Coast, Florida

Posts: 552

I love my 15-91's and Necchi BU Supernova for FMQ. I also use my 301's, 500's, 66, 201-2's. These machines do a wonderful job. I've never used my 221's for FMQ. I don't remember if I've tried my 401 or 404. I have a new Brother that doesn't do a good job with FMQ. The bobbins on the Necchi and 15-91's hold the most thread and this is a plus.

12-30-2011, 08:49 AM

#13

littlesurfer

Senior Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: Palm Coast, Florida

Posts: 552

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuiltnCowgirl

I've tried FMQ on my 403 to no avail. Then after researching I found out that the machines with horizontal bobbins don't do as well with FMQ. Something about the motion & # of revolutions of the bobbin to pick up stitches, I think. However, any of the machines with the vertical bobbins are supposed to work quite well for FMQ. I have not yet tried FMQ with my Featherweight, and just recently bought a 15 "clone" & have yet to take it for a FMQ test drive.

It is true that machines with the horizontal bobbin cases don't FM as well as the vertical ones, however, my Singer 66 and Singer 201'2's do a great job and they both have the horizontal bobbin case...go figure! Your 15 Clone machine should be really good for FMQ.

12-30-2011, 08:53 AM

#14

QuiltnCowgirl

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: Calif (San Joaquin Valley)

Posts: 3,482

Quote:

Originally Posted by tate_elliott

I've read the same thing about Singer Slants with horizontal bobbins. But then again, I've read posts by 401 and 500 owners who say that they FMQ just fine. I have a 500 and I'm learning to FMQ with it. I'm doing okay. I'm using a darning foot I found at a LQS. It looks like this one.
http://shop.sew-classic.com/Singer-S...-SCF384037.htm

And no offense to QuiltnCowgirl, but she says that her 403 can't FMQ, but she hasn't tried any of the other machines she has either.

Tate

Truly no offense taken...but wondering what the heck are ya sayn'? OP asked us to share our experiences with our machines. So I did. And even shared that I haven't tried any of my other machines except the 403, so yes my FMQ experience is limited to the 403. Did I need to give more detail as to why I haven't tried my other machines or what?

Last edited by QuiltnCowgirl; 12-30-2011 at 08:56 AM.

12-30-2011, 09:11 AM

#15

vintagemotif

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2010

Posts: 4,972

I only FM quilt on my Singer 15-90 after discovering that it FM the best over horizontal rotary machines that I own. I don't own a 301.
It all has to do with picking up the bobbin stitch in the vertical rotary versus the horizontal rotary as QuiltnCowgirl stated.

12-30-2011, 09:44 AM

#16

Central Ohio Quilter

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Central Ohio

Posts: 1,370

I FMQ on my 301 and I am slowly getting the hang of it.

More an operator problem than a machine problem! ;-)

12-31-2011, 05:56 AM

#17

thevintageseamstress

Junior Member

Join Date: Oct 2011

Location: NE Indiana

Posts: 114

I have tried them all and the one I ALWAYS USE for fmq is my 15-91, it never lets me down, I would say running second would be the 301 and 3rd the 201-2. I also have an industrial 31-15 that fmq really well too.

12-31-2011, 07:02 AM

#18

Debbie B

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: Huber Heights, Ohio

Posts: 2,351

I have a 1953 15-125 and I've FMQ on it a few times. It has a large screw/knob on the underside which when turned will lower the dog feeds. (Love making ruffles with the old ruffler on this machine.) I also have a Brother and I like FMQ with it, too. But, the throat space is very limited on my Brother. Below is a picture of my little green Singer. Good luck and post pictures of your work if you do FMQ on your Singer.

Attached Thumbnails

12-31-2011, 01:32 PM

#19

patdesign

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: So. Fla now, Va orig

Posts: 1,565

I have done it on both a 201, 15-91 and 6268. the 201 and 15-91 gaveme the option to lower the feed dogs, a real plus. I now use my Brother most of the time but the 15-91 is my favorite for the vintage machines since it is easier to get to the bobbin. (Same set up as my Brother). I love the speed control I can get on my 201 as it is such a solid machine, I sold the 6268 and WISH I had it back.

12-31-2011, 01:38 PM

#20

patdesign

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: So. Fla now, Va orig

Posts: 1,565

Quote:

Originally Posted by k9dancer

I teach machine quilting, and I do nearly all of it on my vintage Featherweight. Note that not all darning feet are equal. You may have to try a few before you get one that your machine likes.

Just wondering how you deal with the small area under the arm vs some of the other vintage machines with more space and the ability to lower the feed dogs vs using a feed dog cover plate.