DREAM treadle
 

I don't have a treadle yet. I love to FMQ on my modern bernina, but would like to do some quilting on a treadle like I did as a child. That was all straight line quilting(all granny would let me do), but I would like to also FMQ on a treadle.
With that in mind, I have been exploring the idea of which treadle machine is right for me. I do have 3 singer 66 heads, but (a)they have rear mounted feet and (b) don't drop feed dogs
I do have several japanese clones that would work, like my straight stitch pink Atlas. Or, I could use this as an excuse to get a new addition to my collection.

any suggestions? I don't want a 27 or 127, although a 99 would be ok if I could figure out a way to drop the dogs. When I have tried to cover feed dogs with the buttonhole cover, I haven't had great success for some reason.

I've been warned off of vibrating shuttle machines for FMQ by at least one person on the board (with a link to Muv's explanation so I'll take their word for it :)

I'd guess a 15 clone would be pretty much perfect - vertical bobbin, droppable feed dogs, reverse.

I love my treadle, but can only imagine using it for straight line quilting or piecing. I agree about the shuttle.....your feet would have to go pretty fast to keep the FMQ from putting additional strain on the shuttle....

With the horizontal bobbin, the 66 and 99 Singers aren't as ideal for FMQ as are the 15 series machines. My personal favorite for treadling is my 1911 Singer 115...that machine ROCKS for FMQ! Large throat/harp space, dogs drop, it's just a great machine!

My favorite is a 15 clone - maybe it is just the foot but I really like the 15 clone for FM - you might try your Atlas and see how it goes - if you don't like it try a different foot and see how that goes.

what makes me want to get a machine and treadle together is just my beginnerness (woohoo- new word!) with treadles.
I don't want to start by getting a treadle base and then trying to fit my atlas in- because then when I have problems I won't know if it is operator error, the treadle, the connections, or whatever.

My mother in law told me she would give me her treadle and I am so excited. I have not seen it yet. My husband said it was his grandmothers.