FMQ on an old Singer?
 

I've tried FMQ on my 'newer' Brother sewing machine...not liking it. :(

I have lots of other Singer machines, 301, 401, 221, 319?, 501? :o I lose track......

Anyway, Do you FMQ on an older Singer? If so, What model and why?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Fmq
 

I have done some FMQ on a Singer model 66, with feed dogs removed. The only difficulty was in coordinating between speed and movement, which definitely improves with practice.

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.

I've done FMQ on my 201 in the past, and it was decent. However, I've recently done some on my 15-91, and I was amazed at how nice it was! I had extremely few problems with tension like I've had on other machines (new and old). I'm not great at FMQ, but it was much easier for me on the 15-91. I've seen people say it's because of the bobbin orientation being vertical rather than horizontal. Being in a cabinet helps too. I've used my mother's modern Huskvarna-Viking before, and it scooted all over the place.

I do all my FMQ on my Featherweight. Once you get the practice in to get your stitch length moving with your movement of the quilt, it does a BEAUTIFUL job.

I have also used my 201, which works much the same way, but I find the Featherweight is much less stressful - fewer bobbin thread problems.

Note: I've been using Coats and Clark thread which is VERY linty and a 14 - 16 needle which is pretty big for FMQ. Recently took a class and the teacher convinced me to try Aurifil 30 weight thread and an 11 needle. Boy what a difference in the size of the hole/quality of the quilting with the thinner thread.

Bottom line: the older machines can do anything the newer machines can do; they just need more attachments to do the same thing. In many cases the older machines do a much better job, because they are not as complicated to maintain. Just get the appropriate foot for your machine (walking foot and FMQ/embroidery foot) and go for it!

Good luck.

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.

My 301 does a wonderful job. I just completed a very large lap quilt - think a wide twin - without one thread or bobbin issue. AnnieRose thread painted the animals and FMQed and STID with any thread that matched without a hitch. I used Isacord, rayon, old C &C - whatever color I needed. I love that I can see better with the slant needle when doing outlining and fill in work.

I agree with Irishrose my 301 is great for FMQ.

Thank you very much for the information about the bobbin issue.
Thanks too for the encouragement to give it a try on different machines.

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.:)

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.

good opinions and great questions. Thanks - will keep watching

I'm really pleased to find this thread. Starting FMQ is one of my projects for 2012 - I hope to get to it before December. I have just cleaned up my 15K treadle and had a quick test run last week - just a few little squirls. It is a 1945 machine and the feed dogs do not drop. However it works just as well if you set the stitch length to zero.

Can we keep this thread going to show each other our work and pass on tips? I'm not going to attempt anything more ambitious than a mobile phone cosy, and whether it turns out well or a complete dog's dinner I'd like to post pictures so you can all encourage me!