Ellpea

SteveH wrote: "make sure the long groove is facing towards the shuttle.

tighten the set screw"

Now I am a bit confused. I thought the groove was supposed to face *me*?

Ellpea

and ManicMike, I do have the 12x1 needles. Size 14, around 30 of them! Ordered those as soon as I got the machine home, along with some spare bobbins :-)

manicmike

Wow, 30! I wouldn't be using the machine to be doing your regular sewing though (this is what 30 needles suggests). As lovely as they are, both the VS and rotary bobbin machines that replaced it will give you a better stitch (from what I've read, a more consistent top tension) the 201 being the ultimate (for clothing).
Also, unless you actually break a needle I'd sharpen it when blunt to make your needles last even longer.
Steve might be right about it being easy, but the first time may not seem that way. When I read the instructions, I had to read it a few more times, asking the book "are you serious?".

manicmike

Steve's right: The long groove should always face the shuttle. The groove is so the thread can sit snugly against the needle when it goes through the needle plate. After it reaches the bottom of the stroke and starts to return, it makes a little loop on that side which the passing shuttle passes through, grabbing onto the thread and locking the threads together.

SteveH

no steve wasn't correct... you are correct Elipea, the long groove faces away from the shuttle (towards you) it's the squeezing of the thread up against the fabric without the groove that causes the loop to form.

manicmike

Looks like we're both idiots then Steve

SteveH

I claim G&B distraction......

manicmike

I have no excuse, but feel better that I now know better. Note to self: don't rely on memory, double check, double check, double check (etc.)

SteveH

the equivalent to 3,000 words...

The line
[ATTACH=CONFIG]513643[/ATTACH]

In place
[ATTACH=CONFIG]513644[/ATTACH]

the needle when the line is set
[ATTACH=CONFIG]513645[/ATTACH]

manicmike

Are you just showing off your MOP 12, Steve?