Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
  • By what criteria do you decide if a machine has a good straigh stitch? >
  • By what criteria do you decide if a machine has a good straigh stitch?

  • By what criteria do you decide if a machine has a good straigh stitch?

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 12-14-2012, 07:34 PM
      #1  
    Super Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Feb 2012
    Posts: 8,091
    Default By what criteria do you decide if a machine has a good straigh stitch?

    I've read on this and other forums that my X sewing machine has a beautiful straight stitch.
    Another person will say that brand Y has a so-so SS and so on.

    I just asked this of my wife and she really couldn't explain what it is that makes a good stitch to her.

    So by what measure or criteria do you decide if a straight stitch is good or not?

    Joe
    J Miller is offline  
    Old 12-14-2012, 08:28 PM
      #2  
    Senior Member
     
    harrishs's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Mar 2010
    Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa
    Posts: 825
    Default

    For me, a nice SS is even stitches, in a straight line, so that when you open the seam or press it to the side it lays straight and even......My FW or 301 do it really well
    harrishs is offline  
    Old 12-14-2012, 08:52 PM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2010
    Location: Outer Space
    Posts: 9,319
    Default

    Any SS only machine should have a "true" straight stitch and should do what it does with top quality. A machine that has a movement in the needlebar (any zig zag machine and other stitches) will always have slight movement in it's stitching. SS machines usually have an encased needle bar that's locked in, so there is no swing. Personally, I don't think it matters. I get the same results with a SS or multi-stitch machine.
    Candace is offline  
    Old 12-15-2012, 03:37 AM
      #4  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Somewhere
    Posts: 15,506
    Default

    Maybe they mean the tension is adjusted correctly and the material feeds through pretty straight? I totally agree with Candace. I've seen some real nice straight stitch machines. A good argument for a ss machine - think about it 99% of the time you are sewing straight stitches. Recently a woman bought a machine from me - the straight stitch machine was cheaper than taking her high end Viking/bernina/Janome (I forget) to be cleaned ONE time.
    miriam is offline  
    Old 12-15-2012, 06:13 AM
      #5  
    Super Member
     
    Lyncat's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2010
    Location: Sun City West, AZ
    Posts: 1,269
    Default

    If you stitch on a couple of machines and compare the stitching, you might be able to see which is nicer.
    Lyncat is offline  
    Old 12-15-2012, 06:27 AM
      #6  
    Muv
    Senior Member
     
    Muv's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jun 2011
    Location: England
    Posts: 822
    Default

    Straight, even, good lock, untemperamental tension.
    Muv is offline  
    Old 12-15-2012, 06:37 AM
      #7  
    Super Member
     
    KalamaQuilts's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2011
    Location: SW Washington USA
    Posts: 4,497
    Default

    any machine (with the exception of the Touch and Sew probably) will sew a beautiful stitch...when the tension is set correctly. It is generally the top tension that needs to be adjusted, we change it because we are sewing on different fabrics. Denim might use a different tension than chiffon. Just saying
    KalamaQuilts is offline  
    Old 12-15-2012, 06:39 AM
      #8  
    Junior Member
     
    makitmama's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2012
    Location: Tidewater, VA
    Posts: 264
    Default

    on my true SS machines, with correct tension, the stitches have less diagonal to them. The length can be adjusted, and-the feed dogs feed straight so that you don't have any slight meandering. On my Morse multi-stitch machines, there is more of a diagonal to the stitch. And due to the larger openings in the throat plate and foot, it is easier to get a slight wavering of the stitch.
    I am talking nuances here- but since I am currently piecing a 100% silk quilt that WANTS to wiggle, I will be quilting it on my 15-30.
    makitmama is offline  
    Old 12-15-2012, 08:46 AM
      #9  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Apr 2012
    Location: Jersey Shore
    Posts: 528
    Default

    Muv nailed it.
    DanofNJ is offline  
    Old 12-15-2012, 10:27 AM
      #10  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Dec 2011
    Location: Northern CA near Sacramento
    Posts: 1,107
    Default

    A good straight stitch is not really a straight line. On a lock stitch machine there are two threads wrapping around each other. The amount of distortion produced from this wrap depends on several things: the tread, the fabric, the needle, and the tension.
    Jenny over at sew classic has described this beautifully. Look at this on her site: http://blog.sew-classic.com/2008/10/...-about-it.aspx
    or http://tinyurl.com/6286of

    Cathy
    Mizkaki is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    nakuna
    Main
    11
    03-10-2014 09:57 AM
    michelleoc
    Main
    61
    04-18-2013 04:05 PM
    sumcoop
    Main
    9
    06-30-2011 07:02 AM
    Quilt Mom
    Main
    34
    01-15-2010 04:51 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is Off
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter