Originally Posted by purplefiend
I have tried to FMQ with my Singers 201 and 66 and I don't seem to be able to do it. The 15-90 and 237 do it with no problems at all. I wouldn't remove the feed dogs.
Hi there... yes, it's a neat question. And one that I asked about 3 or 4 months ago: Which machine is better and for what? I gotta tell you... the 8" or 9" harp size on the old machines is stellar! I was so excited when I pulled out my grandmother's machine, dusted her off... and realized she'd sew! Unfortunately, she's a 66-6, so no reverse. Also I gather if the 66 is not a 66-16 or later, then it doesn't have the drop out feed dogs. BUT my "Williamena"sews boat canvas and cotton as if it's nothin!
So I researched and decided that I'd get the Singer 15-91 instead of the new Janome Horizon to be my FMQ quilting machine. (Let's see $150 verses $5,000...easy choice!) Now I'm looking for a 201 for dressmaking and cause all y'all say it's such a great machine to sew on. And I picked up a 127 to make into a treadle, and then a 301 for classes, then.... oh never mind.... I'm 'hooked'.... on the old machines!
Back to your post...
I guess I'm scratching my head over the concept of not dropping the feeds or somehow inactivating them. If you FMQ, the fabric is hand guided around in all sorts of directions. That's really hard to do if the feed dogs are tugging on the fabric at the same time. Maybe I read the post wrong? Even when I'm darning on my Janome 4000 (gasp... the 15 year old machine- a newbie!), I drop the dogs. Otherwise, I cannot darn worth a darn. <grin>