Originally Posted by cherrybsixty
Nancy, I think it is sew neat that you use all of your treadle-girls and boy for all phase if your quilting. And you have mention of the uneven feed dog before, and I was wondering if that can also take place in the 401A? I started to discuss that matter with my OSG and change my mind. Sometime those guy's like to act like (car mechanics), like you don't know what you are talking about. That's why I like lurking around the VMS. And once again your DH did a beautiful job on your cabinet for Ms Davis. It makes me think of 'Betty Davis' eyes.'
Cherry, I always enjoy hearing from you!
Your 401a has both feed dogs the same length, at least my 503a has both beed dogs the same length, so I assume the 401a has two even feed dogs too? You shouldn't have the problem of the fabric wanting to pull sideways if your machine has two even length feed dogs. Where there is a problem is the Free Sewing Machine Co treadle, the Singer 27, 127, 66, 28, 128, etc., have one feed dog shorter than the other one. This shorter feed dog has a tendency sometimes to want to pull your fabric sideways, especially if you are piecing long strips. This is not a problem if you are a good treadler. But, when I started to learn to treadle it was a real problem for me because I was not smooth and was going front, back, breaking thread so one hand was always on the hand wheel to start or stop my sewing! Very frustrating. Once you learn how to treadle the pulling sideways is not a problem as you have both hands on the project guiding it better.
The Two Spools has very long even feed dogs - compared to the 66, 27, 127, 28, 128, etc. - so you can just sew without really having to guide the fabric so intensely. I think when I learned how to treadle that would of made the learning experience much easier.
Nancy