Tink's Mom

Talk with Billy...lostn51

fabric whisperer

I did numerous searches, could not find the download? Did find one for $17. I think the UM was in the cabinet when we rescued it, I will search my sewing room :)

Tink's Mom: I already have him looking into it, showed him pics and get the JC JA numbers for him to research

oatw13

Is it possible the machine has a locking stitch? That is almost what it sounds like it is doing.

Since it sounds like it worked initially, it must be something that was pressed or done to it since.

Keep at it. I am sure you will figure it out.

quiltinghere

Are you using 100% cotton instead of fleece or flannel to work on until you get everything up and running?

A couple of searches turned up

Heating up the inside (how about that dryer or over a heating vent.

Check to see if a belt is twisted.

Motor polarity reversed (don't know anything about this!)

ETA: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-35070-1.htm
She has the same machine - maybe she's had similar problems.

ETA: don't know about this downloadable site but may be worth a try.
http://free-tutorial-for.me/search/t...hine-mod-2468/

ETA: found this info:
Feed Dogs The feed dogs are located beneath the needle and presser foot and move forward or backward to feed your fabric through the machine smoothly and evenly. Occasionally the feed dogs can get stuck in a reverse-feed direction and, no matter what setting you have your machine on, will only run backwards.
Reverse Lever The reverse lever on a sewing machine is most often a push-button or mechanical lever that you push when you want your fabric to feed in reverse. This button occasionally gets stuck or broken internally in the reverse position, causing the machine to only run in reverse.

ETA: Another site:
To all the people with this problem. What has happened is the reverse mechanism has stuck, this is often due to not being used for a while or the machine has not been oiled properly, which is hard to do for a user as you virtually have to remove all the covers.
If this particular machine has a screw on cover at the end where the handwheel is, remove it and look inside, you will see the mechanism, what you need to do is push it back out, then oil it but make sure you work the reverse button in and out while you oil it and check it works freely, then just refit the end cover.

Ok I'm done - but can't wait to hear you've figured it out!

quiltinghere

That does sound like a beginning or ending locking stitch - but I think she says it continually sews tiny stitches backwards even if it set on sewing forward.

How about the stitch dials? Are they LINED UP properly? Have they fallen out of groove? Could they have been turned too quickly and stripped?...like an old fashioned t.v.?

I wish I were closer to help you figure this out! I love mysteries! We learn so much from them.

BellaBoo

Of your DD Jean size, my DGD is 13, tall and skinny, wears size 1 jeans with very long length. She is all legs. She finds them at Rue 21, Wet Seal, Holister, any store that caters to only teen clothes.

fabric whisperer

Yeah, we tried those plus some local consignment shoppes ~ she's basically fitting well into a size 1/2 now, we're making it work. Sometimes she'll find a pair of 3/4 or 5/6 that she loves at a thrift store she loves, and I'll disassemble them and retailor them to fit her bod. Her school mandates uniforms, and school uniforms aren't made for tall skinny kids! So I have to make all her skirts (luckily she's a tomboy, so I only have to make a few 2x/year now)... otherwise, off-the-rack skirts are mini's on her, as she's all legs :) She does still love when mom makes her clothes... that makes me feel good! Many of her friends have asked her "where'd you get that!" and she just smiles and says "my mom designed it"

it has been a great journey with fashion design with her. I have a very mathematical mind, and being an artist, have become quite adept at taking any garment pattern out there and altering it to my liking / needs. Have even designed a few of my own garments, but have no idea how to publish (due to size of pieces).

I have also invented a couple really neat quilting/embellishment tools, would love to patent them and sell them, but have no idea how. One makes couching with multiple threads a breeze, and the other is a tool that helps decide if a fabric is fussy-cut worthy while you're at the store (for when we all see a fabric that speaks to us) So far I've been lucky and F&P and Dritz haven't invented the same items :) :mrgreen:

fabric whisperer

the hairdryer trick sounds good, if I get some time this weekend (IOW, if you can get me away from a new quilt I am designing!) I may try to heat it up and see if it works. If not, me & DH may disassemble and see if something just needs de-gunked. We did not totally disassemble it before, we were afraid of sproinging something we could not later fix (for lack of a better term)... but I am game, when I saw her face light up that I was paying attention to her machine, that makes it worth it :mrgreen:

quiltinghere

From the searches I've seen on line some of those machines sold recently for $100-$200

fabric whisperer

We got it as a curb-side special :) the people were selling gramma's stuff (including the house), and it was at the end of the day/weekend for all the garagesales - so they were putting it on the curb... the only reason we stopped at this one was my son saw a drumset in the driveway earlier that day, and wanted to see if it was still there for a better deal... (BTW he got the drumset for $5 - it was junior-size set, but he's my little guy anyway)