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01-22-2013, 07:44 AM

Boonedox

Junior Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: North Carolina

Posts: 127

Cheap Back-up

Can you please tell me if there is an inexpensive machine that will sew a straight and perfect 1/4" seam consistently? Some are just fine for crafty things but I need a back-up ASAP for piecing. Crooked seams drive me crazy. Thanks for being there.

01-22-2013, 07:46 AM

Candace

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: Outer Space

Posts: 9,319

Singer 301 or a Featherweight. The 301 you can usually get for less than $150 and much better than a disposable, plastic machine.

01-22-2013, 07:49 AM

katesnanna

Super Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Brisbane, Australia

Posts: 3,453

Sewing straight and a perfect 1/4" depends on the sewer not the machine. Do you have a marker of some kind to guide you. Even painters tape will do. Probably not the answer you were hoping for but fact.

01-22-2013, 08:01 AM

Boonedox

Junior Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Jun 2012

Location: North Carolina

Posts: 127

I have to respectfully disagree. My regular machine does sew perfectly straight 1/4" seams, it's just getting a tune-up. I am using my daughters machine and it's not straight. I would be the first to admit to my shortcomings but this time, it's not me, it IS the machine.

01-22-2013, 08:05 AM

irishrose

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: Cadillac, MI

Posts: 6,487

Another vote for a Singer 301, a Singer 15 or a Japanese 15 clone. A straight stitch machine usually sews a straighter seam than a ZZ machine and these metal oldies do it well. The 301 is lighter than the 15.

01-22-2013, 08:27 AM

pennycandy

Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2012

Posts: 786

Have to agree with the others in recommending an older metal machine. I was very lucky to inherit my mil's 1948 Singer 15-91. I was accustom to sewing on my Singer 1036(zz & ss) I purchased in 1979. It was a pleasant surprise to discover how well the 15-91 sews a straight seam.

01-22-2013, 08:45 AM

Daylesewblessed

Super Member

Join Date: Sep 2011

Location: West Texas

Posts: 2,073

I vote for the 301. Sews great, simple to use, lightweight, and stores easily.

01-22-2013, 08:50 AM

QuiltnNan

Power Poster

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: western NY formerly MN, FL, NC, SC

Posts: 51,433

i do the best 1/4" seams when i use the machine that has a 1/4" foot with fence... it's an old kenmore

01-22-2013, 08:52 AM

mighty

Power Poster

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Upland CA

Posts: 18,376

301 are great machines! I have one and I love it. Never had a machine that did not sew straight!!!!

01-22-2013, 08:58 AM

#10

BellaBoo

Power Poster

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: Front row

Posts: 14,646

I had a machine that the feed dogs moved crooked. I couldn't sew a straight seam without a fight. It took the repairman a long time to figure out it was the very slight crooked movement of the feeddogs. He recommended not wasting money fixing it. I didn't mind, the machine was given to me because it wouldn't sew straight. I though yeah right. LOL