Before I retired I purchased a Singer Red Eye. DH cleaned her up, put on a new belt and she looks great... I, however, have not been able to find information on teaching myself to sew on her. I see a lot of photos from owners of these machines, surely not everyone learn as a child. Any :idea: anyone?

Judy in AZ

I am learning to treadle also. I started with no thread or needle in the machine and would just sit down and try to get the machine going forward. I didn't know at first you use the hand wheel pull towards you to get started the right direction.

I would practice starting and going various speeds and stopping. Stopping is the hardest I think. But you will get the feel of where the wheel will stop.

If you go backwards the thread breaks.

Then when felt more comfortable, added needle, thread and fabric.

Nothing more to it.

Others have more experience since they do not use electric machines. I am sure they will jump in.

Look forward to seeing your creations.

Thanks, I will open her up today...never thought of not have the needle in...I am motivated

Judy

You can do ANYthing you want to do!! ;) I have faith in you that you'll learn everything you need to know...it's all based on the degree of "want2"

Is your Singer a treadle? Do you already know how to sew on an electric machine? I was able to "teach myself" how to sew on a treadle, but I already knew how to sew on other machines. I found a description somewhere of how to operate the treadle - will look for it and let you know.

See if this link works for you -

http://www.treadleon.net/sewingmachi...totreadle.html

My mother taught 30-40 girls(4-H) how to sew using two old treadle sewing machines. First she started us off using paper. Put a needle in that machine (no thread), get paper, and sew. Next draw lines on the paper and learn how to follow those. This way you will see how straight you are sewing, if you can follow lines, etc. After you feel confident using the paper, add thread and fabric and practise sewing.
There are many books out there for brand new sewers. Find one and read it, then do it. Or find a friend who knows how to sew or quilt and ask them for help getting started.
Good luck.
Kat

yes my Singer Red eye is a treadle. I printed the How to treadle ... Off to see what I can do... thanks \

Oh, I learned to sew as a child... My Mom was a good teacher.

Judy

I just wish you could buy prewound bobbins for the treadles. lol. I get really winded when I wind the bobbins. Wind a while, rest a while. Anyone have any tips?

If they take round bobbins you can wind on another machine...like electric!! :thumbup: :wink:

Why couldn't you? When they were first available, many women ordered them from the Sears catalog and taught themselves how to use it. The most improtant tip, I think is not to bend/flex your foot to treadle. To first start, give the hand wheel a spin in the direction you want to sew to get the foot rhythm started.You rest your dominant foot on the back corner and the toe of the opposite foot at the front of the shelf. Once you get her going it only needs a gentle push to keep going.
My Singer treadle has the little rubber wheel on the right hand side of the machine that tips towards the hand wheel to fill the shuttle bobbins. You put the long bobbin into the brass things and thread the thread from the spool, down the hook area and hold it with the fingers when you start to fill the bobbin. The rubber wheel thingy tips towards the hand wheel to fill the bobbin, you loosen the silver knob on the hand wheel so the the needle doesn't go up and down while you fill the bobbin. When the bobbin is full, tip the rubber thingy away from the hand wheel and retighten the silver knob to activate the needle again. If you don't have this on your machine. Nevermind!