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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Best for the money is a used mechanical machine. I would suggest an old Singer - a 201.

FW are perfect but not always available cheap. my first backup portable is a Janome 3180 that I purchased at Hancock fabrics for $99. That was all i could afford at the time. Hancocks puts them on sale regularly, I've seen it as low as $89. Good Luck.

By the way mine has fallen off a snack a few times, the only injury was the spool holder fell off. Mine came with a 1/4" seam foot.

Wow! This is a timely post!!! Boonedox - I'm sure that you will probably like either a FW or a 301 because they are so portable.

This morning, I stopped in at our local sewing machine techy to see if he happened to have a 301 for sale. I want to get one to take to classes and for travel. I have ready been searching for awhile through the thrift/collectibles stores along with watching the internet ads for awhile. He said that he has too many machines of all types in his personal collection and has been thinking of selling off some and reorganizing his stuff. I gave him my number and will hear from him in a few days. I really hope he gives a reasonable price so that I can be sewing on one soon. I already have a FW and she is in near pristine condition so I want to use her less often so that she stays that way - guess I can be a bit of a purist when it comes to vintage machines.

Does anyone have suggestions as to any particulars that I should be on the look out for and which of the 301s are more sought after?

I think any straight stitch only machine will work...I have several and they all do great!

Would the Janome HD1000 be a wise choice as a back up? I will keep my eyes open for that 301. Thanks

I believed I tried that one out once at my LQS and was pleasantly surprised at how sturdy it felt. I also think that Leah Day had a favorable review on this one a year or two ago.

Here's the link where she has a video review of the Janome HD1000. http://freemotionquilting.blogspot.c...e-program.html

We sell something called an Easy Anlger that is placed on your machine at our quilt shop. It solved my quarter inch problem with one of my machines. It's about 10 dollars if I remember right.

My Featherweight sews the best straight seam of all my machines, but the 401 does a good job, too. As you can see by my signature, I love the vintage and antique models. I wouldn't have a modern machine, even if you gave me one!

I don't know where you are in NC but I bought a Janome My Style which weighs between 12 and 13 pounds so I can take it to classes or quilt guild. I also have a Janome 10001 and my 1/4" foot works perfectly. I bought it at Ye Olde Forest Quilt Shop in Greensboro. If you buy it and don't have a Janome machine do buy the 1/4" foot. It is great for sewing quilt seams.

I have a Viking Mega Quilter that sews a perfect straight stitch. It will only sew a straight seam but it's my workhorse for quilts.

sewing a straight seam is an operator function... heaven knows after 50 years I still go off wack at times when I rush. I say, buy a feather weight instead of a plastic machine

Necessity is the mother of invention. This is what I just came up with to get perfect seams.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...122_105306.jpg

Yes, that's a grocery store key card taped to it. Works perfectly!

it the feed dogs
 

I have 2 Vikings - one much older than the other. When sewing a 1/4" seam the newer definitely sews more straightly. It has to do with that right feed dog not catching enough fabric to keep sewing in a straight line. Do not have any problems keeping straight seams with the FW or a 301, which has a 1/4" mark on the plate.

These old girls have been around for years and are still going strong. If you want one you can take with you they are the perfect answer. The Singer 15-91 is a much heavier machine but will sew through anything and is an old warhorse. It can probably be found for right around $100.00 in an old cabinet and will continue to do anything you want it to do. I have each of the machines above that I use plus the 15-91 that I teach my grandchildren to sew on. The really great thing about these old machines is that you can service them yourself as far as cleaning and lubrication is concerned. I have never had to take my machines to a service person for repair.

If you have a Bernina dealer around check out the 801 it is an old machine. Worth their weight in gold. Doesn't have all the fancy stitches, but there are a few. They are sometimes hard to find. We have had one in our family for over 30 years and still fight over who gets it. I am still waiting for my turn. Good luck in your search.

That's very clever! Don't think it would fix the problem with the feeddogs but I like it! :-)

I find that the older machines, like kenmore or Janome, white ect sew a much better straight seam than most of the new ones, You can usually get them for a reasonable price at sewing shops where they have been turned in for trade. They have usually been serviced as well.

Ane one of my old Singers that are Straight stitch machines sew a beautiful straight seam. The 15 clones do, as well. I've found that a machine with a zig zag or one that makes decorative stitches, tends to shew the stitches slightly.

You are all right about the FW, 201, 15-91, 301 Singers for straight stitches, but the cheapest one I have run across is a Spartan (heavy heavy heavy), but so quiet and totally dependable for the 1/4 inch--I think mine has the marked plate, but I am not real sure about that--I don't have much trouble with keeping my seam at 1/4 inch after I work at it a minute or two, I don't need the indicators anymore. But I can't depend on keeping my seam true at 1/4 inch on my newer machines with the zig zag foot, even when I put the straight stitch foot on them. Like they are saying above, it depends on the individual doing the sewing (and maybe her speed, I am not a speed demon on a sewing machine).

a straight stitch machine will always sew straighter than a zig zag machine. I piece most of my quilts with a FW or treadle machine.

So true. Just tonight I noticed that my left arm twitched just a teensy bit and my 1/4 inch seam became about 1/16th of an inch.

Have you purchased a 1/4 inch foot with a guide on the side? That will help with straight seams. They're pretty inexpensive, too.

I used a 'cheapo' Brother Machine for 5 years and just upgraded to one of their better sewing machines. I do see a difference in my stitching consistency. But I think that had I purchased the foot described above and used it, the consistency would have been much better.

what is the difference between the Singer 15 and 15-91?

Another nice, straight stitch, vintage machine is a Singer 404. It is part of the Singer Slant 400 series. It is a full size, gear driven (no belts), horizontal top loading bobbin, full rotary hook, Aluminum bodied, take no prisoners machine. It is light weight at 19 pounds, and fast because it does one thing and does it very well.
You can usually find them for a lot less than 100.00 because people don't really know about them. Sweet machine.