My grandson bought a singer sewing machine at a thrift store so he could make his own backpacking stuff. He brought it out for me to show him how to thread it and to see if it worked( I would have found that out before I bought it) . It worked but the feed dogs moved up and down but not forward and backwards. It is a metal machine. "Stylist 834" I think it would be worth getting fixed . Do any of you ladies know anything about this machine? what could make the feed dogs not work?

Did you try to change the stitch length setting? If it was set to zero, the feed dogs would not go back and forth -- only up and down.

Thread it up and feed it some oil...I think that things will resolve themselves. Put a drop of oil where the feed dogs connect.

It most likely need to be serviced. Machines that been setting for a long period of time the lubricants can become hard.

Go to the Vintage Machine shop here, or PM Lostn51 (Billy) our resident repair/expert guy. Can you post a picture? Is this a metal machine- 50's or 60's or newer? The great machines in Singer were the earlier ones. You almost cannot destroy them.

I think the Stylist is a late 60s early to mid 70s era machine.

He posted a picture on his facebook and I could see that the knob that determined the stitch length was set on zero. I don't know why that didn't occur to me. I sent him a notice to check that and to put a bit of machine oil on the feed dogs so I will let you know if that works. I just knew if anyone could help it would be you gals. I thought it was about a 60's model. I'ts all metal. I told him it would be worth fixing. glad to know about Billy.

that is so great

Be sure he understands to use *sewing machine oil*! It is a much finer grade of oil than other types. Regular oil can ruin a machine.

Janice, I love your avatar! Is there a pattern for it?

It's called Garden path and it's in "Vintage Quilts" by McCalls. It's in the Fall issue of 1997. Hope you can find it. If not it's simple to do.

Thanks! I have a similar pattern I could adapt, but it would be easier getting the proportions right with the actual pattern. I'll go searching for it on the internet now. Thanks again!

I was just going to post the same....3 in 1 oil is NOT sewing machine oil, even if it does say sewing machine on it.