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Did you have the presser foot down when you changed the upper tension???? You HAVE to have it down for virtually EVERYTHING!

I am having trouble learning this one after too many years on a newer computerized machine :-)

Presser foot has to be up to change the top tension. You want the thread to go between the tension discs. On this machine the flat side of the needle has to go to the back. Are there loopies on the bottom of the fabric---top tension should be set around 4.

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Originally Posted by Bluphrog

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonnieLoree

The older singers used the rounded needles. . . . . . But still, the older types still require the rounded types.

That's not quite right. Older Singers used both rounded and pointed needles, depending on what was being sewn. The rounded needles are called ball point needles and are for sewing polyester fabrics. The ball shape of the point pushes the fibers aside, rather than piercing them. Pointed needles (sharps) are for use with natural fibers (cotton, linen, silk, etc.), because they pierce the fibers. Ball point needles were not the only needles you could use on the older Singers. I bought my first Singer in 1971, and changed needles depending on what type of fabric I was sewing on, though that was when doubleknit was all the rage, so I did use ball point needles a lot. To make things even more confusing, the universal needles can be used in place of either ball point or sharp needles, as they are slightly less pointed than sharps, but not as rounded as ball points.

Quilters use sharps because they are sewing cotton fabric, but if you are sewing garments using knit fabrics, you would use ball point needles.

Yes, you are correct, and I apologize if my explanation led to confusion for you. I know the difference between ball-points and sharps and all of the rest. I should have said the rounded area was in the shank, not the tip. :lol:

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Originally Posted by bjnicholson

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluphrog

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonnieLoree

The older singers used the rounded needles. . . . . . But still, the older types still require the rounded types.

I think she meant the actual needle is round rather that having a flat side where you insert it.

Yes, and thank you for the clarification! I didn't mean to mislead anyone here. Older Singer needles had round shanks and were easy to put in incorrectly. Finally, somewhere in the 80's, Singer caught up with the rest of the sewing world. 8-)

I see this thread as going nowhere. Too many misunderstandings between the helpers, probably me included. Have an enjoyable Thursday evening.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewecansew

Are you sure up? That automatically gives it no tension at all so how would you know if it was correct because you would have to put the pressure foot down in order to sew. On home sewing machines in the 60's they did not use needles that had a flat side. You specifically had to buy a Singer needle. You could not use what we all know now as a Universal.