Twin needle
 

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if someone knew the answer to this question.
I have goggle, searched sewing sites ect. I can not find anything on this subject.
My question is.
Does anyone know a way to refill or an adapter to turn regular sewing machine needles into twin needles ( am I making sense?)


My reason for asking is.

I let the little girl across the street from me come and sew at my house.
She likes to get away from her younger siblings. I have her a sewing machine
set up at my house. She likes to applique and embroidery with twin needles.
The problem is she brakes one everyday. It is costing me a lot just to keep
her in twin needles. She gets to sewing to fast and that is when the needle
brakes.
So does anyone know a way to refill or an adapter to turn regular sewing machine needles into twin needles.

Thank you for your time, And yes I do tell her to slow down and the setting on the machine is right.
thank you.

I think I would make it worth her while to slow down. If she's old enough to use a sewing machine, she's old enough to learn how to use it responsibly. Either she can start doing things to earn money to pay for the new needles, or once the needle breaks, she can't sew for a couple of weeks because you have to wait for payday (or some similar logic) to buy a new needle.

I think it's sweet that she's sewing with you, but I don't think it's fair that you bear the cost of her recklessness.

Nope--only twin needle I've ever seen is the expensive manufactured ones. Think I'd introduce her to a new technique--maybe a decorative stitch?

Nope, only know to buy the twin needles. Someone on this board said that when she teaches kids she puts a pink eraser between the flap and the box of the peddle to slow them down. Would that work for you?

I'm pretty sure no adapter exists - it would make the needles too long, so it just wouldn't work.

Would you consider getting a vintage machine just for her? I learned to sew on a Singer 328, and instead of a twin needle, it took two needles side-by-side. I know there were a couple other Singers from the 50's - 60's that worked this way. This would also save your machine from the beating it's taking with all those broken needles.

I agree with quiltnlady to slow it down with a fake brake like the pink eraser idea, next go with Peckish and face the consequences.

If you are using an newer machine with fancy stitches, there is usually a "Twin Needle" setting. It limits the swing of the twin needle to 4mm.

I have a Pfaff with it, and have seen other machines with it - but only the ones that have decorative stitches that can be resized.

Perhaps I see why she wants to get away from her siblings. Since you are the teacher you should be the one to set the rules and tone of the learning session. Saying 'no' is the beginning. If she will not use your equipment properly or listen to instruction you should say 'no'. If she has no allowance to buy her own twin needle, perhaps you can give her chores at your house to earn the money for one. She needs to know the cost. She also needs to know the consequences of not following instructions. This girl seems to need encouragement and you can be that person if you do not allow her to run wild in your sewing room.

Have you taken the machine in for servicing? This might be a perfect time to ask the technician if there is something physical causing the breakage. You might see if there is a slower speed on the machine. They are just manufactured that way. I agree with Peckish:

Littledreamdevil, you are a wonderful neighbor and mentor. I do agree helping her to be more responsible would be a valuable life lesson. Continue to help her become a wonderful quilter!!!! I applaud you!!!

Many good suggestions here. You have not mentioned the child's age. Something else to consider is aside from broken needles and machine repair there is the very real possibility of the child running her finger under the needle(s). This may be a god time to teach her the right way to sew using a machine as well as the cost.

I think it depends on the age of your machine. I used to be able to put two needles in a very old machine. Nowadays, you have to buy the needles as a twin.

I agree with Peckish~~

Thank you ladies.
Everyone had some very good suggestions.
I am doing the "pink eraser brake fix". I duct taped it to the peddle. It sure slows the machine down.
I tried it and it works.
She is now suppose to only have one twin needle every ten days now. If she brakes the meddle then she has to do my dishes for another needle. (not a twin one). Her machine is a Vintage Kenmore 15813450 8 stitch. I bought at the good will. I had it cleaned and serviced before I gave it to her. She is 11 years old and I try to be good to her because she has a hard time at home (not a very happy house).
I know the Kenmore 15813450 is a well made sewing machine. I also sew on a Kenmore 15813450 I have had for 38 years. That is why I bought her that one.

Penny I will see if I can put two needles in my machine needle clamp, But I don't think there is room for two.
What machine did you do this with?
And don't worry Ladies I won't let her do it. She may get hurt
Than you

I wish I had a young sewing buddy. No children in my immediate neighbor and no family members live within an hours drive. Hoping a family with young children buy the house 2 doors down.

You are so kind. You haven't said where her fabric and thread come from only broken needles. You are giving her a good start to sewing I imagine it's your stash and thread she is using. She needs to learn all this costs.

I agree with you

Some machines have speed regulators, which limit one's speed. My Pfaff does, for example. Alternatively, there are many decorative stitches that don't require twin needles.

I'm glad you found a couple solutions to try. I think what you are doing is wonderful...you will have such an impact on her young life. I've taught kids before and it is a challenge to have both limits (speed, safety etc) and enthusiasm for learning a new skill. Kudos to you! You are teaching her so much more than sewing!!

I put a small towel or face cloth in between the foot petal of the sewing machine my GD uses at my place to slow her down. It is hard for them to adjust there pressure. This way she can press as hard as she wants but the machine will only go so fast as I have it blocked . I hope this makes sense to you and it is something that will solve your problem. It is nice you are giving this little one a creative place to go and be special .. I had a very special place like that when I was very young and she became my Grandma. no blood relation but my GRANDMA just the same and my boys new her as Grandma also. Good Luck.

My mother used a piece of wood in the foot pedal to slow the machine when she taught us to sew. My machine has two speeds, which I have used the same way.
Some machines allow you to insert two needles into the shank.
With the machine you have, are you sure it was designed to handle twin needles? Or is there a width setting you are exceeding to allow it to work with them?
Charging your neighbor for breakage sounds like a good idea.

I agree with Peckish, but would consider asking her parents to furnish the needles after explaining why, since you are teaching her a life skill that she will have forever, and not charging anything to do so. Also, if you do not have any twin needles to use, she will adapt to one needle, she can still do designs, just different ones. Adaptability is one of the best gifts you can give a child.

I agree with this! You are doing a wonderful thing for a little girl who can use some support, it sounds like.

Why not introduce her to the zigzag stitch with a regular needle?

so glad you came up with a good solution. I think it's wonderful that you are engaging a youngster in sewing and quilting--they truly are our future! And as a g-parent of 3 that have a hard home situation due to my DIL mental illness and my son's having to work many hours to support them and not living near us, I certainly appreciate that you are reaching out to this girl and provide a refuge for her where reasonable ways to deal with situations are being learned plus kindness and compassion--wish I could hug you!

twin needles have one end that goes up into the shaft where it is tightened. you can't put two needles in there to work. Only the one hole where the shaft goes.

Rather than looking for an adapter of some sort (which I don't think is possible). I think teaching her responsibility & doing things properly is more important. Not to make her feel bad but so she knows there is a right way & a wrong way of sewing & "pedal to the medal" is not the way to go. I congratulate you on passing on your skills to a young girl & there is so much for her to learn but she needs to learn some patience too. I also like the idea of placing something under the foot to prevent her from pressing the foot down so far, kind of like a "speed inhibitor" which could also slow her down. I know my 2 machines have speed control buttons on them but I know that is not a feature on all machines.

I think you have identified the problem, but are having difficulty with the solution. It really isn't an adapter for the needles, it is correcting how she is using them. This will benefit her much more and keep a wonderful relationship growing with student and teacher! Bless you for working with her.

Besides all the other answers, I've thought of one other thing. Twin needles come in different widths(space between the needles), are you sure you're not using a twin needle with too large of a width for that machine? Or a size too small for the fabric being sewn? Either of these can cause a needle to break easily.

Cari

Ooooh, very good point!

I didn't think of that, Good catch, you might have just figured out the best solution. Brilliant. Sew on with your copilot.

I do hope you two have eye protection from all those broken needles. Scary.

yes machine and needles are just fine. It is my "little sewer". The "pink eraser brake fix" slowed her way down.
Thank you all for your help.