Ok, the short of it is I'm 7mo pregnant and my husband rolled over in bed just after midnight and the baby decided that was a wake up call and has been kicking for hours..... at least he's healthy! Deciding staying in bed would just make us both miserable I got up and started looking for things to do. I wasted some time on the computer, got some water (wow it's hot and the sun hasn't even come up yet). And finally decided to do the sashing on a large lap quilt I'm making as a wedding present.

I don't know yet if this was a bad idea or not... I've done early morning quilting before only to look at it later and find that I go "what was I thinking" while spending quality time with the seam ripper. So I'll find out if this was a good idea later, but it did calm the baby down! He seems to like it when I sit at the treadle :).

Now on to the attachment. I sew (mostly) on a singer 66 redeye. She was really abused before I got her and a few parts later she sews like a dream, but still shows her past wear and tear (see pic). I just purchased some attachments for her a month or so ago and have been working on getting used to them. One I've used the most is the seam allowance guide (curled metal thing attached to the bed in the pic). You just screw it into the bed of the machine and tighten the screw down when it's where you want it. Now this (I swear like every attachment known to man no matter how simple) took some getting used to. If you don't tighten it enough it' will turn slightly slanted and mess up your perfect seam allowance. If you don't take out the pins before they hit the guide they will cause your fabric to "bow" away from the guide and you will get some very interesting curved seam allowances (which I didn't notice until I was pressing the seams). However, after about two weeks of using this (because I have it and dang it I'm using it!:roll: my stubbornness is a family trait) I've adjusted to it and now it is my favorite thing of all time! I don't have goopy tape on my machine, I don't have to try and sight a line on the bed and (and I'm sure this is only cool to me and possibly a couple of other really dedicated vintage machine users) I'm using the attachment that would have come with the machine. To me this is awesome because it was made for my machine and works because that's what the women of that era needed (no quilter in the history of the world has been able to sight without, a guide, a perfect 1/4" seam every time, at least that i know of!)! Also, I can set it to whatever I need, if for some unknown reason I need a 2" seam allowance it's a quick twist of a screw and measure away!

Ok, I think I'm done rambling for now :XD: Just wanted to share!

Yes,every machine should come with one of those straight seam attachments. Aren't they great. You can also adjust it at an angle and you can sew great circles. Why don't all machine manufacturers come with this simple attachment? I know many of the beds are now made of plastic but they could still include this by reinforcing the underside of the screw hole with metal. I have grumbled about this with my new machine every time I have straight seams to sew. The necessary hole and attachment are so inexpensive to install at the factory why won't they do it???

maybe because they like to listen to us curse under our breath :D, but it's more likely they prefer to make expensive feet and throat plates so we have to spend more money! :roll: After all one seam allowance guide = at least 3 or 4 feet that are sized to the seam allowance.

That's a cool attachment. I wonder if it would fit a Featherweight?

Have you tried pinning from the opposite direction? Maybe you could leave your pins in a little longer before pulling them out that way.

Didn't try that, but i'm actually ok with pulling them earlier now, it keeps them and my fingers a little farther out from the presser foot. I may have to try that when I do some smaller work because when your block is one and a half inches wide and you need to seam it, I don't thing pulling the pin early's going to be an option!

Thanks!

OH yeah, and they did make one for the featherweight :) it's part # 25527 :).

I went to joanns to get one of those and would you believe the gal said "I've been sewing for 30 yrs and I've never heard of such a thing". Obviously she hasnt sewn much.

You use to get one with every machine, but not anymore.

I have one of those seam guides for everyone one of my machine, my serger, and my cover stitch machine, LOL. I can't sew without them! The Bernina ones look identical to the Singer ones, but the one I have for my Juki is the best, the "guide" edge is twice as wide.. love it!

Hey, post some of the pictures of your machine and other accessories.

i have one of these....

I have several of the screw in variety and one of the magnetic ones. The mag ones just don't seam to work as well they can get knocked off place too easily. I use my singer one for my Bernina, it fits. Almost every box of attachments I've ever found has one of these!

I've seen one of those things lots of times, but I didn't know what it was for!!! Thanks for a learning experience at 6:25 this morning! Love it and can't wait to look over my stuff and maybe find one!!

Have that attachment on my Grandmothers machine...It takes the place of the new 1/4 inch foot with guide for me

I love that attachment on my FW and I have a much older Brother that has the same thing. It is the very best seam guide. My daughter was an early riser, as well and my son liked the late night hours...go figure. Makes it hard to get enough rest those last few weeks!

Your "Kicker" brings back memories, I learned something this AM also. I have a beautiful (in my eyes only) treadle.
Its rough , 4 draw cabinet,little machine in it. I don't know what make it is? It doesn't pick up the bottom thread.
Could be the wrong shuttle. I'm hoping to live long enough to refinish it and make it sew.... Thanks for your story.

so that's what that thing is. i have one in a box of misc. stuff. always wondered about that. wonder if it'd fit my 15 clone?

get with billy. he can fix anything.

Creating a market. My teacher used to joke that the guy who created the hammer also created the band-aid.


lol

YES!!!!

I didn't know what that attachment was for either :oops:
Thanks for sharing and posting the picture :D:D:D

so that's what that thingie is. thank you for sharing.FayZ

Here all this time I thought I was crazy for sewing early in the morning, and was wondering how many others do the same thing. Perhaps the treadle calms the baby down because of the rocking action it causes your body to make.

By the way, someone once told me that the times the baby is the most active before birth are the same times they will be most active after they are born.....3AM, huh?

Congrats on your impending arrival!

Great post!!

I've got a 66 treadle, but have not really worked with it. I'm afraid I'm too spastic to manage hands & feet. Maybe that's why I'm not a drummer!

I've had machines that have had this attachment in the past, and what a joy to use. No trying to see that etched line on the throat plate, no tape stuck to the machine, just a common sense attachment that really works. I miss it now that I have a "new and improved, does everything but cook' machine. Now that I'm making quilts, I sure could use that little gizmo!

Thank you for reminding me I own that attachment and could be using it on my featherweight-duh moment here.

Kat

Well bless your heart for learning to use it, and it paid off. (I have ignored so many attachments in my life, just because I didn't take the time to learn to use them.)

PS Happy Baby! Let us know when you have happy news!

That's a wonderful attachment, and I didn't know there was such a thing for my Redeye! Thanks for sharing!

I have one of those attachments but it doesn't work on my machine. I will work on my old Singer, but not on my brother machine. Those older machine are work horses and yeppers,, they don't have the fancy stuff we use nowadays, but the seam guide sure is a good one. Have a great day, Huggies, Fay

Back in the 60's all the school machines had them in Home Ec. Grandma's old Singer had one. They were life savers.

yes, my FW came with one. i have more than one that i've collected over the years. if your machine has a hole in the bed next to the presserfoot you can use it.

I know I'm going to love mine! I have a 66 too, and only had her for a couple months. That was one of the freebies the shop gave me with the other attachments. I figured out in a hurry that pins hitting it makes it go wonky. I like you, need to spend a lot of time and stubborness to get used to it.

I will say that my 66 sews perfect circles, with no gather. It's awesome. My little Janome was eating them up. The 66 following the line great and I've been making some circular pin cushions. Works just fabulously.

I still have to figure out the FMQ part. That's coming soon!

I to would like to see all your attachments. I have a Bernina and I don't believe I received one with mine.

Ok...... do you just want pics or do you want me to go through each as I learn how to use them and do tutorials?..... I have a singer 66 with a goodly number of attachments, a model 27 that has most if not all of it's, and a couple of motorized ones. (white rotory, free westing house rotory, singer 201 (once I get it going), singer 99k etc.

I am in the VSMS all the time and tutes are awesome. If you have one of the ruffler or adjustable hemmer that would be great. My manual has pictures in it of the ruffler, but the directions are very confusing. I think any tutorial you would post would definitely be a help!

I have both actually and two different types of tuckers as well as the bias tape foot and couple other handy inventions.... and that's just for my 66 :). I'll have to ask a moderator or Billy to move the Tutes over when I get them done though.... I haven't been able to post a new topic directly into that section........ Actually, in addition to the quilt top I'm finishing that I started before I got pregnant, more than 7 months ago (bad Cheryl no biscuit). I've got a maternity dress nearly finished that needs hemmed........ adjustable hemmer here I come........ as soon as the quilt top is pieced.. I'll just take a short break before I sandwitch, quilt and bind it ... yeah a short break (I hate basting) :twisted:

I have this attachment which can fit most of my machines and I don't know what I'd do without it! I also have the magnet kind which is sort of O.K. on the FWs and 301 but it does have a tendency to scoot. Of course we all know better than to use the magnetic seam guide on any of our electronic machines!

I think if you post them directly into the tutorials section, whoever subscribes to the vintage machine part of the board will see it. I see things from main, pics, general, tutes and links in there all the time. Perhaps there wouldn't be a need specifically to move it anywhere if it starts in tutes. I'm sure you're correct and it's something to discuss with a moderator.

I'm certainly excited. I didnt' think I'd ever have a need for the ruffler or hemmer or anything else clothes-wise, since I only make quilts. Then I came across one of Craftybears great sites and am making my first shirt for myself EVER! It needs ruffles, but I doubt I'll use the attachments just yet.

I do so appreciate your posting a picture of this attachment! I have one from Mom but didn't know what it was/how it is used. Also didn't know if it was for a Singer or Kenmore which was my Moms.