FMQ on a Singer 66??
 

I'm making my first queen size quilt and have concerns about FMQ it on my 301. The Redeye e machine has a much larger harp, but it also has a horizontal bobbin (I think - I haven't sewn on it yet.) What problems might I encounter other than lifting that thing from the floor to a table. It's in a bentwood case rather than a cabinet. I do have a treadle cabinet that it should fit.

The bent wood base should be fine on a table. I think it's mostly about getting tension right, since quite a few have set up a 66 for free motion, on frames too. You have to find a cover for the feed dogs, there are at least two or three types availabe. Some have taken out the feed dogs (two screws under the feed dog plate) when they are set up for FMQ more permanently. It's easy to put them back in. Make sure the felt or rubber feet under the base is in good condition, it makes it all more stable and less noisy. I cant' think of anything else at the momoent, I guess it requires a bit of test sewing and fine tuning before you can start.

With a large quilt I think you'll have a much easier time of it if the machine is in a cabinet so you have a larger flat surface to work from. I know I wouldn't even attempt something that big without the machine in a cabinet.

Cari

The other Redeye is out of the cabinet awaiting cleaning, so I don't know why the e machine that may have started as a treadle won't fit. I'll play with it when someone is around.

A cleared, suitable table isn't bad at all, I promise. I have an electrical 201 in a cabinet, but my 99 and a Bernina freearm with extension table works well too. It's just a bit more work to set up than the cabinet. A cabinet is a joy to have, but you will manage fine with out too.

Very interesting and informative. I never would have thought of removing the feed dogs.

On Leah Day's website ( leahday.com ) she FMQs with the feed dogs up and the stitch length set to 0. She has a video on this, if I remember correctly. I have tried it on my 15-91 (yes, I know I can drop the feed dogs on a 15-91) and it worked fine, but it has a verticle bobbin. You could try that and see if it works on the 66.

I've set the stitch length to 0 on my 301, too. It works as well as dropping the feed dogs.

Yes, the 66 has a horizontal bobbin. I know it is said that vertical bobbins are better for FMQ. I know that the threading is different from regular sewing than it is for embroidery, darning and probably FMQ on the 66 and 99. There are a couple of threads regarding the threading on the 66/99 machines. The one that has a diagram is https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...s-t278525.html but it shows the the normal sewing threading the illustration for the embroidery darning is generally toward the end of the manual.

Another that mentions the different threading, (no diagram) but is about FMQ on a 66 can be found at https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintag...m-t259836.html

While there is a feed dog cover made for the 66 and 99 I would imagine that https://shop.sew-classic.com/Feed-Co...nes-P60402.htm would work also.

Another thought would to change the the amount of pressure on the presser bar. I know Cari has a broken one on a 15 that she can FMQ with.


Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

I remembered something; if you like jumping feet there are options, but you have to find one that works with a 66. It's a general low shank, but the angle between presser bar and the neelde clamp controlling the movment can differ. I have broken two jumping feet when I borrowed from my other machines, they were general low shank, and should have worked with my 99 and 201 but didn't. I guess it's much the same with any machine new or old, nothing is completely identical even if they are made to more universal stanards.