Is there a way to get the machine to reverse to lock the stitch? (I hope this makes sense.) It's a 201k treadle. THANKS!!!

Some have a little lever to sew on reverse.

If I remember Grandma's old one, she would stop it, lift the foot and pull the material back one or two stitches, let the foot down and sew forwards on top of the last couple of stitches. Then when she cut the threads she could pull them down to the bottom and tie them there. As to sewing backwards, I have no memory of that.

Yes they do go backward! I have tried to use a treadle a few times and each time, I went backward more than I did forward and I don't know what I did :)

haha...I think I did that too, but couldn't do it again on purpose!!!

Yes, I did the same, until you had the rythm down.

i have the same treadle genes as plainjane--backwards is the only way to go--now wether you can do it when you want to is a different matter!!!!!!!!!!!!

I could get one of mine to but another wouldn't as it would cut the thread if you did go backwards.

The 201s have a reverse. The lever that lifts up above the plate with the numbers for the stitch length is used to put it in reverse. Just raise lever up when needle is up, then treadle and the machine will do a reverse stitch. I use my reverse (201 in treadle) when I sew clothes. Hope that helps you. And yes, sometimes I make the machine go backwards when I treadle. ;)

i used to go in reverse by accident