makitmama

well, after the recent discussions about bobbins- do you have a vintage one you can try?

twinkie

Taking the tension control apart is not too difficult according to my DH. He seems to be able to fix tension on my featherweight, but he tells me that the tension control needs to be changed whenever I sew on different types of fabric and different layers.

AlaskaAlice

I just got my FW this month ...so sorry you are having trouble.. It will probably be something so unnoticeable...check for things like small threads under the tension bar on the bobbin.. or upper disks.. I once had a needle holder fall off and replaced it up sidedown..for years I fought that sewing machine to make it work..one day I looked at the lines on it, they didn't line up. turned it over and it worked ...no more problem Hope you find the problem!!

lots2do

I tried to sew with mine for the first time with the bobbin winder in the wrong place. What an awful squeal and I was sure I broke it. Then I threaded it wrong and the whole thing locked. That's how I met my favorite dealer/sewing machine doctor. He knew exactly what I did over the phone and didn't charge me when I brought it in. "You'll be back." And I have been. You should be commended for doing your research. Hope it works out for you. Oh, and I took that little tiny screw he told me to never take out of the bobbin case out. Lost it, cried a lot and did thankfully find it and replaced it. Phew, it's amazing I've ever sewed anything on that little cutie. Too busy getting in my own way!

ArchaicArcane

Usually with the needle flat on the wrong side, the machine will skip stitches.
If the "finger" is in the wrong place, I've usually found that the machine doesn't sew well at all.

You say that the tension on top looks bad, but on the bottom it looks fine?
Which one is happening:

Does the top thread lie flat across the top? - Top tension too tight or bottom too loose.
Top thread in loops on the bottom? Top tension too loose or bottom too tight.

For a quick "fix", you can try to run dental floss between the tension disks and see if it pulls lint or small animals out.

ETA: This would help of the top tension is too loose despite having it cranked up to a really high number.

If that still doesn't do it, depending on what the answer to the question above is (or a photo would be equally great), I may have more suggestions.

Additionally, the dis-assembly instructions are in many (but not all strangely) of the featherweight owner's manuals
This one has it:
http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_...ght-manual.pdf

Found here with a bunch of links to other important 221 manuals:
http://ismacs.net/free-sewing-machin...ls-list.html#S

This one can also demystify some of the tensioner adjustments and setup too:
http://www.tfsr.org/pub/technical_in...echanism_2.pdf

Raine54RN

Tammi, the thread on the top is lying flat with just dots of bobbin thread showing. The underside, bobbin side looks like normal stiching, until I try reverse and then both threads loop up. I did use floss and found no small creatures or lint. I am going to check the bobbin tension before I take apart the thread tension, and see if that helps. If it does hooray, if it doesn't ,NUTS, I really didn't want to take apart the tension, but I've dove everything else suggested here or written. Wish me luck! I also hacpve used 3 different bobbins that came with machine! Raine54rn

Raine54RN

I don't know how to send pics from my I pad or phone to the blog site as soon as I do I can send pics of how the stiching looks. Raine

ArchaicArcane

Hey Raine,

What is the number on the upper tension dial? We usually say 3 -5 is average "normal" tension...

Here's a test you can do to figure out if it's the top or bottom tension that's a problem:
Thread the machine, but leave the needle unthreaded (you can thread it, but I find this easier with it not threaded and I get less stab wounds.)
With the presser foot up, pull on the needle thread. This is what the thread feels like with "no" tension on it.
Now turn the dial to 0, and put the presser foot down. Now pull the thread again.
Does it feel just a tiny bit tighter, or noticeably tighter?

A tiny bit tighter is good. If it's a fair bit tighter, then someone has been in there to adjust and didn't put it back together right. I can walk you through the adjustment without having to take the whole thing apart if you let me know if this is the problem.

If it feels just a smidgen tighter, then the top tension is probably "within spec" and you want to pay attention to the lower tension.

I posted an article on my blog on Sunday about bobbin case maintenance, and coincidentally, I used a featherweight's bobbin case for the photos. It should look very familiar to you if you follow it.
http://www.archaicarcane.com/2013/03...e-maintenance/
The other great resource is the TFSR.org project that I linked to earlier.
http://www.tfsr.org/publications/tec...achine_manual/

In there it teaches you to adjust your bobbin case with a 1 oz weight. I do this when I'm home and working at my bench. If I'm out, I do it the way I described above - Top tension first, then set the bobbin tension based on that.

If we have to do the top tension adjustment, let me know. It's probably the kick in the rear I needed anyway, since I did promise on my blog to do it.

Raine54RN

Thank you Tammi, I'll work on after dinner, I want to sew with this toy! I'll let you know and chech the links you provides, I have hope! Raine

Raine54RN

It's fixed! The tension looks right and when I separate the fabric the threads meet evenly! I finally had to adjust bobbin tension and in Daves book there is a way to reset the tension control by pushing in the numbered disk and turning the knob, like resetting the tension to original settings. It worked! I'm so thrilled started sewing small pieces of flannel for my daughters quilt for the finishing edges. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUGGESTIONS and patience. I'm finally using this little beauty.