Free motion / darning on Singer 201?
11-21-2015, 05:27 PM
#41
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FMQ faster is usually easier. It's easier to control hands and feet if the feet just have it matted to the floor instead of regulating both. 
I honestly think the -2 and the -3 are not that different. You lose a tiny bit of harp space to the motor on the belted version. Big deal. The gear driven motor is nice but not enough better to pooh pooh the belted one. My first FMQd quilt was done on a 15-90 - belted too.
You could try something like Dave's gauge - it might be usable without removing from the machine with modifications.http://featherweightrx.blogspot.ca/2...guage-and.html I don't know what's wrong with 1oz or 28grams. It's a unit of measurement, a uniform amount of resistance that's pretty tried and true...? I used my kitchen scale and filled a ziplock baggie with wheat berries.
Assuming that your presser foot was down on that first one, it still sounds to me like you have some fine tuning on your tension. Something is causing variability in either the thread path or the tensioner itself. Did you set the thread take up spring? There's a note in one of the video comments where we discussed it. You were watching the videos with sound on, right? I burble info out as it occurs to me and it doesn't always correspond to what my hands are doing. The "Fast Tension Test" will tell you a lot about your top tension. You'll be a tension pro by the end of this.
Can you get your hands on another darning foot? I wonder if this one is somehow pushing the presser bar up enough to activate the release pin. Alternatively, can I see how you're installing that darning foot? From the needle clamp side especially.
I honestly think the -2 and the -3 are not that different. You lose a tiny bit of harp space to the motor on the belted version. Big deal. The gear driven motor is nice but not enough better to pooh pooh the belted one. My first FMQd quilt was done on a 15-90 - belted too.
You could try something like Dave's gauge - it might be usable without removing from the machine with modifications.http://featherweightrx.blogspot.ca/2...guage-and.html I don't know what's wrong with 1oz or 28grams. It's a unit of measurement, a uniform amount of resistance that's pretty tried and true...? I used my kitchen scale and filled a ziplock baggie with wheat berries.
Assuming that your presser foot was down on that first one, it still sounds to me like you have some fine tuning on your tension. Something is causing variability in either the thread path or the tensioner itself. Did you set the thread take up spring? There's a note in one of the video comments where we discussed it. You were watching the videos with sound on, right? I burble info out as it occurs to me and it doesn't always correspond to what my hands are doing. The "Fast Tension Test" will tell you a lot about your top tension. You'll be a tension pro by the end of this.
Originally Posted by Mickey2
Yes, only loops when I free motion, not normal sewing, and tension is more in the 4-5 range then, but still I tend to tighten tension.
Last edited by ArchaicArcane; 11-21-2015 at 05:31 PM.
11-21-2015, 10:15 PM
#42
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Originally Posted by ArchaicArcane
Make sure you learn good posture right out of the gate. I found that frame quilting just "changed" the pain. Instead of my shoulders, it's in my elbows and neck. A shaky or weak hand day is still a non-quilting day for me. 
Cari
11-21-2015, 10:39 PM
#43
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I wish they could find anything with me. My MRIs and XRays come back normal but I have a loss of strength, a tremor, numbness, tingling and pain in my hands. I can't even get a referral to the neurologist that's been "promised" since my bulged disks were discovered almost 7 years ago. It makes it hard to do a lot of the sewing machine stuff, including the videos.
When the time comes, this video will be important: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9HRQYfwrXs Most people try to keep their frames way lower than is good for your neck. Jamie Wallen used to be a nurse and learned a lot about the injuries that can come from the motions we do to see with a frame. Better to prevent the pain than have to fix it after the fact.
When the time comes, this video will be important: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9HRQYfwrXs Most people try to keep their frames way lower than is good for your neck. Jamie Wallen used to be a nurse and learned a lot about the injuries that can come from the motions we do to see with a frame. Better to prevent the pain than have to fix it after the fact.
11-22-2015, 11:30 AM
#45
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Thanks Tammi I'll remember that.
Miriam, my oldest is an LMT. No foot massages for me though, my feet are so ticklish I can't stand for anyone to touch them. Massage helps my hands as long as I'm not in pain when she starts. I wish I could have her on call but alas, she has a life, lol.
Cari
Miriam, my oldest is an LMT. No foot massages for me though, my feet are so ticklish I can't stand for anyone to touch them. Massage helps my hands as long as I'm not in pain when she starts. I wish I could have her on call but alas, she has a life, lol.
Cari
11-22-2015, 01:54 PM
#46
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I'm not very old yet (42), but years ago when I was in my 20s, my body took a hard hit and I'm still not sure what it was. I was very weak for long periods, I had a hard cold at some point and I blacked out in the kitchen. That was a low point and it took me months to get back to half normal, several years before my body managed to sort out various health problems I suspect was related to the cold somehow. I think we go through hard time now and then, and the body just has to take it. Living in the city doesn't leave you much space to your self, you are sort of shoved into it and it's live or die. Maybe its' like that everwhere? It has felt like it at times, people around me have died, for some reason I'm still here. I still remember what I went through those times, it's like my body is guarding its' self and I'm not willing to push my self for people or causes that aren't worth it.
For all the aches and pains I adopted some simple stretching exercises and spending time by my self. Walk in the woods help. I rather not have to deal with doctors unless its a crisis. I have been the round with all kinds of specialists, they can't find anything specific, at least nothing they can do anything about. Hopefully not all bad things will land on you at once Tammi , I'm sure there are someting that can help ;- )
For all the aches and pains I adopted some simple stretching exercises and spending time by my self. Walk in the woods help. I rather not have to deal with doctors unless its a crisis. I have been the round with all kinds of specialists, they can't find anything specific, at least nothing they can do anything about. Hopefully not all bad things will land on you at once Tammi , I'm sure there are someting that can help ;- )
Last edited by Mickey2; 11-22-2015 at 01:59 PM.
11-22-2015, 04:36 PM
#48
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I suppose I could try massage. Chiropractic does seem to help some too. He adjusts my wrists and that seems to settle the hands down a little too.
I think I'm mostly just frustrated. I got out of IT because of the mental cost. It can be a very toxic environment, only to find something else I like in time for this. There are days I won't quilt or work on machines because I don't know that my hands will behave enough to not hurt a machine. A LA suddenly getting conflicting information can cause a lot of calamity quickly, and I don't want to risk scarring a machine that I'm servicing. It's not even that I want conventional medicine to treat me, it's that I want a diagnosis so I can make sure I'm treating the right problem. So far, all they've tested me for is an abnormality in my brain (the MRI) - negative, heart "problems" - also negative. And then various deficiencies - I'm low on Iron and I'm quite sure I'm low on Magnesium despite that test result because the test range is suspected to be too broad and it's testing only blood serum not what's in tissue and cell reserves. I'm 41 in a month but I've been dealing with issues where my body won't obey me for more years than I haven't. I do think some of mine comes from an accident I was in when I was 18. I didn't see a chiropractor for 4 years and didn't bother with the XRays, because I was still invincible at the time. When I finally did go to the chiropractor, he said I'd waited long enough that we were going to have a long relationship.
I think I'm mostly just frustrated. I got out of IT because of the mental cost. It can be a very toxic environment, only to find something else I like in time for this. There are days I won't quilt or work on machines because I don't know that my hands will behave enough to not hurt a machine. A LA suddenly getting conflicting information can cause a lot of calamity quickly, and I don't want to risk scarring a machine that I'm servicing. It's not even that I want conventional medicine to treat me, it's that I want a diagnosis so I can make sure I'm treating the right problem. So far, all they've tested me for is an abnormality in my brain (the MRI) - negative, heart "problems" - also negative. And then various deficiencies - I'm low on Iron and I'm quite sure I'm low on Magnesium despite that test result because the test range is suspected to be too broad and it's testing only blood serum not what's in tissue and cell reserves. I'm 41 in a month but I've been dealing with issues where my body won't obey me for more years than I haven't. I do think some of mine comes from an accident I was in when I was 18. I didn't see a chiropractor for 4 years and didn't bother with the XRays, because I was still invincible at the time. When I finally did go to the chiropractor, he said I'd waited long enough that we were going to have a long relationship.
Last edited by ArchaicArcane; 11-22-2015 at 04:45 PM.
11-22-2015, 05:39 PM
#49
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I picked my tensioner appart and it looks fine, I'm not sure it is though. I think I'm doing your quick tension test correctly. I had the bobbin case out, cleaned out lots of fluff, loosened tension spring a bit then put everything back it. Something is wrong, tension is up to seven to get a balanced stitch, not free motion, with the regular foot and feed dogs up. I'm sewing with a light cotton thread two layes of light to medium weight cotton. I have been up and down several tutorials for a year now, and tonight I'm back to square one. I can't have the bobbin tension very light, the thread jumps out. I'm only having and ever so slighly a resistance. Will get the scale aout tomorrow, maybe, I'm going to bed. I so love these simple dependable straight stitchers 
11-23-2015, 01:46 PM
#50
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What if you push the number dial in until it clears the pin on the knurled knob and turn the number dial to 5 where it reads 7 now. The numbers on the dial are arbitrary. They're for repeat-ability by the user. If you still get full range of movement on the dial and it doesn't come apart when you turn past 0, it should be OK.
The fast tension test may not show you anything "wrong" at the beginning of the test - tugging the thread at 0 with the foot up and then the putting the foot down and seeing if it's pretty much the same part - because it seems to me that your tensioner is assembled a little looser than in the video. I would think that turning it to 1 would be a barely noticeable if any change though. The point where the needle deflects then lets the thread through is where I'd put the "4" or "5" on your dial.
OH. And let's try this: What number is your tensioner at when the post is flush with the knurled knob?
When the top tensioner is reading that way and passing all of the fast tension test, with the dial at 4 if you pull the thread with the presser foot down, it should feel about the same as the tension on the bobbin thread. If it's not the same - adjust the bobbin thread tension.
Have you read through the TFSR.org pages for the bobbin area? I'm wondering if your bobbin spring is damaged.
These old stitchers are great when they're running right. When they're not, they're as frustrating as any other machine. I had a White Rotary that took me (3) 12 hour days straight to find the problem with it knocking and skipping stitches and the needle periodically striking the hook. I nearly called the gal and gave her the current price for scrap metal at the nearest scrap yard. I finally found it though, and you'll find this problem too.
The fast tension test may not show you anything "wrong" at the beginning of the test - tugging the thread at 0 with the foot up and then the putting the foot down and seeing if it's pretty much the same part - because it seems to me that your tensioner is assembled a little looser than in the video. I would think that turning it to 1 would be a barely noticeable if any change though. The point where the needle deflects then lets the thread through is where I'd put the "4" or "5" on your dial.
OH. And let's try this: What number is your tensioner at when the post is flush with the knurled knob?
When the top tensioner is reading that way and passing all of the fast tension test, with the dial at 4 if you pull the thread with the presser foot down, it should feel about the same as the tension on the bobbin thread. If it's not the same - adjust the bobbin thread tension.
Have you read through the TFSR.org pages for the bobbin area? I'm wondering if your bobbin spring is damaged.
These old stitchers are great when they're running right. When they're not, they're as frustrating as any other machine.
I had a White Rotary that took me (3) 12 hour days straight to find the problem with it knocking and skipping stitches and the needle periodically striking the hook. I nearly called the gal and gave her the current price for scrap metal at the nearest scrap yard. I finally found it though, and you'll find this problem too.
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