Mickey2

I'm exhausted today for some unknow reason, but I shall take note of all the advice and do my best to follow it. I don't think it will be tonight :-|

Cari-in-Oly

The modern machines I've seen with a drop in have the bobbin oriented right in front of the needle so different thread path than a 201.
I have had no joy trying to free motion with my 201 so gave up. I have too many other machines that will do a good job of it to keep frustrating myself with the 201.

Cari

manicmike

The 15 is fantastic at free motion work (and the other failure of the 201 - sewing with thick thread).

maviskw

Wonderful sites to watch. Beautifully done videos. A lot of information here.

Cari-in-Oly

I know Mike, but I've resisted buying a 15 because my collection isn't focused on Singers so I don't want to buy any more to keep. I have plenty of 15 clones(I can't help myself, love a good straight stitcher) and several of my Brother zigzaggers also free motion very well. Right now I'm in love with my 160 Cambridge. It's a ss machine and it does so well with free motion work I want to put it on a frame.

Cari

PatrickTweed

Marvita, thanks for sharing the links. For me, the tensioner video is much more helpful than the instructions in the manual.

Mickey2

Today I bumped into a blog post where someone described how the made baby quilts on the 201, flawless stitching! Singer made this model from the late 1920s until 1963 and it was rather expensive to make even in the last years of production. It came with dropping feed dogs from the start, and all kinds of detailed tutorials on how to darn, quilt and embroider. I have searched abit on the web, there are quilters on several blogs and youtube videos who have made this model work. I can't give up on this model because of some tension issues.

I bought this machine because of two blogs; Sewalot and ArchaicArcane; both bragging something awful of this model, and gave lots of hints and help on how to fix it up. I spent hours with Tammi's tension video, talking me through all the small uncertainties the written manual left me with. I so liked the idea of one of those black shiny machines with gold decals too.

I think my top tension mechanism is working as it should; I can at least turn it from 0 to 0, just slightly off sync towards number 1. For bobbin tension, it's sort of a guess, and a case trial and error. I used Gütermann sew it all polyester, set top tension between 4 and 5 and test sewed and adjustend the tiny screw until it stitched fine. I have fiddled with tension since then, particluralry when using top stitch thread, in one case it was like I could not get top tension tight enough; loops under.

For the free motion; I practice with sew-it-all polyester thread (Gütermann) or medium to light all cotton (what ever brand I happen to have). I use two layers of medium to ligth cotton, maybe I should double up or have some insulation in there, but for the practice sewing this is what I have used. I have hoops, springed darning feet (I might have to get a better one), a vintage quilting foot and the regular foot.

I get hoops under the fabric, not sure how to go about adjusting. I have done the initial tension setting, I turn tension tighter when I get hoops under there, but not much difference. I understand I'm not the first who has struggeled a bit with the 201, but I read of several who have success with it. I can't get a model 15 just for the quilting !

Now what are clever tricks? I am practicing even, smooth, slow movements, when stitching; any more secrets with the tensioner? My machine is oiled and cleaned every where, Triflow has been flooding at times.

Mickey2

Yes, I've cleaned every where, under the hook, there was a lot to dig out. New needle too, though I'm never sure of what is ideal for the purpose, I have a size 12 in a the moment. I have been up and down the web several times, and thanks for the links, I watched and reread them; very handy to have around and I need to have things repeated a few times before they stick. For the tweaking part, I am grateful for any hints on how and where to tweak. Tension is an issue I seem to be working on all the time.

Mickey2

I'm still on this, not sure why I have this, but even when cleaned, oiled, tension has been picked a part, cleaned and reassembled, and I think it is working. When I sew with two layers of fine to medium cotton fabric I notice the tension acts differently on reverse than forward. I'm sure it should stitch perfectly both ways when fine tuned.

One of the darning feet have a lever that goes on the presser bar with an arm that rests on the needle clamp. This was the new one, so thanks for the tip. So far I didn't like it very much, I will probably get another, though I have to give it a chance before I give up on it. The original that came in the accessory box is suppose to be good, but not sure if I use it correctly. They seem to be set above the fabric, and the pesser bar tension doesn't affect them, they hoover above anyway. I have lowered the feed dogs, there is a screw underneeth the base I can put in a different posistion. I thought this was the best way about it. I will try feed dog set to zero and see what hapens too.


There is the factor with drop in versus vertical bobbin, I understand from several of you model 15 is a favorite among the quilters. I was hoping the 201 could do the job, there are definitely indications that it can. I just have to figure out what the magic trick is and how to get all the settings fine tuned.

Sewnoma

Ah, you're right, my bobbin on that machine is in front of the needle. I thought it was the 90-degree turn that was the concern with FMQ on horizontal bobbins - that part is still the same, but you're right, it's coming in with a different path.