Tartan

1.Bernina 440 for piecing and FMQ with my Bernina stitch regulator.
2.Bernina Activa for my back-up machine in case #1 goes in for cleaning. I sew and piece on it and use it for darning socks and other things.
3.Singer treadle for sewing through blue jean welted seams, upholstery, canvas like fabrics.
4.Singer electric that was my mothers and it stays in it's case except for occasional cleaning/oiling.

DanofNJ

I use most of mine. Depends on my mood. I have them set up with different colors so it is easy to change back and forth. I use my 201 as my main straight stitch machine because I love it.

Stitchnripper

I use them all for one thing or another. Featherweight, Class 15 treadle, Class 66 electric in cabinet, vintage Elnita, Singer 327, and Brother XR-52 which is really my favorite.

J Miller

pinkCastleDH,

I started out fixing up the treadle my late cousin gave me back in 98. Then due to the cats and their claws I decided the machine's cabinet needed a cover to protect it. So using quilt pieces my wife and I had cut out for a previous quilt, I made my first quilt cover on the treadle. WHAT A PAIN!!!!! But I had to start some where.

Now I've got four cabinet covers a quilt square for Skip, 7 whacky bags and other things too made on various different machines, treadle, and electric.

Right now I'm working on two quilts using my moms old HOTHER, two Whacky bags on two different machine and Whacky machine cover for the White DRESSMASTER.

Start sewing .... your wife will be jealous.

Joe

Vanuatu Jill

I only have my Brother PC420 Project Runway, but I love it. I really only piece and make purses on it, as I prefer to hand-quilt, but it has more bells and whistles than I will ever use. I LOVE needle up/down function, auto thread cutter, and needle threaded. Thought I would love the knee lift, especially when machine appliqué, which I have done a bit of, but since I don't do it often, it is hard to get use to. I use it for hours every day, so clean out the bobbin casing and area regularly. No problems with it it in 2 years so far, at least that weren't OPERATOR's fault!! I sure wish I had my mothers old feather weight that I sewed on as a girl, but my sister somehow managed to bag it after my mother died and won't let me have it, despite the fact she doesn't use it.

acranford

Hello Ladies!,
Sorry I'm new to this site, I don't know how to make a thread. But maybe you can help with my question? I'm new to quilting and would like to try free motion quilting on my machine. I've done free motion quilting on a family members machine and surprisngly i'm pretty good at it. The only problem I am having is my machine doesn't lower the feed dogs. I have a darning plate but when I lower my presser foot the tension between the foot and plate is too tight and it doesn't allow me to move the fabric freely. Is there any tip or trick to fixing this? Can I raise the presser foot a little? I'm not sure. I have the Singer Sew Mate. 60 stitch.

Vanuatu Jill

Welcome to the board from Southern California! My machine, that I have had two years now, has a dial in the back that adjusts the pressed foot tension. Just discovered it last night when DH oiled my machine and told me to check the dial as he moved it. Had to look in the manual to see what it was for!! Some people have simply taped over the feed dogs, or there should be a device available specifically for this problem, as many people don't have retractable feed dogs either. BTW, if you go to the Home page at the top, click on Main threads, and click on post new thread( or words to that effect). Be sure to put a clear title in it so people will know what it is about.

Candace

You don't have to lower your feed dogs to do free motion quilting. Some people prefer to FMQ with the feed dogs engaged. Lower the pressure on your foot and quilt away. I'm not familiar with a Singer Sew Mate, but I'm very surprised that it doesn't lower it's feed dogs. I would recommend checking your manual.

barri1

I use my singer 66 on almost everything..

pinkCastleDH

Joe - As long as I'm still doing the 8:00 to 5:00 thing I doubt I'm going to be doing enough sewing to make Her jealous. Shoot, as long as we have sick cats (more than four years solid now) She isn't getting all that much sewing time! If/when we're down to all healthy cats that can get by on two meals a day I think She is going to suddenly discover what it means to spend some uninterrupted time on something you enjoy.