Help on 1957 singer
 

I inherited this machine from my mother in law and though she's a great machine I'm back,g problems and maybe you can help. I was given three box's of upholstery samples and want to make some pillows and bags with them. I'm using a 16 -18 needles, upholstery thread and a 40wt in bobbin. It starts to sew fine, but then it misses the stich or it gets tangled. Any suggestions, or is this machine not able to handle large bulk.

If you just sew a standard cotton fabric are you having the same problem? I can't imagine that it can't handle the fabric. What is your stitch length you are trying to use.
So folks know the model that you have give us the serial number. Or do you know which model you have.

I have a 1956 Singer 99K, it has no problem sewing the fabrics you mentioned. Perhaps it’s not threaded quite right?
I downloaded the user manual from the internet and found in the beginning I was threading one step backwards- it wasn’t sewing correctly. Also make sure the bobbin is in correctly. I’ve never used upholstery thread- I would try regular cotton or polyester thread & see if that makes a difference. I use Aurifil thread without problems

Are you holding on to your thread tails for the first few stitches? This used to be taught back in the day but isn't needed on many modern machines.

Cari

Its an AL235182. My phone won't let me upload the pics. I had watched a you tube where she said to use a 16-18 needle, upholstry thread, which is nylon, and a poly in bobbin. It starts stitching fine, then it starts to skip, like its not catching the bobbin thread. Yes I've so downloaded its manual and really never had a problem sewing with it until now. It seems it sees well using the threads mentioned, but not when it gets thick. I'll try to use the same top thread as bobbin tomorrow. I also cleaned and oiled everything real good, maybe the thickness isn't allowing the needle to catch the bobbin when its too thick

It's a 15 of some sort.

Sorry, I'm no help past that.

bkay

Is it extremely heavy upholstery fabric? I've sewn on a lot of upholstery fabric and never used larger than a 90/14 needle and regular weight thread. Maybe the difference between the weights of the top and bobbin threads are giving you problems. I'm not sure what upholstery thread is or why you'd need it or why you would want poly in the bobbin with it just for sewing upholstery fabric.

Double check your threading path, make sure the thread is coming off the bobbin in the correct direction, clean around the bobbin case and feed dogs, and check that the flat side of the needle is to the correct side. I find when my Singers "complain," that I have missed a seemingly small but critical step.

Have you checked that your needle is in the right way? I ask because I fixed my DH hunting jacket the other day and when I changed the needle for my smaller needles I put the needle in with the flat side facing to the right. This machine needs to have the flat side facing to the left. It was doing exactly what you say yours is doing. Just a suggestion. I sew and quilt all the time, but have a few different antique Singers and some of them are quite different to thread and needles go in different ways.

Try a different style bobbin

Have you checked for lint in the bobbin area?

The 99 class machine uses a 66 bobbin. I find those machines don't like real thick thread. I usually use a machine with
15 class bobbins for thick thread and large 18 needles. If you don't use the same thread on top and in the bobbin
you will have problems on most machines.

You need the book for the machine and must follow it exactly. The flat side of the needle goes to the right and you
thread left to right. Not like a previous post. The bobbin must also go in a certain way. Hence the need for the book.

You shouldn't need larger than a 14 needle for your project. New upholstery thread should work fine. But you will have to change your tension settings to get the upholstery thread to stitch right. It is much slicker thread than say quilting
thread.

Thanks quilterman, I'll go thru the manual and see if it has this topic. I felt,it should have been able to sew this cause my mnl made many things with thick fabric. You also brought up the threading. I think I've been threading it wrong, but never saw a problem till now. Will let you know
Again thanks

Sorry just responding, but I pulled the manual out this morning, checked needle placement, which was right, flat side on left. However my book shows it being threaded right to left. Giving it another try this morning.

Yes that's right. If the needles goes in with the flat to the left then it threads right to left. You always thread the needle towards the flat side.

Cari

Yup, that was the problem, needle in wrong.now she's sewing like a dream thru the thick fabric.