i have a red eye.. just got the pretty little thing... i was wondering if you are able to lock in your stitches? i tried to turn my fabric to go back a couple stitches and it got all tangled in the bobbin...
any suggestions?
there is no reverse on this model..

Do you have a way of changing the stitch length?

It might be helpful to post a photo. I think red eye refers to the decals, not necessarily the model of the machine.

yes .. sorry about saying red eye.. i believe its a 99.. but i don't like to play with the stitch length.. she seems to be very touchy in that area..

Its a model 66 Singer, has no reverse. The 99 is a smaller version of the 66. Both machines thread the same way and use the same type of bobbin.
Just make your stitches a little smaller for about a 1/4". For patchwork you don't need to back stitch.
You have a beautiful machine.

ty vm purplefiend... yes sorry i get mixed up with 99 and 66. i will try that.. but again, once i start turning the dial for the stitches.. it's not the same when i put it back.. i will have to work on that one i guess.

I'm no expert but since your DH just cleaned it up and oiled it may need to be "run out". This helps get all the oil distributed. I seem to have the most problem getting stitch length mechanism to work smoothly. So run it full speed with no thread or bobbin in it for about 10 minutes is what I have read. You may try changing your stitch length during that time.

ok tyvm.. that's why i love you guys !! full of suggestions to try...

Colleen,
if you are having problems with your Singer 66 you may want to ask Billy. He is the "go to guy" for that Model of machine.
Lostin51 is his name on here.
He is helping me with my newly aquired 66 red eye treadle.
Look him up and you can PM him and he will answer when he can.
I hope this helps,
Faith:-D

tyvm faith! :thumbup:

quilt attic,
Gee does that apply to me with the treadle machine too? Man running that treadle for ten minutes I'm gonna get my workout huh?
Sorry, just seemed funny to me with a treadle.
Do I have any takers for a workout?

You are quite welcome Colleen. We girls gotta stick together and take care of each other...

I know, I am woried about that when I get mine hooked up. Won't the DH do that for you? I'm sure you don't have to do it all at once.

LOL LMBO!!!!
OK quilt attic needs a treadler too!!!!! Treadler? Is that proper english?
LOLOL!!!!

pm lostn51, he's our resident vintage machine expert.

Yes do so, I just got a PM from him and he said that my cabinet wasn't original to my machine :-(. I guess the Pitman rod on mine was Iron like the base not wood like this one has. Hubby is going to have to make me one.. Yep it's a family affair! rofl
Hmmmm, OK who's messing with the machines and cabinets!!!!
LOLOL!!!

What positively gorgeous machines!! They are truly works of art. I could look at them all day :)

Could just lift the needle, lift the pressor foot, and move the fabric forward a tiny bit such that the needle steps back one stitch length, lower the pressor foot and the needle again, and then continue sewing forward.
This would be quick to do and accomplish the lock stitch you need.

I do this on an older machine that I like to sew with, and which has a reverse lever alright, but which lever is clumsy to operate. I call it "back step stitching" and it works fine.
.

again,, such great information !!
i will be willing to lend myself out to be a TREADELOR !!
i am looking for a exercise program.. what better way !! got any good books while i haul booty on your machines for 10 minutes !!!

oooooooooooooh !! i want your SINGER decal.. its purdy !!!

OMG too funny!
I bet we can get some subscriptions for quilt mags to read!!!!

That is how to do it with a machine that has no reverse. Very good answer!!!

The Singer books say with the needle in the down position you turn the material around 180* and then sew back a few stitches and repeat the 180* turn and sew away.

Billy

I have an old industrial that I love, and it also has no reverse. What I do is to adjust the stitch length to tiny, when I reach the end of a seam. I was talking to a career sewing machine repairman, and he told me that in the industry, the sewers would use the knee lift lever to remove the pressure off the cloth, and then they would pull it towards them, then lower the knee lever and go forward again over those last stitches. So the seamstresses would rather manually do a reverse stitch.

I think this would take some practice to learn to do it. But once learned, it would be a really quick process.