Quilting On a Vintage Singer Machine
 

I have been trying to quilt on my treadle singer as well as my 201, 15-91, 301, etc. I am using a walking on all but the treadle but I still get little puckers ever now and then. I am wondering where the pressure bar should be set. Should it be cranked all the way down or should it be cranked up quite a ways.

I mostly piece on my vintage ones...so will await the answer too!

The walking foot for your 301 is not helping much. There are no walking feet made that fit the 301's feed dogs. Look at the walking foot and compare it to your feed dogs and you will see they don't match up. Many people quilt with it by simply reducing the pressure. Similarly, if you don't have a straight stitch walking foot for your 201 and 15, the walking foot teeth are not meeting up with the feed dogs and aren't helping much. The correct tools for the job help immensely. Sew Classic carries the straight stitch walking foot for the 15 and 201. http://shop.SEW-CLASSIC.COM/Low-Shan...tch-P60400.htm

i was told stitch length to zerio. top of machine over pressure foot is a screw. turn counterclock to lessen the presser foot.

I ordered my walking feet for those machines from sew-classic so I am pretty sure that the foot is matching up with the feed dogs. I am just wondering where the pressure bar needs to be set. Do you screw it all the way down or half way or is it nearly close to the top

Sew Classic carries a variety of different walking feet for many different types of machines. So you may want to double check which one you have.

You'll have to gauge the pressure as every machine is different. I typically find that midway is fine, but I usually need to lower the top tension a smidge and lengthen the stitch length depending on the batting and fabrics used. Really, every situation is different depending on the machine and quilt sandwich you're using. Do a sample first.

I have all three of those machines and I do quilt on all of them with the walking foot. I do have a walking foot that works well on the 301, also. I fmq on the 15-91 and the 301 but not the 201 since it is such a problem to put it back together again if you have to take the bobbin assembly ring off to clean out a thread mess (or lint). Since I do not have any issues (and I do not mean to sound superior or in any way critical) I suggest that the answer may be found in your technique. I have taken classes and will be glad to share information with you.

First, how are you preparing your quilt? Is it taut, and held together with either hand basting or pin basting, and how close are the pins? I have a pin every 3 inches at most. Do you check for loose backing or loose top area before you start? If everything is taut, what is your technique for feeding fabric?

When I fmq, I use my hands to form a triangle around the needle. That is, my thumbs touch or almost touch, and my index fingers touch or almost touch. I am wearing gloves. My feed dogs are down and my stitch length is zero.

If I line quilt (with a walking foot), I usually only need to support the fabric so the machine takes it and it feeds evenly. On a big quilt, that means I might put the quilt over my left shoulder. It is also vital to have the machine bed at the same level with the surrounding surface, IMHO. You don't want the quilt dropping a couple inches as that pulls too much on the needle. However, if I have problems, I put on the gloves and guide the fabric through, letting the machine take it. My hands are then on each side of the presser foot, and ahead of it, toward my body. My stitch length would be about 8 stitches to the inch. Feed dogs are up.

For both fmq and straight-line qulting, the presser foot pressure is normally set about half way.

Oh! I do also have a Singer 127 treadle, and the same thing as above applies.

Is this enough information?

cricket_iscute,

Please elaborate on the gloves you mentioned.

Also how does your 127 feed fabric? Mine doesn't seen to have enough grab to the feed dogs to pull the fabric through. I was trying to piece my denim quilt and it just didn't want to cooperate. If it hit a hump, it came to a screeching stop till I helped it feed or raised the foot and then helped. Too much of a pain.



Joe

Joe, the best gloves I've tried are called Machingers. Here is a link:

http://www.dakotacabinquilts.com/cgi...machingersM_LG

There are other gloves that have nubby bumps on them. I always use gloves to machine quilt, and most of the machine quilters I know also do that.

It sounds to me like your feed dogs are dull, dirty, or used up and need to be switched out. It's a fairly simple thing to do. However, many machines have trouble with bumps. In that case, you need a hump jumper. Here's a link:

http://www.homesew.com/n8.html

So for less than $20, you can end your problems!

Now let me ask you a question: My 127 was dead for 40 years when I brought it back from the dead. I still have trouble making a good stitch, tension wise. The stitch is loose. I'd rather get a new head than change the tensioneer, but maybe... Do you have any suggestions?

I free motion quilt on some 301s. If I do straight line quilting, I use a vintage Singer walking foot that I got on ebay for about $20. I screw the feed dogs down. I FMQ with an all metal foot that I got from sewingmachine221sale.com for $20.00 with the feed dogs screwed out of the way. I get perfect results. I used to have a FMQ foot with a plastic bottom that gave me troubles, the metal open C ring is much better. You don't have to worry about the presser bar with the FMQ foot because you are moving the fabric and the foot is just hopping.

Thanks for the links, and the info.

I found out what the problem was with my 127. It was the original one piece stamped presser foot. It has short stubby toes and when it hit any raised area the toes would just but up against it and the machine would stop feeding.
I put in a later vintage hinged foot with longer more curved toes and it worked nicely. So that problem is fixed.

As for your tensioner, remove it from the machine, take it completely apart and clean it thoroughly. Make sure the disks are smooth and free of rust or any build up. Polish them if needed.
Reassemble it and adjust it and I'll wager it sews better.

Do the same for the shuttle. Remove that dinky little screw, pull off the spring and clean it inside and out. Reassemble and adjust and it will make a big difference.


Joe

That's only for Free motion quilting. When you use a walking foot, you need to lengthen your stitch to about 8-10 stitches per inch.

Wow, Candace, you're GOOD! Thank you for this information.

Hey Candace,

Jenny (Sew-Classic) is advertising a walking foot specifically for the 301:
http://shop.sew-classic.com/Singer-S...A-SCF301WF.htm

It's labelled as an actual Singer part #. Her part number isn't a Singer part number though, and I think that's because it's "modified" per her description. If you look at both the one she lists for a 301, and the one she lists for "all other slants", you can see that what she's done is modify the original at the bar that goes above the needle clamp. Between the 2 listings, it's probably possible to figure out what to do to make it work properly. I have a Singer Slant walking foot here, I might see what I can figure out to make one work, just for the heck of it.

The walking foot that you linked to for the 15 and the 201 is "just" an Alphasew made walking foot. Any dealer can likely get it with that part number (P60400) and $20 is more than fair for it.

Yes, and it still doesn't align with the feed dogs of the machine. Just because it "fits" doesn't mean it does the job. Like I stated before there ARE NO WALKING FEET currently available for 301's that mesh with the feed dogs. If you read Jenny's comments on the foot you'd see "This foot is not a straight stitch only foot, so on machines such as the 404 and 301, the foot is slightly wider than the feed dogs. Currently, no straight stitch only slant shank walking foot is manufactured."

I don't understand what you mean by the link to the straight stitch walking foot "just being an Alpasew". Of course any dealer can get it. None of these attachments are a rarity.

Wow. I didn't misunderstand you. And I did in fact read that before posting. I thought maybe you hadn't seen that one, maybe it was a new addition to her site. I'm surprised that she'd be selling something that fits but doesn't work. It seems out of character, but I guess if you're sure enough about it to yell, I'll have to believe it. I'll stop trying to help.

Here is a bit more gasoline for the fire.

My wife has had a generic low shank ZZ walking foot in her Bernina case for years. It came with a metal Bernina to LS adapter. Last year I took it out and put it on several of our LS ZZ and straight stitch machines and it worked. The walking foot feet does not match the feed dogs of the straight stitch machines, that is true, but it does work. I've used it. I posted pictures of that ZZ walking foot mounted to my Singer 66 Treadle #2 quilting it's cover.

OK, late last year I bought one of Sew-Classics straight stitch walking feet. I tried it on many of our machines and it would not work. I don't know why. It looked good, fit, functioned, but would not work. In each case I put the generic LS ZZ foot back on and it did work.
I got a credit for the WF from S-C and have continued to use the LS ZZ foot.

It's my experience that just because the feet don't match doesn't mean it won't work. I think there is more to it.

I'm hoping that somewhere there is a Singer made LS SS WF and when I find one I'll buy it. Until then I'll stick with the generic LS ZZ WF.

Just my experiences.

Joe

I didn't say it didn't work. Or what I mean is it doesn't work like a walking foot is engineered to. And it doesn't work as it should or help feed layers through together like a true fitting walking foot does. Simple as that. Does it help feed top layers? Probably somewhat, but if the feed dogs don't mesh, the layers aren't being fed together as one unit and shifting can occur. No big deal to have an extra gadget. I have lots of extra gadgets that don't do much for me. Lots of folks have the same results on a 301 as just lowering the foot pressure. If you understand the engineering and goal of what a true fitting WF does, you'll understand what I mean...The top feed dogs are supposed to grab the material in conjunction with the bottom feed dogs. If they don't meet with the bottom the grabbing or feeding is much less effective. Different strokes for different folks.

I'm not yelling and if you read my statement it's not doing what a WF is engineered to do. I didn't say "It doesn't work". There are many WF available for different width zigzag machines. 4mm up to 9mm. It is important to get the one that fits your zig zag capable machine's feed dog width. And there are no straight stitch WF made for the slant shank that fit the 301 feed dogs. Yes, they can be adapted to fit on the needle bar, but if you look you'll see the feed dogs don't align properly. FWIW.

Here's a link to a page Jenny made to show how the feed dogs are supposed to align with the WF and what it looks when they don't. http://blog.sew-classic.com/2009/11/...king-foot.aspx

Excellent information Candace. It would make a difference if the feed dogs weren't lined up. Thank you for posting the url to the photos. Seeing the photos, it makes sense why misaligned feed dogs would do a poor job. About your 'yelling'... I have to laugh because I have the same habit... when I want to emphasize something I type in caps... and I forget that some people view that as yelling, when all I meant to do was emphasize a phrase.

Anyway, thank you for the information, it made sense to me!

Well, if these WFs don't work right when the feed dogs do not align, then please explain to me why the one I have works.
It appears that when I state an experience contrary to the accepted norm I'm either ignored or accused of trying to argue. Neither is the case in this situation.

I currently have a Singer Slant Shank ZZ Even Feed WF, a Singer Low Shank ZZ Even Feed WF, and the generic Low Shank ZZ WF. The generic one works as good on the straight stitch machines as the Singer units work on their respective machines.
That is MY experiences with them. Not an argument, a fact.

As far as typing in all caps to emphasize being offensive and considered yelling ... to bad. I wouldn't have to go to the trouble of emphasizing things if people would read and comprehend what I wrote.
Their problem, not mine.


Joe

No problem, Christine. I really hope that someone SOMEWHERE (for emphasis not yelling:>) makes a true fitting walking foot for the 301. I don't know why Alphasew hasn't produced one to properly fit the 301. I guess it boils down to how many they think they'd sell.

Joe, like I said, yours may "work" but it's not doing what could do if it fit as it should. Is it good enough for you to do a project on? Well, it looks like it, but you've also not quilted for very long or finished many quilts. You may find your queen and king size quilts are going to be tougher to deal with and you may experience some tucks etc.

Sewing machines have a gazillion feet for a gazillion reasons. WF are not cheap so I just hope people research which machine they have and which foot is the best pick. I own probably 7 different walking feet for all of my different machines for a reason.

Candace,

We are on the same page now ... I think. I understood and comprehended what you posted. To be honest I've only quilted one quilt, my wife did the others. I'm near the point of doing my very big denim quilt and I will be using the 201 or a 66 to do it with. They have the biggest arches of those machines I have.

Since I made designs in the squares I'll be quilting it by the SITD method. Considering it's denim and not overly flexible I don't even know if I need a WF, but I'd like to have one (that works) for my SS Singers.

I tried that one from Sew-Classic and it just wouldn't work. Somewhere there is a thread here about my traviails with it. So I did ask for advise and tried what was given. It wouldn't work even as good as the generic ZZ one did.

So, other than the Alpha-Sew WF that everyone sells, Is there a good SS walking foot out there that will work with the Low Shank Singers?

Joe

Sorry, as a computer professional, I've been a lot of years on the net, and this is how I took it. I tend to react badly when I see caps then what looks to me like an insinuation that I didn't read or understand the topic.

I know now that you aren't yelling when I see caps in your posts.

Must be the Canadian translation, because what I learned is:
not doing the job = not doing what it's engineered to do = doesn't work.

I took it to mean that you were telling us that it didn't work.

Here's the thing though, and it's likely why Joe's feet "work" = Walking feet are not engineered to feed the fabric. They reduce friction from the presser foot.

Per the link on Jenny's site that you posted to how a walking foot works:
Joe and Joyce's WF may just be doing the job. Quilting isn't the only thing we use these for, and Joyce has been sewing for at least a couple of years from what I understand. Between the two of them, they may have come across problems in the past and identified and adjusted for them.

All that a WF has to do is lower friction. I take that to mean that it doesn't matter how big the "hand" it uses for the job is. That's why if you turn your walking foot upside down and play with the feet, they don't "feed" they "slide".

ETA: If the top dogs were to the left or the right of the dogs below, I can see where a problem might occur. If they're bigger, but over top of the lower dogs, I would think it should be OK.

Agreed, there is no foot that is strictly a SS foot, currently manufactured specifically for the 301, However there are ZZ WF being modified to work with it:
from: http://shop.sew-classic.com/Singer-S...A-SCF301WF.htm
"Genuine Singer brand Slant Shank Even feed / Walking Foot Fits the Singer 301/301A without binding. It has been specially modified and each and every foot is individually tested for proper function on a Singer 301 / 301A. "

This sure reads to me like it's being sold as a working foot, not just one that "fits" on the machine and looks pretty, so I asked the source. I emailed Jenny for clarification as to what proper function is as it pertains to this particular WF. All I edited out,( it was in 2 emails) is the stuff that she quoted from the page that was posted about walking feet.:

I think it's safe to say that the modified ZZ foot that Jenny's selling for use on the 301 is indeed safe to purchase and will work on a 301. If it doesn't, I for one would like to hear about it, and it's no risk because she offers a satisfaction guarantee.

Possible you just got a "dud". AlphaSew's products can be a little hit or miss. A mechanical foot like that has a lot more places to fail than a solid foot. You may benefit from ordering another foot from Jenny with your next order... the one I have here that I ordered from her last year works.

They did,.. it's a heck of a lot of money though. It's the Penguin hoping foot people talk about. There may be others too, but that's the one that sticks in my mind.

http://www.april1930s.com/html/walking_foot_160741.html

Me too. I believe your WF probably does work, for the reasons discussed above.

Then use it. :) If it works for you, that's what's important.

Tammi,

I'm quietly looking for a penguin WF. But from the prices I've seen it would be a fluke if I get one.

Thanks for all the work you did in the post above. I do believe I will continue to use that WF we have.
I haven't ordered another SS WF from Sew Classic yet cos I'm waiting till she rotates her stock. Just a goofy trait of mine.

Joe

I am too. I have heard of one lady on this board who lucked into one (and knew what it was and snapped it up) though. I don't think I can ask for 2 flukes like that in my lifetime. The 222 was fluke enough. Still, sometimes I luck onto boxes of attachments, you never know.

My pleasure, Joe.

Waiting for stock rotation is a good idea. It may have been a one off dud, or it may have been a bad batch.

I lucked into a Penguin foot and sold it. I don't believe it's worth the $ and quilt on so many machines that it's not worth it to me. So I sold it.

Tammi, good luck using your 301 WF. My experience with over 25 years of quilting and sewing machines have taught me some tricks and if I can pass them on to others, that's what I do. Of course what Jenny sells is safe. It won't harm the machine. It's just not worth the money, IMO. Since it doesn't do what WF should, many people just use a regular foot and don't need it. When people post their photos of pleats and tucks in their tops or backings and question why they're having the issue, the first question I ask is are you using a proper WF, because usually this is not the case. And like I said the correct tool will give a much better end product.

Joe, the Alpha Sew SS WF foot is a good foot. Though if it's coming from China, you know how the quality control is lately.

Yes I do. That's why I was waiting for a while for her to rotate her stock. Eventually I'll get another one.

Joe