Tip: Remembering which threading direction on old Singers
 

There was some discussion on another thread about which models thread left to right and vice versa.....I seem to always have to go back to the manual because I can't ever remember which machine is which! Many of you are probably already aware of this but I wasn't....until reading this in the Singer Student manual! Eureka, what a great way to know! Hope this helps some of you.

Hmmmm, I guess I need to get me one of those "student manuals".

Joe

Thanks for pointing that out. I often have trouble remembering which machine threads which direction and always try to pay attention when I take out a needle for replacement which way it was facing. That diagram would work for the black Singers, but others (like the Slant-O-Matics, I believe) thread front to back...but you can probably see the needlebar slot on them, too.


I think this might be it: http://blog.sew-classic.com/2009/09/...-free-pdf.aspx

Haha, thanks Napa John! I had just offered to copy it for someone and now Jenny at Sew Classic has saved me the trouble! I forgot that was there. Yes, this manual is dated 1957 and of course the 400's and 500's, etc. we're not out yet. I just looked at one of my 401's and don't even see that same slot anywhere that is visible. I don't remember....are these self seating?

Napa John,

Thanks for the link.

cogito,
The needles on the 400s and 500s fit flat to the back and thread front to rear. Those I know by heart, I got three of them.

Joe

Good to know!!!!!!

:thumbup:Thank you so much for this. It does help...greatly! I printed it out and will be adding notes for "other" machines that are different and not included in the list. I love that it tells us exactly which models too. Makes it very easy. I think I will laminate it and have it hanging where I can see it instead of putting it into my helpful hints binder..hehe

yep, I agree...i also have 3. But I was trying to remember if they self seat (maybe not correct term?, I have dementia)? Too lazy to go check. Lol!

Great idea!! I think I will do the same!

Some of the newer Singer's have arrows on the throat plate...

Thanks for the post - its easy to get confused!

If you always remember that we thread toward the flat (ie, if the flat is to the left - we thread right to left), you know which way the needle will go in every time.

For which way to thread - you can look at the last thread guide, and that will tell you. For instance, in the picture that Cogito posted, you can see that the in the first illustration, last guide is pulling the thread to the left, so we thread left to right. In the second illustration, the thread is pulled to the right on the last guide, and we thread right to left.

Archaic Arcane, I knew that too, but for me that is a lot less precise.....sometimes placement makes me question myself. This way is unequivocal.

Cogito, I don't know if I've had a machine yet that has not worked using the way I described. What makes it less precise? The slot method could be a problem because as others have mentioned, it doesn't exist anymore on some of the newer vintage machines don't have the slot.

The page in the manual is very specific on what models it works for. I never said it was all inclusive. Your method may work for you, I said it is less precise for me because of placement of the last guide sometimes I second guess myself. To each his own. :) I happen to like the method I posted. Lol.

Of course! :) I was just curious as to why it didn't work for you.

I am left handed and I have always blamed my slow brained confusion on that. ;)

and us old farts who have round shaft needles? humm? humm? lol joking

LOL! Well, I guess I'm an old fart too. I have 3 machines here right now that have round shank needles, including my quilting frame. ;) How about scarf opposite the last guide?

When I did the workshop last week, I taught them the way I remember it and not one person asked about the round needles. ;) Originally, I used to think of it as the scarf toward the hook tip, but then I discovered that many of the people I talk to don't know what the hook is or a scarf for that matter, so I started looking for an easier way to describe it.

I could be wrong here, but it would seem to me that knowing where and what the hook is would be critical for a person trying to learn beyond "my manual says to do X" am I missing something?

Perhaps I worded it wrong:
Many people I have met, prior to giving this class, haven't known what the hook is.
I gave the class, and a couple of people didn't know, so we backed up a little and explained what it was, then continued on to how a machine makes a stitch.
All the ladies and men in the class left knowing how to determine which way the needle goes and which way to thread. :)

Lots of people I meet don't know that there's tension adjustment on a bobbincase either. Anyone who buys a machine from me leaves with a pretty solid foundation in tension theory. I don't like comebacks. ;)

Nice! Sounds like a good syllabus.

Thanks! It seemed to work out quite well. I had a blast too! :)