What can I rig up for a thread spool holder on this machine?
 

I'm at my son's house and going stir crazy... not much for me to do here, since he's sick in bed and only wakes up a couple of times a day for meds.

My DIL brought her older Singer 1802 Merritt in from storage so I could do some piecing, but I'm not too sure that it works.. The thread holder is missing and there is one old metal bobbin for it. No telling how old the needle is.. and there is no manual.

As a purely temporary measure, how do I make a thread holder for it? I just want to check the machine out and see if it works at all before putting any time or money into it, plus it's in a cabinet so it would be hard for me to take it in for repair..

Any suggestions out there for me?

Is there a hole you can stick something into like a kebob skewer or ink pen refill. Something skinny. You also might be able to fashion a holder out of yarn or ribbon to hang from a lamp or a bent coat hanger. Maybe you could use the wire coathanger to put in the hole. Just thoughts.

There is a hole for the holder, but it doesn't have a bottom.. anything that I stick in there will fall right on through. I am going to try the coffee cup idea you suggested, but have already run into another problem.. The polyester thread that I have is too big to go through the needle! I'm sure it will need a new needle, but think I'll try to borrow a spool of thread from a neighbor before I go out shopping..
Thanks so much for your suggestions... and YES... I am DESPERATE for something to do besides watch t.v.

Here's a threading diagram for that machine http://www.sewusa.com/Threading_Diag..._threading.htm

Where are you? Maybe someone could bring you some sewing supplies. I am in Upstate New York south of Rochester. If you were anywhere close I would help you!

Colleen

Can you put the spool in a jar behind the machine to the right and let it feed out of there? I have seen this idea when people wanted to use a twin needle and didn't have a second spindle.

I hate to hear you are having problems with the thread holder, the cup will work great. I hope your Son is ok, sounds like you are a very dedicated Mom. I think LOVE is the word. Good luck and if I lived close I wouold come over and give you a hand. Hope it all works out. :)

I feel your frustration on this! Hope you can get it going. Nothing like sew therapy to cheer you up! When DH was in hospital after a heart attack, far from home, I went to local JoAnn's and bought a few squares of felt, little pair of scissors, embroidery cotton and needles. Worked on a small penny rug project that kept me sane through long hours of sitting around.

I cut up a bamboo skewer bought to make kabobs for my GD's machine. Works just fine and matches the plastic housing. Oil the machine and put in a new needle. You may be surprised.

Many years ago, when our older daughters were 3 & 5, my husband's job sent him to Ohio for six months. We had about 3 days to pack our station wagon. Guess what got left behind. We were in Huron so I went to a sewing machine store in Sandusky and rented a Singer with all the bells and whistles available at that time. I have kicked myself so many time that I didn't go ahead and buy that machine. Anyway, my suggestion to you is to do a little calling around and see what you can rent in that area.

If there is a quilt guild nearby contact them and ask to borrow a machine. Many of our quilters have several machines (I have a dozen) and would happily loan you a good one all ready to sew.

Maybe a small dowel ~ one that is a smidge larger than the hole and wittle it down to just be a tight fit. Or call a local sewing machine repair shop and ask if they might haspare spool holder t hat would fit the machine. GOOD LUCK

You could also try the local buy and sell, maybe you can find a machine for what you'd rent one for. It's a new market to you, if it's far enough from home. Then take it home with you when your son's better, or leave it there. Either way, maybe pick up some oil. It's not a high tension part, if you find something that will fit the hole, maybe just put a small piece of duct tape under the hole so it doesn't fall through.

If the hole is large enough, you might try a soda straw.

I was away from home, and in the same pradicament. Checked everywhere that sold anything remotely close to sewing machines, but came up with nothing. So I went and bought a wooden dowel slightly larger than the hole and widdled, just the end going into the hole, down to fit. Be very careful of anything you put in there as I did that very thing. Worked great for a minute until I started hearing a funny noise, and found that the object I used for a spool was not a good fit, it had fallen down into the hole, and then it took me for ever to get it out of my machine. I thought I had ruined my machine, but I was lucky. The dowel idea worked great. Hope this works for you.

Try a toothpick or match stick for a temp. fix. Good luck!

Use a cone thread stand. That is what I use with most of my machines.