This was the second video made using my mum's old machine.
When I was young and learning needlework at school all my sewing projects were done on this machine - starting with a blue and grey gingham apron for cookery lessons when I was 12, then a couple of dresses with zip up fronts and mandarin collars, a viyella blouse with French seams, a needlecord skirt with box pleats and seams finished with bias binding. I learnt early on that you can make just about anything with a straight stitch machine.
Our machine at home was much more beautiful than the machines at school, a collection of battered brown Singer 99Ks, some of them hand machines and some electric. There was also another machine, I can't remember the make or model, for the keen adventurous types who ventured into the high-tech world of zigzag. Not for me. Too noisy. Too fast. Too dangerous. Five frightening minutes on a brown Singer with a foot pedal was enough. From then on I always bagsied a hand machine as soon as I got into the needlework room, and little has changed since.
Hello Muv,
ReplyDeleteJust a question about winding bobbins on a machine with a winder high up. What I'm finding although I run the thread through the guides as you say etc. that one end of the bobbin gets more thread than the other. So I end up with a bobbin that looks a bit like a parsnip and is thick at one end. This means that the bobbins can't be filled completely as I've to stop before the thread starts flying off the end and tangles.
Any suggestions would be really appreciated!
Cheers,
Micheál
Hello Micheal,
ReplyDeleteOh no, parsnips and you can't even butter them. Sounds jolly annoying.
Were there any filled bobbins in the machine compartment from the last time it was used ? Are they like parsnips? Without seeing the machine in action it's difficult to know what to suggest beyond a fag or two and a cup of tea or something stronger.
Singer bobbin winders weren't a patch on what the Germans came up with. Total genius.
Must dash. Spuds are ready.
Muv
Hi Muv
ReplyDeleteJust read your comments above - I did all my early sewing on my mothers Singer 28 - when I was 14 I made all my own ballet costumes for a show. At school I was the most experienced of the children, and I am just remembering that if the queue to the teacher got too long I had a queue at my seat!
I had the same problem with the electric machines, but I solved it a different way. I used to put the foot pedal on the desk under my right hand - I had more control and could use the electric machines as though it was a hand crank.
Happy days
Anneg
Hello Anneg,
DeleteIt wouldn't have entered my head to put the foot pedal on the table. Knowing the teacher we had she would have done her nut anyway.
Love,
Muv
Hi Muv
ReplyDeleteJust sent the link to threading the machine to my step-daughter - so she can show it to my grand-daughter who is 8 and very into crafts and sewing. I (We) are planning to make an enveloppe cushion cover for her bedroom when they visit at Easter - and she is very excited - will need to make a sample to show her what we are aiming at to keep her interest.
Have told her mum to get some gingham so we can at least try to stitch straight seams! :0) - not that it matters!
Anneg
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ReplyDeleteHi. I have recently acquired a 28k and it has been love at first sight. It has been behaving like a dream but I have just started having problems with it disengaging at will. Can you suggest anything I could try to sort this out. Unfortunately I don't have a manual and I have learnt everything I know from your YouTubes for which I am very grateful!
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous,
DeleteSo glad to hear you have been enjoying using your 28K... until now.
When a machine misbehaves itself by disengaging the needle mechanism when you are sewing the problem is likely to be with the stop motion screw. Either it needs a good clean, or the tiny screw is loose. I will do a blog post about stop motion screws in the coming week so you can see some photos. It should be quite easy to fix.
Love,
Muv
Hello MUV,
DeleteI inherited an old Singer machandmachine from 1895. It workes somewhat but I noticed that some parts are malfunctioning ( the stop motion screw sticks, I cannot move it so that it disengages) so I decided with the help of your video to clean and oil it. As far as I can see there is residue that looks like resin underneath the front plate and below. How do I best loosen sticking parts without damaging? Do you have a recommendation?
Hello Miriam,
DeleteUse paraffin - just make sure it doesn't come in direct contact with the japanning because it can damage it.
Have a look at these two posts:-
https://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/using-paraffin-to-unstick-stubborn-parts.html
https://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/a-problem-attaching-seam-guide.html
Love, Muv
Hi Muv,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your guides and video's they've been very helpful!
I just bought a Singer 28k with a long bobbin. I threaded it but when I pull the thread after it gets into the slot it gets stuck. I checked to see if it works with other bobbins but I keep getting the same problem. The thread turns anti-cloclwise and turns great before it gets into the slot. I tried adjusting the tension but it didn't help.
Any idea what the problem might be?
Thanks!
Karen
Hello Karen, This is a really difficult question to answer without actually seeing the bobbins and shuttle. The problem could be with either. Are you saying that when you have the bobbin in the shuttle that the thread doesn't run free?
Delete