sewing machine advice

[maggienetball]

I got the sewing machine out of the loft yesterday full og good intentions. Although I remembered how to set it up, load a spool etc etc, when I'm using it the underneath stitching is all tangled. I haven't got an instruction manual but I wondered if anyone online can jolt my memory to which bit I need to alter or what I'm doing wrong.

[Graye]

This is a tension problem but all sorts of things can cause it. As a first suggestion try changing the needle and having a good look inside the spool mechanism for bits of fluff, cotton, etc - quite likely if it's been put away for a while. Then make sure the presser foot isn't down when you thread the needle. In the meantime and in case that doesn't do the trick I'll try to remember which way to adjust your tension knobs...

What make of machine is it?

[maggienetball]

It's a singer. I've just been on U Tube on the how to thread a sewing machine video and I think I may have threaded it wrong. So I'll change the threading and see if that helps first.

[maggienetball]

Yeah it was just my threading. Got it sorted now but thanks for trying to help

[Green Aura]

Sounds like you've either threaded it wrong which affects the top tension, or your top tension is too loose. After re-threading, if you've still got snags underneath, tighten your top tension a little at a time until it's right.

[Graye]

Oh that's good, well done!

It might be worth having a check for fluff etc while you at it, they run much more smoothly if you use a torch and magnifying glass and have a gentle poke in the bobbin mechanism with a toothpick now and again. It's one of the first things the sewing machine mechanic will do if you call them out. I got loads from mine last time I did it and it seems much less stroppy now!

[Ellendra]

Glad it was just the threading! I had ne that as doing that too, but after rchecking the threading a hundred times, adjusting the tension, etc, I came across reviews that said it was a problem for that brand and suggested I should throw it out! I went back to my old (80 years!) sewing machine, and use the new one to wind bobbins with :p

[LBR]

Ellendra, I've heard that from several people about their machines.

[the.fee.fairy]

I'm an antique machine lover!
I did most of my sewing on a 1957 singer Starlet....then, on Freecycle, someone was giving away a 1953 Singer...so i claimed it and i love it dearly...then...a month or so ago, someone was offering a 1954 Singer (but they thought it was a lot older, because its not been converted solely to electric and still works by treadle too)...and i love that one too.

Does anyone know how t service a sewing machine (more specifically, a 1954 treadle/electric Singer)? I took the electric 1953 singer to be serviced and it was £75!!!! I can't afford to take the other one...that and its in a big cabinet and is really really heavy. I know that it needs a new electric lead - it still has the original rubber flex, and it probably needs a new treadle belt too.

[fruitcake]

Does anyone know how t service a sewing machine (more specifically, a 1954 treadle/electric Singer)? I took the electric 1953 singer to be serviced and it was £75!!!!

sorry no idea how to help. I can't believe it cost you £75 for a service though. I've ended up having mine serviced/ repaired a couple of times - a wee looksee in the yellow pages has always thrown up some random bloke who lives up a close or in a wee village that'll fix machines. The last one told me I should oil it before putting it away for another 5 years and then expecting it to work perfectly when I drag it out for a project (doh - I felt really thick!).

Came across the same prob as Ellendra too - He also told me that it is too modern a machine for what I was trying to do (sew boat head lining which is foam back vinyl) - I had bought an industrial needle and strong thread as I remembered breaking copious amounts of needles the last time I tried to ram heavy duty stuff through the poor wee thing. My machine was my grans and is a 1970s New Home so not really that new although it has lots of fancy wee feet for embroidery and stuff. Fortunately my neighbour had an earlier version so I borrowed hers to finish the job.

[pumpy]

When we moved into our bungalow, i found a old Singer (hand-powered) in the loft. Having looked it up, via the serial no. it was made on Clydesdale in 1915. It's still in the original wooden carry-case, & contains loads of (original?) fittings. I keep meaning to contact the local auction house. Hmmmmm.... think i'll do that on Monday, unless it's of benefit to anyone at Ish. (if so, let me know).

[Annpan]

I have a new (bought in 2001) Brother sewing machine and I love it, it never plays up and does everything I need it to, and not to much more.... I love it.







Pumpy - Clydebank, not Clydesdale* - The old singer factory is just outside Clydebank, it had it's own train station and is now an area in its own right... called Singer.

My Granny worked in the factory during the war... making handgrenades


*Clydesdale is where I now live, no factories around here, just lots of heavy agricultural land (think Clydesdale horses), there used to be tin and coal mining industries too.


Just a little bit of history, care of your friendly neighbourhood pedant

[snapdragon]

Glad you got your problem sorted Maggie

When we moved into our bungalow, i found a old Singer (hand-powered) in the loft. Having looked it up, via the serial no. it was made on Clydesdale in 1915. It's still in the original wooden carry-case, & contains loads of (original?) fittings. I keep meaning to contact the local auction house. Hmmmmm.... think i'll do that on Monday, unless it's of benefit to anyone at Ish. (if so, let me know).

Shame I'm a long way from you pumpy! although I do have an old electric, I'd love a hand cranked machine of the type that I learned to sew on eons ago.
While I was looking on fleabay for them some are going for quite big money so maybe the auction house would be your best bet as there seem to be many collectors out there (especially in USA). Does it run well?