General Chat

Hi
I think there seems to be some confusion about the feed dogs here.

Feed dogs are the little bits of metal with "teeth" on them that help the machine to guide the fabric through the machine.
The presser foot works completely independent of the feed dogs and is always down when you sew regardless of whether the feed dogs are up or down.
Free machining is used usually for machine embroidery. That is when not using built in embroidery stitches.

However if you were moving switches or pressing knobs it would be easy to lower to lower the feed dogs which would result in tangled cottons etc and the fabric not moving properly through the machine.
I do hope I've explained this sufficiently - Clear as mud to me ;-) ;-) ;-)
Really pleased you managed to get the machine to sew and now it's onwards and upwards.
Good luck with the next project
Take care
Von

Hows it going RS??

jude :-)

Hi Jude. Not too bad thankyou! I cant stitch in a straight line and my threads sometimes snap but am getting there! Its not as easy as it looks on tv :-D
PS Von, you're right, I was calling the presser the feeddogs!!

Romany
Easy done :-D :-D

You could draw some lines with chalk then stitch along them.
The chalk brushes off.

Some threads can be a nightmare so just try and few and then stick to ones you like best.

I worked out the other day that I had been using a sewing machine for 60 years. Eek what a thought. :-0 :-0 :-0 :-0 :-0
I used to use my Mum's old Singer to make my dolls clothes. :-) :-)
Take care
Von

Oh dolls clothes, what a good idea. We have two dolls houses plus countless normal sized dollies and reborn dolls. Im just finding that when I stitch on fabric, I turn it over at the end and its a mess of cotton - not neat stitches! Certainly couldnt sell anything like that. 60 yrs WOW!! I'd make cushions and throws to sell if I was that good.

RS,

Your top tension is too loose.by the sounds of it,,,,,,,

what machine have you got....

An Argos one Kay. Its got good reviews, was £60 so not expensive but I find it ok for what I want to do. Ive got the tension on number 1 so yes prob too loose!! I had it on 3 but the bottom thread was tangling up round the bobbin. Ive been sewing with the presser up as well :-0

The tension dial 1--5 at the front where you thread it....... is usually about 3/4 depending what length stitch setting you have it on......just alter it a notch at a time,,,,,,,,is the stich programe set on the right setting it will be marked

- - - - normal ,,,,you can alter the stitch lenght with another dial _ _ _ _.

wont take long to get used to it.

check the needle is threaed right,,,,,,,the needle will have a groove if threaded from the front the groove will be at the back and if threaded left to right the groove will be to the right.