General Chat

is it a drop in bobbin and not placed in a bobbin case?

If its a drop in one cotton usually pulls out to the right..

O---------

is the foot pressure set ok,,,,,it may need a bit more or less so its either allowing the feeder to take fabric though nicely or its too much so that fabric isnt able to feed though properly..

ask about I bet people round near you have a machine they all work pretty much the same sure someone will set you up and before long youll be wizzing into the fashion world of designer couture..... ;-) ;-) :-D

Oh I never even thought of that Diane! I hope I pick this up quick. :-( many thanks x

Is the bobbin in the right way round - sometimes the instructions for this aren't very clear. Take it out & put it in the other way, it's worth a try.
Good luck.

Diane.

Romany
Could be a number of things.
Have a look at this and see if anything suggested on there might help.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100925094141AAmgqmC

If not come back and I'll have another think.
Take care
Von

Hi Kay. Its threaded front to back, Ive never done it before so followed the manual to the letter. Drawing the bobbin up is always a drama but I get there. I manage a few stitches then it jams -just tried again and lots of tangled thread all around the bobbin :-( looks so easy on tv!!

the machine should be set,,,,,,dont alte any dials till youve checked youve threaded the needle the right way,,,,,either front to back or left to right,,,,,,,is the machine threaded properly ,usually,,,round a top tension,,then thought the eyelet,(the bit that goes up and down)then round the tension wheel if it has one,,then a holder then though the needle.....have you threaed the bobbin right,,,,

hold the bobbin holder upside down in your left hand and pull the lever back ,put the bobbin in the case with your right hand so that the cotton is coming off to the right,,pull cotton back into the bobbinholder tension slot,,,,then put in machine.....leave enough cotton about 5 inches hand wind the needle down and it should pick the bobbin thread up......

make sure you dont pull the fabric but guide it and just let the feeder feet take it though ,,,,,,often its just user error for a start,,,,,,

Thanks Jude. Its so hot today! x

Romany Star....it may be the tension??....look up sewing machine tension on Utube. Can't help anymore at present just off out!!
Tension alters depending on weight of fabric!!
Hope you get it sorted.

jude :-)

Ive finally got it threaded (couldnt work out how to draw up the bobbin!), but after my glory moment of sewing a few stitches, the thing jammed. Inside all around the bobbin was a big mass of cotton. Each time I can only sew a few stitches and I spent ages dismanting the bobbin 'cupboard' to get all the tangled thread out. :-(

You can buy ready frilled lace edgings - this would mean less bulk and just need machining on.

Have a look at various haberdashery shops, market stalls, Dunelm, etc

Hi Mau, I didnt know it was called pleating lol, but then I dont know any of the 'technical' terms. I adore pleating round baby bibs/cot quilts etc. So you would make the pleat first then stitch it on the garment? The internet doesnt seem to call it plaiting, I suppose I just mean 'frilly' ribbon. The sooner I get this machine and get it up and running (fingers crossed) I can muddle along hopefully. :-D

Yes that's a good way to learn watching YTube. :-)

Didn't realise you meant pleating,that's how professionals stitch them up,at work we used to quickly guide the ribbon through using pin and finger.

Good luck and happy sewing
Mau

Thanks Pat. Ive charity bags full so I'll raid them, always got spare stuff with having 3 kids. Going to get one on Monday from Argos. x

Don't worry, I taught myself to use a machine.

Just bought a new one here, instructions in Greek and several ex Iron Curtain countries so OH Googled the make and machine model name or number and I now have a lovely booklet.

Go to the manufacturer's site and it should be a PDF file. Other sites may ask payment for the instructions.

Hope that helps, just a bit of patience at first. Do easy things. Have you any old clothes you could cut up and pratice on them?

Pat :-)

We were taught at school, and I have had no end of use for a sewing machine. It is a skill worth learning. As someone said, try evening classes., or ask at the local library. They usually keep lists of classes.

Thanks Jude :-D

Romany Star....if you google the exact make you may find you can get the instruction book. l did for my 2nd hand one some months ago:)

jude

Romany Star....just looked at the facebook picture, that's really lovely, looks like alot of work, but l'm sure you can do it:))

Von...just looked at the Youtube video, thats clever too and easy:)

Good luck Romany Star:)...we want to see what you make.

jude :-)

Hi Von. Yes the summer house is finished :-) painted pink and white with a desk and chair plus comfy armchair, a dolls house (another project!) and kettle, fan, cd player. Got a pink carpet too :-) Hubbys going to hardwire the laptop so Ive got a good signal out there. Hes insulated it as well!
You're a star, I never thought of stitching the ribbon into pleats THEN attaching it to the garment, I was planning to do it altogether in one go, fold/pin/stitch on garment, thought it seemed a bit much! Ive no common sense whatsoever.
PS: Its a Beldray machine, are all bobbins the same, ie can I buy any? Thankyou!!!

Romany Star
Another way you could "frill" the ribbon is to pleat it. Some machines have a foot that does this for you.

If not then fold ribbon to make pleats and pin as you go. Then sew a line of stitching along pleats. Then attach to garment as normal.

Or another way I found on here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuHr-9FwUYM
Good luck.
Is the summer house up and running yet?
Take care
Von