Old hand operated sewing machine - i'm utterly clueless

[Thelma Sanders]

I wish I had held on to my mum's old Singer treadle machine - it was just so reliable and great for thicker/heavier weight fabric.

My lectric Singer is fairly old by today's standards but I'm not updating again. Oh No No No
Just had it serviced and that'll do me

[julesapple]

Yes, I can see that the control you have would be great - my foot pedal is a bit 'numb' in that respect.

Mine is brilliant!!

Appliqué stitch is one stitch forward, one back, one forward, out to the left & back etc etc and I can just touch the pedal and do a single stitch. It's brilliant for turning corners or sewing around fiddly shapes - especially with the needle down function. It was gifted to me and I love it - a Brother Super Galaxie 2000.

[Bren In Pots]

I wish I had held on to my mum's old Singer treadle machine - it was just so reliable and great for thicker/heavier weight fabric.

My lectric Singer is fairly old by today's standards but I'm not updating again. Oh No No No
Just had it serviced and that'll do me

Thelma I use the treadles for things like altering the legs on denim jeans and like yours my electric machine is 38 year old here's the same model as mine on eBay :-

New Home 551 sewing machine | eBay

[Hazel at the Hill]

Mine is brilliant!!

You can go off people, you know.

I've just spent an hour and a half in the attic room quilting. HA! she says - HA!

The result of which is a HUGE PILE of unpicked thread on the floor and the bloody runner is looking as stitch-free as it did an hour and a half ago.

Hmph.

PS. S'pose your applique looks quite nice. Hmph.

[julesapple]

If'n it's a table runner, you have my sympathies. The bleddy one I've just finished took two months - mostly unpicking the s*dding pintucks. I hated it - I still hate it. I shall never make another of that design (so simple in my head, such a nightmare in actuality)

Nice to know I'm not alone in my unpicking!

[taff]

I don't overlock anything, I can't justify spending £300+

I had a Singer 14u for £70 on ebay.
It's been serviced, and it's going strong...

[taff]

Not wish to teach you how to suck eggs TS but that's not overlocking. It is however a very good anti fray mechanism..........I also would not buy an overlocking machine but I think there are plenty of sewing machines on the market that will overlock.

errr....ahem...not more sucking eggs....but.....not really overlocking though, more zig zag stitch......

[Bigmallly]

I wouldn't know taff, it's over 40 years ago that I work in tailoring. We had sewing machines that overlocked at the same time. Ok, I know they were industrial models but would have thought 40 years on someone would have designed one.

[Bren In Pots]

I wouldn't know taff, it's over 40 years ago that I work in tailoring. We had sewing machines that overlocked at the same time. Ok, I know they were industrial models but would have thought 40 years on someone would have designed one.

They do make them BM my niece has this model :-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Singer-Overl...7269672&sr=1-3

She says its not as complicated as it looks either.

[Bigmallly]

They do make them BM my niece has this model :-

Singer Overlock 14SH754 Sewing Machine: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home

She says its not as complicated as it looks either.

I thought someone must make them.

[Thelma Sanders]

That's a lot of money just to overlock edges OMG

I think I'l stick with zigzgging them on my old machine

[Scarlet]

I wouldn't know taff, it's over 40 years ago that I work in tailoring. We had sewing machines that overlocked at the same time. Ok, I know they were industrial models but would have thought 40 years on someone would have designed one.

Sewing machines that overlock the edges together at the same time as stitching are usually for "stretchy" jersey fabrics which in my day we called "5 threaders". Over lockers usually have 4 threads where the inside seams can be ironed flat as the fabric me be bulky. In my student days I kept an industrial sewing machine and over locker side by side in my room. Domestic over lockers may be pricey but I really don't like garments made up with the inside a tangle of loose threads, my OCD coming out! I think they are worth the initial expense, though if you've got the room industrial ones are fab and can be bought very cheaply. Sounds expensive now but I paid £100 each for an industrial sewing machine and an over locker over 25 years ago which I paid for when I got them by kitting out a nursing home with curtains..

[taff]

They do make them BM my niece has this model :-

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Singer-Overl...7269672&sr=1-3

She says its not as complicated as it looks either.

Ummm...that IS an overlocker. Beats me why they call them sewing machines though....they only overlock edges in some fashion

[Bigmallly]

Ummm...that IS an overlocker. Beats me why they call them sewing machines though....they only overlock edges in some fashion

The Singer 14SH754 overlock lets you handle all fabric types with ease and precision, even highly stretchable, fraying or slippery materials. It is extremely time saving because it cuts, sews and finishes a seam in one simple operation.

[taff]

ignore me, I'm suffering from a case of semantics