Singer Ruffler Attachment Part No. 86742 & 86642

Hello

I have a couple of Singer Ruffler attachments and never found a use for them until now.

They both fit my Singer 221 and 201, they are slightly different to look at but work exactly the same. This one is the 86642 with the adjusting screw at the top.

This on is 86742, the adjusting screw for the size of the pleat is placed on the back of the attachment.

They both have the same adjustment for number of stitches between pleats, 1, 6 and 12 stitches.  So it sews 6 stitches and then puts a pleat in, then 6 more stitches etc.

Here it is fitted on the Featherweight 221, there is a hook that fits over the needle clamp.  You have to make sure that the attachment is firmly attached because its an "active" attachment it moves about which loosens the thumb screw attaching it to the machine so its best to keep checking its tight when in use.

Can you guess what I am making yet?

Rosettes for a village dog show.  All stitched on the Featherweight, in a hurry only decided to make them yesterday after work, the show was on today.

We have just come back from a trip to the Lake District, wonderful scenery, this is Derwent Water at Keswick, the hills are called Cat Bells, I have know idea why they are called that.

Here's Buzz having a snooze in the sun, his boat ride and walk wore him  out.

Take care

Sharon

Bespoke coat for Tina the Tiny Terrier

Hello

Meet Tina, she is my nieces little dog.  Zoe bought her as a miniature Jack Russell (not sure there is such a dog) but when I saw her fully grown, could see Yorkshire Terrier in there somewhere.  Googled JRT and YT, there were a lot of images that looked like Tina.  So there you go, we possibly know what her parents were.

She was a canny happy little dog when she was a pup, she visited so that she could meet Buzz and they were fine together.  As she grew up, she started to guard her house, barking at everything that moved or made a sound, she was on constant alert which stressed her out and she became a bit growly!  Cos she is such a cute looking thing, everyone wants to touch her which started to freak her out as well.  So Zoe brought her to me as I used to teach dog training classes.  She is to stay with me for 2 days a week while Zoe is at work.  It hasn't taken long to see an improvement, we stopped the guarding completely which has calmed her down immensely.  I am introducing her to dogs, Buzz is so good with her he gave her the space she needed so that she could say hello when she was ready.  She is starting to enjoy life again.  She doesn't look so wary in the photo below which was taken yesterday.  She is a clever little thing, Zoe has been teaching her tricks, a double twirl for a biscuit treat.

Tina doesn't like the cold and hates going out when its raining, looking at Yorkshire Terrier websites this is a common thing with them.  They can be delicate little chaps who can get a chill easily.  So I made a coat for her.  She was tricky to measure as she squirmed about when I got the tape out.  I cut a pattern using this really neat ruler that I got from the lovely Anita, perfect for doing curved edges.

Just layered up the fabric the same as making a quilt, used the Singer Featherweight to quilt the fabric and then make up the coat.

There all tucked up ready for a walk in the chilly air!

Now I have the pattern worked out, going to make her a waterproof coat with waxed cotton fabric.

Cheers

Sharon

Singer Automatic Zigzagger fits Featherweight

Hello

I showed my Griest Buttonhole Attachment to my sister, she fell in love with it and went on the hunt for one of her own using my favourite way of shopping, Ebay.

Then she spotted this for under £20 which has to be the bargain of the year.

Having never had a go with this attachment, only seen them on the web, Sandi kindly said that I could borrow it to play with.  What a treat.

The part number for it is 161157 its original manual says it fits Singer, 201, 221 and 222.

It comes with 4 diff red patterns which are easily changed  Each one  of these pattern has its own part number.  Just flip the lid back to change the patterns.  The white ones are from the extra pack of four patterns which originally could be bought separately.

161000 - Zigzag stitch

161001- Blind stitch pattern produces a curve line and one long sideways stitch at start and completion of curve, ideal for hems and overedging.

161002 - Domino stitch pattern ideal for border designs  or motifs

161003 - Arrowhead stitch pattern, again for borders and motifs.

All these patterns can be adjusted in width using a bight (this means stitch width) setting on attachment and length using stitch setting (lever changing number of stitches per inch) on machine.  The manual is very easy to follow.

These Singer designers were clever chaps, there is a lever on the attachment which allows you to swop from zigzag to straight stitch without having to remove the attachment from the machine.  It works by moving the fabric from side to side, the needle stays in the same place.

Sandi had given the attachment a clean and oil (the manual tells you how) before putting it on her Featherweight.

It works a treat.

Update - mine arrived safely from the USA, its has a different attachment number 160985 which the manual states that it fits Singer Machines of Classes 15, 201, 221 and 1200.  I think its a later model than Sandi's.  It's got a couple of patterns missing from the box so it will be fun tracking down replacements.  Don't you just love Ebay!

Cheers

Sharon

A Valentine Gift

Hello

Just a quickie

Was given loads of fake leather from a furniture manufacturing company in our village, end of rolls in lots of different colours.  Made a pencil case for my other half to keep all his drawing pens in.  Cos it was valentines, added a little heart.

Cheers
Sharon

Christmas Quilt

Hello

January is a very quiet time for me work wise but I enjoy the time off, whilst the decorating is screaming at me to get the paint out! The quilt fabric is pulling at me.  Sewing is much more fun.

Every year at Christmas, I think that I will start a Christmas quilt to use as a throw and every year, I run out of time and it doesn't get done.  So last week when it was chucking down with rain, got the lovely Xmas fabric out that Anita gave me along with a triangle template.  The top was pieced together using the Singer Featherweight, was going to machine quilt on this as well but with the wadding it was a little too thick for it so reverted to the Singer 201 which coped with the bulk much better.

This is the result.

In the fabric there was a panel of Xmas designs including labels so used one for a quilt label.

Depending on which way you look at it, this quilt is either 2 months too late or 10 months early!

One more sewing day then I will have to get the paint out.

Cheers

Sharon

Singer Featherweight 221 Sewing Machine Handy Hints

This blog is for all the new Featherweight owners out there, especially Paul who has just taken the plunge and bought one of these wonderful machines.

For those who don't know, this is my Featherweight.

So your Featherweight has arrived, what now?

Have a good look at the manual before you touch the machine.  If you haven't got one, click on this 221 Manual

Before switching it on, check the electric cords making sure they are not frayed or split, its a good idea to use a circuit breaker on these old machines.  Make sure that it is the right voltage for the Country you are in, USA is different to the UK for instance.  Check the foot control for cracks, remember it is made of Bakelite which is an early plastic and is brittle so don't drop it.  If when you switch on the machine and it runs on its own without you pressing the foot control, switch it off at the mains and take it to a qualified electrician/service engineer.

Have a good look around the machine, turn the hand wheel by hand to see if the needle goes up and down easily, check the belt isn't too tight or loose, if its frayed, order a new one.  Have a good clean using a lint brush around the feed dogs and around where the bottom bobbin goes in, have a good look for any jammed threads.

Check the manual to see where to oil it, only use Singer Machine oil and one drop in each oiling point.   I use a vintage Singer oil can for this, its tiny so easy to use.  Black Singer motors have lubrication tubes (the white ones don't have these tubes) which need filling with Singer Lubrication, don't what ever you do put oil down these tubes you will ruin the motor.

Only use a soft cloth on the paintwork, if its dirty you can use a couple of drops of Singer machine oil on a soft cloth to clean it, wipe don't rub (the decals can rub off easily). Buff with a clean cloth.  The paintwork chips easily so take care when moving it, I used to use large dressmaking scissors when cutting the threads but after clunking my machine with them a couple of times, now only use embroidery scissors with plastic handles around the machine.  Even chunky bracelets can chip paint.

Needle size is 2020 aka 15x1 and aka 130/705.  You can use vintage Singer needles, the ones from England, USA or Germany are the best ones, sometimes to later ones made in Brazil cause skipped stitches. If you can't get vintage ones Schmetz universal ones are the best.  The needle is inserted with the flat side on your left as you look at the machine and threaded right to left.  Needles come in different thicknesses, from 10 (for fine material) up to 16 (for tough material).

Featherweights can smell of old oil and can be quite stinky, there is a drip tray under the machine that has a felt panel to soak up the oil, this is made of pure wool and over time the oil rots it and it smells horrible.  New felt panels are available from http://april1930s.corecommerce.com/Parts-Manuals-amp-Service/Parts-for-the-Singer-Featherweight-221-222-and-301/Felts-Accessories/.  You might have to scrape the old one off with a flat blade, I used a wallpaper stripper.

The rubber feet on the bottom of the machine are often melted for some reason, these can be removed using the large Singer screwdriver on the screw directly in the middle of the pad.  You can buy new feet from  if you live in the UK http://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/featherweight_parts/  and from April1930 (use the link above)  for USA owners.  Both these sites have loads of information on Featherweights.  Another good USA website is http://www.novamontgomery.com/index.htm  The rubber feet do leave black marks on hard surfaces which are tricky to clean off so I always put a cutting mat under mine so it doesn't mark the furniture.

If the carrying case smells of mould, you can put it in the baking sun (might have to wait for the summer to arrive) for a few days making sure that you support the lid so it can't blow over and smash the locks.

The Featherweights are great for free motion embroidery using a feed dog cover and a hopping foot.  But, and there is a but, the motor can overheat if you sew for a long time so short bursts are best and regular hand on motor to see if its hot.  STOP let it cool down.  I got carried away with mine once and it overheated which caused it not stop when I lifted my foot off of the controller!  Plug pulled instantly.  Scary, thought I had broke it but once it had cooled right down it was fine.

Have fun with your wonderful machines, if you take care of them, they will last.

Cheers

Sharon

Singer 327k Low Shank Feet & Lifting Plate

Hello

Had an enquiry from Paul, asking what  type of feet fit the Singer 327.  Easy, the 327 is a low shank machine so you will be able to fit low shank Singer feet.

For those who don't know, nearly all Singers, especially the early ones were low shank which means the feet are quite short in height as the distance from the machine bed to the where the foot attaches is quite small. The feet measure 1 ins high.

A couple of the later Singers are high shanks (sorry not sure what the model numbers are), none of my machines are high shank but I do have an odd foot to compare the height of a low shank foot.  You can see the difference below.  The high shank foot  measures 1 1/4 ins high.

Just to confuse the situation even more, there is a Slant Shank Singer machine, the 301 was the first one made, this means that the shank on the feet (along with the needlebar) are at an angle, they slant backwards.

Below is a small selection of Singer low shank feet that will fit on the 327K.

One thing on the 327 is that instead of covering the feed dogs to enable you to do free motion embroidery, you lift the needle plate with either of these odd looking things, they both slip underneath the needleplate which disengages the feed dogs.

You will need a darning foot, I used the one off my Singer 221 which also fits the 201.  You could use a darning foot like the clear one below as well, they are much cheaper to buy than the little hopping foot.  The little rectangular plate is for covering the feed dogs on the Singer 221 Featherweight, this is a reproduction one which I got off Ebay, an original, if you could find one would be very expensive, the cheapest one I have seen was £96!

Sorry got side tracked, back to the lifting plates.  It slides under this holding pin, you can raise with a screwdriver or just slide the lifter under it from the right.

  Then the needle plate slides over the top.

The push the bobbin cover back, this will also raise up a bit as well.

Then off you go, the 327 is nice to free motion with, it goes steady away which is what you want.  You might have to adjust the height of the hopping foot, its adjusted by raising or lowering where it attached with the thumb screw.

The other style lifter fits like this.

Both of these lifters do exactly the same job so either will do. 

Helen Howes Sewing Machines have both of these lifting plates on her website http://www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/quiltfeet.html  She has a really good selection of feet and machine parts as well.  She is based in the UK but will post world wide (full details on how to order are on her webpage).

I haven't used the 327K since I got the Singer 201 so it was nice to use it again so thanks Paul for your question.

Cheers

Sharon