tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post6002157705254848681..comments2024-03-29T05:14:23.950-04:00Comments on Quiltville's Quips & Snips!!: Vintage Machine “Read Me” File!Bonnie K. Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377635115790685301noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-88450592061515673802013-10-01T21:46:15.432-04:002013-10-01T21:46:15.432-04:00Don't you LOVE IT when you can fix something? ...Don't you LOVE IT when you can fix something? Doesn't it make you feel awesomely powerful? Yeah, me, too! And I do love that school bus yellow Featherweight! I want one just like it. Or orange. Or maybe '57 Chevy turquoise. Sigh. So many colors. <br /><br />Love your work, Bonnie. I have enjoyed your blog, and quilt cam, and loved the class I got to take with you at Music City Quilt Guild. You're a genius! (and mighty hard-working, whew...)Beverlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07635662491645722653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-73055604492234549742013-02-19T17:36:48.984-05:002013-02-19T17:36:48.984-05:00Yesterday I was in an antique mall in Cashmere, WA...Yesterday I was in an antique mall in Cashmere, WA and guess what I asked the clerks if they had. Sewing Machines!!! I feel like I know so much more about the older machines now and recognize names on them. There were old Singers and a Sargent. No Featherweights tho but that didn't surprise me. I just want you to know how much you have taught me about older machines in the past 2 or 3 months. We still have my grandmothers treadle but at the moment it is buried in a back corner of my sisters spare room so hopefully the next time I am over that way we can get to it and I can take a look and see if it still runs. She passed away in 1971 and I know that my Mom used it after her. I have 30 trip around the world postage stamp blocks Grandma was making for me when she passed away. I am hoping that I can get at them and make a quilt because they are absolutely beautiful. Thanks again Bonnie for all that you do for our Quilting World. Daisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15483776288044937205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-71420194313094017842013-02-18T17:25:12.878-05:002013-02-18T17:25:12.878-05:00I've been afraid to mess with the tension on s...I've been afraid to mess with the tension on several of my vintage machines, but, now I think I'll find the time and play around with them. Yes, I have a manual for most of my machines (most are Singer 15 clones). Glad that lovely machine is working nicely now.Cheryl's Teapots2Quiltinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01005480747596617459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-34771436741918750912013-02-17T21:17:29.147-05:002013-02-17T21:17:29.147-05:00Good for you! I often get that "If I perish,...Good for you! I often get that "If I perish, I perish" kind of mentality and just go for it. Most of the time it works just fine, and to me, it's still worth it even if I mess up a few times. Learning is a good thing!Elaine/Muddling Throughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07542943000832182111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-54994161358605695722013-02-17T19:13:25.402-05:002013-02-17T19:13:25.402-05:00Well you might have just solved my problem. I'...Well you might have just solved my problem. I've only been working and sewing on featherweights for about 30 years and the first one I have started to skip stitches. I changed needles and the tension. Have taken many of those tension sticks apart and redid them but never thought about them being crooked. Thanks Bonnie, I shall get that old one out and see what I can do with it. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08205961618402944320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-54644673769519129822013-02-17T17:14:41.945-05:002013-02-17T17:14:41.945-05:00Bravo Bonnie!!
Such great satisfaction when you...Bravo Bonnie!! <br /><br />Such great satisfaction when you fix it yourself. That's what screwdrivers are for.<br /><br />Love,<br />MuvMuvhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00734374133479479218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-36190412547527172172013-02-17T17:05:07.109-05:002013-02-17T17:05:07.109-05:00You amaze me girlfriend :O)You amaze me girlfriend :O)Nancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03716634446408588798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-32452311568683698652013-02-17T13:49:15.153-05:002013-02-17T13:49:15.153-05:00I actually replaced, yes replaced, the entire tens...I actually replaced, yes replaced, the entire tension assembly on my 1926 Featherweight using the instructions in the manual. The new assembly cost me $15.00 on ebay and no labor. Can you imagine how much it would have cost if I had to send it for repairs??? Boy, did I ever feel proud!!!<br />Yes, it can be done. Oh, btw, I took pictures of the dis-assembly each step of the way so I could refer back to them if needed.Sue Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05794250777303648864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-18659885235714568882013-02-17T13:30:30.207-05:002013-02-17T13:30:30.207-05:00Bonnie - you are so awesome!!!Bonnie - you are so awesome!!!Terrihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06843105343671792607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-42498883918833468492013-02-17T13:04:17.358-05:002013-02-17T13:04:17.358-05:00We women are more amazing than we give ourselves c...We women are more amazing than we give ourselves credit for. I have a few vintage machines and have worked on them all.. I did take my hand crank in and had it serviced but know now I could have done it myself. DH fixed my quilting machine. We had the rep. come several times and still the same prob. He timed it and changed some belts and tightened some things that were lose and this was all on a new machine.. factory screw up.. thank goodness for my man that says, Its only a machine, it can be fixed.. at one point I was ready to get the sledge hammer out and have a no stress day..lol. Love my vintage machine because I can fix them.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04320817619195447332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-12888328418555892013-02-17T10:11:28.584-05:002013-02-17T10:11:28.584-05:00I about broke my own hand patting myself on the ba...I about broke my own hand patting myself on the back last weekend. I had to pull the mother and daughter circuit boards from my APQS Milliennium send them to Iowa for repairs and replace the mag collar. I about scared the pants off myself doing it but you know? It was really kind of exciting and fun in the end.<br /><br />I got my long arm up and running and saved myself about $200 on a service call. It really has given me a whole lot of confidence in being able to maintain my machines myself. Not the computerized ones but definitely the Singer 301 and the 221's. <br /><br />Good for you Bonnie. I bet you almost broke your own hand too!GailShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08670373988543617585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-56845104581899057192013-02-17T09:19:34.372-05:002013-02-17T09:19:34.372-05:00Way to go, Bonnie! I figure that, no matter what ...Way to go, Bonnie! I figure that, no matter what I do wrong, someone else can help me fix it if I can't get it right. If I can fix it, I saved myself the repair cost and inconvenience. If I can't fix it, I'll pay for the repair, but I've gained some knowledge along the way. We all have limits, but we don't usually test those limits to see where they are. We accept what others tell us we can't or shouldn't do. Stretch those limits - that's what helps us grow!!Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14859501514468385180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-87576426235045301712013-02-17T09:18:50.621-05:002013-02-17T09:18:50.621-05:00My hubby went overboard when I told him I wanted a...My hubby went overboard when I told him I wanted a pre1960 machine. I now own 5 1940-1960 portables, 4 1906-1930 cabinet machines, and a working treadle with 4 bobbins. The amazing part is that he bought all of them for under $200 and 3 were free including a Fleetwood & a 1906 Singer which barely used b/c it was too expensive and might get broken! One generation's treasure is another's trash, but they are my treasures now. All I need now is manuals so scary cat me can adjust tensions and use the feet that appeared with them. I am one lucky Cajun!Charlene Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05769160043253313527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-67313747099758162162013-02-17T08:03:12.386-05:002013-02-17T08:03:12.386-05:00Once again, this IPAD assumed I didn't know ho...Once again, this IPAD assumed I didn't know how to spell and changed "lubing" to "living.". I need to turn that feature off!Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14507638615988132928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-6059094434297693892013-02-17T07:58:59.720-05:002013-02-17T07:58:59.720-05:00I recently acquired a Singer 301-A and a couple of...I recently acquired a Singer 301-A and a couple of weeks later another Singer which I think is a 15-89 hand crank. Both machines are in pretty good shape, especially after oiling and living, but the top tension was off on both machines. It turned out to be an easy fix, and the same problem on both--the bobbin case tension was way too loose. A little tightening fixed it and both are sewing beautifully now. I want to thank you for giving me a new appreciation for these machines. I feel such a connection to these machines, Alice (the 301) and Kathleen (the 15-89(?)). I have a feeling this is just the beginning of my collection. I know I'd like to add a treadle, a Singer 201-2 (wonder what the difference is between the 201-2 and the 201-1), and a Japan clone model. I love the feeling that these machines are knowable. And although he is not particularly sewing machine trained, I am lucky to be married to a real Rennaissance man. He can fix anything, so when I messed up, he can usually bail me out. I love my "new machines" and hope to grow this little family of vintage beauties. Hope to find one that "needs work," so G'pa and grands can explore the workings together. Thank you again for your encouragement, inspiration and generosity. I hope someday I'll get to meet you face-to-face!Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14507638615988132928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-5212469851788834172013-02-17T07:44:57.426-05:002013-02-17T07:44:57.426-05:00I have several fetherwieights w similar tension is...I have several fetherwieights w similar tension issues. Obviously after reading your post someone too them apart trying to "fix" them and didn't solve the problem so they SOLD them! One is skipping stitches and doing that tension thing. another has the tension nob on all wrong.<br />Thanks forgiving me the knowledge to now work on them. I need to sell a couple as i have a lot more than I need.Carolyn Sullivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16591809412054783126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-50370588464853579462013-02-17T07:39:45.134-05:002013-02-17T07:39:45.134-05:00I have read that section in the Featherweight manu...I have read that section in the Featherweight manual as well, hoping never to have to mess with the tension. On the other hand, it appears doable as the break out diagram is quite clear. You have given me the courage to do it should it ever become necessary. Thank you, Engineer Bonnie!Mary Ellenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04066177625064170284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-19807499862348211512013-02-17T07:07:48.612-05:002013-02-17T07:07:48.612-05:00Wow! This post is one of the best "public se...Wow! This post is one of the best "public service announcements" I've seen! Thanks, Bonnie - I'm going to fix some tension problems today!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-49311865705591951822013-02-16T23:33:19.991-05:002013-02-16T23:33:19.991-05:00You are so inspiring! Keep up the good work and th...You are so inspiring! Keep up the good work and the great blog letting us know what you are doing!Carolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17216107979388696459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-4128039770751453172013-02-16T23:16:08.051-05:002013-02-16T23:16:08.051-05:00After I retired, I had decided that I wanted to qu...After I retired, I had decided that I wanted to quilt. I got my sewing machine out and was having the same kind of skipping problem with my "plastic" machine that you were having.. I took it into the shop paid $100 and brought it home. It didn't fix the problem. I took it back in again and brought it home with the same results. I wish I had a clue about vintage machines before I went out and buying a different brand "plastic" machine. I would love to have a featherweight or a 301.Tami Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15006895931531165993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-1574632767438437462013-02-16T23:09:20.928-05:002013-02-16T23:09:20.928-05:00Yea!Yea!Bunniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10632761117077955173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-336057073565921142013-02-16T23:09:11.067-05:002013-02-16T23:09:11.067-05:00Yea!Yea!Bunniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10632761117077955173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-3306817550880751112013-02-16T22:54:36.849-05:002013-02-16T22:54:36.849-05:00Bonnie, your can-do spirit and approach really get...Bonnie, your can-do spirit and approach really gets others motivated to dig in and figure things out. By sharing your questions, concerns, trials, and successes it makes us realize we can push ourselves to learn more too! Thank you!Caroliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10457425003739767241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-85893358422208387452013-02-16T22:54:04.390-05:002013-02-16T22:54:04.390-05:00congratulations! I always have tension problems an...congratulations! I always have tension problems and have the worst time trying to fix them - you go girl!!Karen - Quilts...etc.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07293429657903986492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13569819.post-73396245184979040692013-02-16T22:52:48.921-05:002013-02-16T22:52:48.921-05:00Oh, how I love that internet makes you my neighbor...Oh, how I love that internet makes you my neighbor. Thanks for teaching me SO much. You've made an impact on my every day.<br /><br />Lucy~qltmom9https://www.blogger.com/profile/00891119764581754368noreply@blogger.com