Sewing machine question

[Lady Caroline]

Does anyone know if I can still sew, if I removed that pedal/foot thing that surrounds the needle, and presses down on the fabric?  Please excuse my ignorance, I literally took the machine out of the box 15 years ago and started sewing without reading the instructions.  Now, that I am seriously getting into sewing, naturally I have no idea where my instructions are.....

I am attaching the bottom skirt to the bodice, to make a new dress/garb, but it is a heavy fabric, plus pleats, and won't fit under that presser foot.  Can I sew without it?  Or will it hurt the machine somehow?

If it matters, it is a Kenmore 8, and is a nice little machine, never given me a problem.  (Despite the fact that I oiled it for the first time, last month!)

Oh!  I just remembered another question for you wonderful experienced seamstresses......if I am sewing through thick layers on the machine, should I use stitches that are close together, or farther apart than normal.  For 15 years, I've always used the same stitch for everything!

Ok, I'm on my way to get a book on sewing techniques, but if you could answer these two questions for me, I would appreciate it tremendously!!!!

[gypsylakat]

uhmmm I don't know all the answers to your question, I do know, that the thingy, is called a presser foot. And i'm pretty sure you can sew without it... at least that's the impression that the sewing machine man gave me...


and i looked on google, and found this
http://www.sewingmanuals.com/Sewing_Machine_Manuals/Kenmore.htm it doesn't have the kenmore 8 but it has the 6 and a few after, that might be of assistance..

[DonaCatalina]

It depends on your machine. Mine won't go without the presser foot. It it does run, you may find that your bobbin thread knots up on you. So I wouldn't recommend trying it.

[gypsylakat]

i'd go with her answer... she knows way more than me about it... lol

[PurpleDragon]

I'm in agreement with Dona Catalina on this one.  You can try and run it without the presser foot, but I wouldnt' recommend it myself.

As to the stitch used, if it is going to be in a "visible" area, you might try a smaller stitch to hopefully give more strength to the garment.  However if it is thick enough to not be able to pass under the presser foot when raised up all the way, umm... are you sure your machines needle will penetrate through the entire thickness?

[Lady Caroline]

, umm... are you sure your machines needle will penetrate through the entire thickness?

Nope!  I'm not sure of anything! lol  I bought some new needles that say "Heavy weight", so I assumed I was good to go.  I guess I will try it without the presser, on some scraps of the fabric in question........if that does not work, I can always pop in the dvd's of BBC's "...Six Wives..." and get the old thimble out.  (please, please, please, let the machine work....)

[Lady Caroline]

and i looked on google, and found this
http://www.sewingmanuals.com/Sewing_Machine_Manuals/Kenmore.htm it doesn't have the kenmore 8 but it has the 6 and a few after, that might be of assistance..

Oh thank you!  You are a sweetheart   I never even thought of seeing if the manuals were online.

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

When in doubt, take your machine to a store that specializes in sewing machine sales, classes, and repair.  You may be able to trade your machine in for one that you will be happier with.

Good Luck!!!

[gem]

This may be an instance where it will cause less grief to just sew it by hand.

[Elennare]

Well, you can sew without the presser foot, it will just be a lot harder.

The presser foot keeps the fabric in contact with the feed dogs (little things that pop up from under the fabric and push it forward), so that as you sew, the fabric advances.  How far they move is what controls the length of the stich.  If you don't have the presser foot on the machine, the feed dogs will be much less effective, if they work at all.  Since you are sewing so much heavy fabric, the weight of the fabric by itself may be enough to allow them to work, but they won't work as well.  Thus, you are in charge of advancing the fabric.  If you're going to try it, I would recommend sewing very slowly, so you can try to move the fabric an equal amount between each stich, without getting it snagged on the feed dogs.

[Randal]

Your machine may work without the presser foot, as that's what you would do for free-form embroidery or machine felting, but you'll never get the nice even stitches that you would with the presser foot down, or by hand sewing.

Perhaps even more importantly though, without the presser foot in place, it will be extremely easy to sew through your hand/fingers. Try this at your own risk.

You'll also run an increased risk of breaking needles.

Randal

[Lady Caroline]

Thank you all, for your wonderful  advice!!!

I ended up solving the problem, by leaving the top edges of the pleats, and the bottom edge of the bodice unhemmed, or raw.  (this allowed all of the fabric to fit under the presser foot) Now that they are together, I will cover them up inside with some basting tape or ribbon or something.  I don't mind hand sewing that in, since I'm not looking for strength and durability, just cover.

This is the first noble outfit I have made (making a matching twinkie one for hubby) and I just tried it on over the hoop skirt that arrived in the mail today.  It looks great! (at least I think it does   )  2 months ago, I wouldn't have imagined myself in one of these dresses, let alone sewing one myself!  Thank you to all of you, that take the time to answer questions from inexperienced newbies, such as myself. 

I will post finished pics in the completed projects thread, in the days to come.

Thanks again!

[Alison - Not Caterina Anymore]

Looks like I'm too late on this one. But my recommendation is to buy a walking foot. It's meant to "walk" over thick fabrics and makes doing so much easier. It's a MUST for any renaissance sewer.

[Lady Caroline]

Caterina, thank you!  After you posted that, I started reading a sewing book I picked up, and they list all kinds of different feet that are available.  There is one that applies bias tape for you, and another that folds over and hems your raw edge, all in one step!  Who knew?  (Well, certainly not me!)

[Kate XXXXXX]

Does anyone know if I can still sew, if I removed that pedal/foot thing that surrounds the needle, and presses down on the fabric?  Please excuse my ignorance, I literally took the machine out of the box 15 years ago and started sewing without reading the instructions.  Now, that I am seriously getting into sewing, naturally I have no idea where my instructions are.....

There are some techniques where you need to remove the presser foot, but it isn't advisable for most sewing processes.  There are special feet available for processes and techniques that the standard presser foot doesn't do well.

I am attaching the bottom skirt to the bodice, to make a new dress/garb, but it is a heavy fabric, plus pleats, and won't fit under that presser foot.  Can I sew without it?  Or will it hurt the machine somehow?

What you need to do here is adjust the presser foot pressure.  Generally speaking, however, if it won't fit under the presser foot, it's too much for the machine.  You could burn out the motor forcing it.  Taking the presser foot off is NOT going to help.

If it matters, it is a Kenmore 8, and is a nice little machine, never given me a problem.  (Despite the fact that I oiled it for the first time, last month!)

Shame on you!     You should clean and oil the machine after every project, and before using it again if there is a gap of more than a month between uses.  You also need to give the poor thing a nice new needle of the right type and size for every project.  Do this more often on tougher projects.  For proper oiling, you need the manual.  SewUSA has quite a few available: http://www.sewusa.com/Sewing_Machine_Instruction_Manuals.htm
HOWEVER!!! If there are NO oiling instructions in the manual, DO NOT try oiling the machine!  You will end up with oil where it isn't supposed to go.  Take the machine in for servicing, and they will lubricate where needed.  Many machines these days have sintered bearings, and the only way to oil those is to take them out and put them in a pressurized oil bath for several days!

Oh!  I just remembered another question for you wonderful experienced seamstresses......if I am sewing through thick layers on the machine, should I use stitches that are close together, or farther apart than normal.  For 15 years, I've always used the same stitch for everything!

Generally speaking, the thicker the fabric, the longer the stitch - but there is no hard and fast rule,.  Do what works!   

Ok, I'm on my way to get a book on sewing techniques, but if you could answer these two questions for me, I would appreciate it tremendously!!!!

Sewing books you might like to consider:
   
New Complete Guide to Sewing: Step by Step Techniques for Making Clothes and Home Accessories (Readers Digest) by Reader's Digest (Hardcover - 25 Jul 2003)

Sewing for Dummies (For Dummies)  by Janice Saunders Maresh (Paperback - 13 Aug 2004)

Couture Sewing Techniques  by Claire B. Shaeffer (Paperback - 1 April 2001)

101 Ways to Use Your First Sewing Machine  by Elizabeth Dubicki (Hardcover - 27 Oct 2006)

[Lady Caroline]

You should clean and oil the machine after every project, and before using it again if there is a gap of more than a month between uses.  You also need to give the poor thing a nice new needle of the right type and size for every project.  Do this more often on tougher projects.  For proper oiling, you need the manual.  SewUSA has quite a few available: http://www.sewusa.com/Sewing_Machine_Instruction_Manuals.htm
HOWEVER!!! If there are NO oiling instructions in the manual, DO NOT try oiling the machine!  You will end up with oil where it isn't supposed to go.  Take the machine in for servicing, and they will lubricate where needed.  Many machines these days have sintered bearings, and the only way to oil those is to take them out and put them in a pressurized oil bath for several days!

Dear god, I am having heart palpitations, reading about the abuse I have dumped on my poor machine!  I didn't even know what sewing machine oil was for, until my machine ceased up last month.  I remembered seeing it at Walmart, and wondered if maybe that was what was wrong with my machine.  So I bought a bottle, and *gasp* unscrewed every screw and compartment on the machine and oiled every single part that moved.  Luckily, it's worked beautifully ever since......*knocks on wood*.  Also, I had the same needle on there for 15 years.  *crawls away in shame*

I have since changed needles according to project though   And I am going to buy that Readers Digest book, because you are the second person to reccommend it!  And maybe Santa will bring me a new fancypants machine for xmas, If I ask very sweetly, and promise to have it serviced regularly.

[Trillium]

Don't worry, Lady Caroline....I rarely oil my machine or change needles....  It's not on purpose, just don't think about it!

Yes, I know...bad faerie!!

[gem]

I, too, am guilty of never having oiled or serviced my machine.  In 12 years.

(I know on my machine, you can't adjust the presser foot pressure, but that does seem to be a standard feature on nicer ones.)

[Lady Caroline]

Oh thank goodness, I do not have to bare the shame alone.  lol  I feel so much better   

[Kate XXXXXX]

You know, it's AMAZING how many folk don't know this - and how much better their machines work once they do!   

Don't worry about it...  Just take a little more care from here on in, ok?   

I am a VERY careful machine user these days.  I bought and used a brand new Huqvarna Huskylock 910 serger a few years back (well, in 1998, actually).  I used it a LOT, and, on the whole, was careful to clean and oil it regularly, feed it decent thread, and pamper it with new needles.  Then I got slightly behind with a customer project and tried to roll the hems of 15 bridesmaids skirts in one session. BIG ERROR!  My poor Huskylock never recovered.  It broke down mid project (seized solid! And over heated... ) and I had to rush out and buy an emergency stop-gap machine.  I later replaced the Huskylock with my current Bernina 1150MDA.  So I warn folk, and try to prevent this happening to someone else.

Some time ago the FrankenSinger 99 dropped into my lap.  This machine was originally bought new for my mum for Christmas 1958, just after my bro was born.  It got taken to Malta in 1964, and dropped into the ship's hold on the way.  When it came back from the OSMG in some little back street in Valletta, it had the body of a 1948 model hand crank, the box and hand wheel from Mum's original machine, and a light fitting from an anonymous donor machine.  I reckon that was the one and only time in it's life to date that it ever saw a service fella!  Mum used it for 20 odd years.  She never oiled it and rarely broke a needle  - the only times she ever changed one!      It was always jerky and recalcitrant and ornery!

When I took possession of the machine, I gave it a thorough clean, oiled it until it was almost swimming in the stuff, cleaned it again, gave it a new needle, and it purrs like a contented cat!  It sews so sweetly and with elegance now.  It made a HUGE difference!

Some of the old mechanical machines can be brought back from the dead after half a century of abuse and neglect.  Modern machines are very different in character, and a thorough clean regularly, oiling strictly according to the manual, a new needle of the correct type and size when required, and regular TLC from a good service engineer will keep it running very smoothly.

Many modern machines use little servo motors to perform their precision sewing, and these need regular adjustment to keep these VERY complex bits of kit in top performance mode.  The more you use the machine, the more frequent the service intervals should be, just like with a car.

Proper machine care is one of the things I teach kids, along with the actual sewing.  They are usually fascinated by how the machine works, and how to get the best out of it.  They love the combination of mechanics and electronics in things like my Lily 550, but also love the smell that only comes from an old metal machine with OIL in it! 

[Lady Caroline]

You know, I do have another machine, an old family piece.  I'm guessing it's from before the twentieth century, with the hand wheel that you have to turn....... I remember my mom sewing on it when I was really young. It was the first machine I ever used. Back in the 80's we used to turn our jeans inside out and sew up the inseam to make them tighter! lol.  I'm sure the needle on that baby is older than me.  I often want to pull it out and give it a try, but I can't remember how to thread the one and only bobbin, or if I can buy more......

Does anyone here have/use an antique machine?

[tigerlilly]

I have an antique treadle machine, but I've never tried to use it.  I'm not sure how to thread it, or change the needle, either.  There is no excuse for me, since I also have the manual.   Maybe some rainy day I will open up the cabinet and tinker with it.  Then I'll be able to sew even after I spend all my money on fabric and they cut off my electricity!

If you want spare parts you should check out ebay.  I bought a key from there to lock the cute little cabinet drawers full of pointy, rusty things.  There are usually tons of listings for parts and accessories for antique machines.  Most of the goodies are for Singers, so if you have one you're in luck.

[Kate XXXXXX]

I have (and use!) machines of many eras.      Here are a few of my pretty things:



My very beautiful Singer 66K, built in 1923.  Scruffy case base, but the machine works beautifully.  I bought it as a student in 1976.  My brother Named her Spinning Jenny!     This machine earned me beer, dinners and kudos by the shed load, as I made costumes, mended camping kit, made clothes for friends, and even spray deck for kayaks!  Yes, she still gets dragged out and used!



The lovely 'Mrs Jones':  a Jones Family CS with the Princess Alexandria decals, from 1909.  This is the smoothest operating machine I own, bar none!  Even the delightful electronic Lily 550 isn't as smooth as this... It has a bullet shuttle and takes 'long' bobbins.



A lovely Singer 28K given to me by a friend.  It uses the same long bobbins as Mrs Jones.  I used this one recently to take a tuck in the hood of another friend's Gentry kit car! 

In the background you can see the table top and case for this one:



This was a Freecycle machine.  The restoration project is here: http://www.diceyhome.free-online.co.uk/KatePages/Resources/machinegallery/Saxonia/saxonia_style_adria_machine.htm



My 1936 Singer 15-88 treadle, on which I made this jacket from a sari:



I have all sorts of gadgets to fit these old machines, and sometimes a project cries out to be made on one.  They also come in handy when there's a power cut!      They also come in handy when there's some little job that a standard electric motor driven machine cannot quite do...  I've gently tapped the hand wheel of Jenny round with a hammer before now!  Don't tell anypone, will you!   

[Lady Caroline]

Those old machines are so pretty.  (and tough!)  I was inspired to dig mine out of storage.  That meant crawling under the stairs in our old victorian home, in total darkness, with spiders that are probably in their 120th generation. Naturally all flashlights are dead when you need them.



I think it may be a mish mash of different parts.  The case says Canadian General Electric, the machine says National Sewing Machine Company, Belvedere USA, and the plate under the presser foot says T. Eaton Co.  So maybe it was made by GE, sold by Eatons, and placed in a different case sometime.  Who knows. The worn off letters on the body say Expert B.  It mocks me

The bobbin is a long skinny one.  I'm going to try looking on ebay.  Does anyone know if the singer bobbins ever fit other machines also, back then?

[Kate XXXXXX]

There's some history about National here: http://www.ismacs.net/national/home.html

There's a manual available here: http://www.thetreadlersvillage.com/Expert_B_Manual.html

Clean it, oil it, be nice to it, and it'll still be sewing 100 years from now.     The manual should tell you the exact type of bobbin to use, and if you cannot find any, shout and I'll shake the ancient sewing machine community and see what falls out of its collective pockets.   

[Lady Caroline]

Thank you Kate, that information will certainly keep me occupied for a while!