sewing machine question

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

My apprentice, Elizabeth, started her sewing on a Baby Lock Denim Pro. It was a first step to learning more how to sew. She has since moved up to a Baby Lock Crafter's Choice. Her confidence increased 200% after she started playing with it and took several classes on how to use the features needed for Alterations and Period Clothing she does with me. The quality of her sewing has vastly improved.

Go with a machine that will suit the needs that you have, for the level of sewing that you do, and where your confidence is at. Buy a machine where machines are sold so that you get lessons on how to use it to get the most out of it. When it comes to having good equipment, costs does come into play.

Cheaper is not always better. I spent well over $1,000 for a machine on sale that is my workhorse because I need it for the type of work that I do. I have yet to rue that decision.

Good luck.

[LordPaulet]

In reply to Cileans post:
That looks like a Singer CG-550 (can't be for sure though couldnt find a model number) if you were to go with any of the CG models I would go with the CG-590.  the cost on this model (in most places I can find) is $250 (this is withough all the extra feet) and comes with more stitches.  I do not know the exact specs on the 550 but I did have a 590 and LOVED it!! This machine has metal fit gears on the inside...most machines today have plastic or nylon gears.  When sewing heavy fabric the nylon gears jump and now your machine is out of timing.  I can report first hand the 590 will sew through a belts width of leather with NO problems.  I was also able to roll denim and velvet into 12 layers thick and it went through it like a hot knife through butter.  This machine also handles stretch and light fabrics very well instead of chewing them to crap.  I highly recommend this machine to the ren sewer sewing all of that velvet and upholstry weight fabrics.

[Auryn]

Ok I know I am resurrecting an old thread but I figured I would update a bit.

I still havent taken the machine to get checked out- its been crazy, I can't believe its december already.
Anyhoo.
As far as attachments that came with the machine
( I found a great book at the local library that identifies and explains attachments in older machines- great book).
I have a zig zag attachment, I have a blind stitch attachment and the best part is I have a button hole attachment with 6 or 7 different button hole size templates.
I have about a dozen other foot attachments that I haven't been able to identify yet although I am pretty sure that one is a ruffle/pleat foot.

I somehow managed to lose the manual for the darn thing about a week after I got it in the house. I have a bad feeling I might have accidentally tossed it because I cant find it anywhere and I don't have any furry babies that might have moved it.

[Pascal]

You can download a free PDF copy of the 15-91 manual -- they're all over the place, but Singer has them at /http://www.parts.singerco.com/IPinstManuals/

[Auryn]

So I don't know if anyone cares but I figured this would be better than starting a new thread since I'm talking about the same machine.

I found a manual for the button holer attachment and I plan on trying my hand at it tonight.
Last night I tried sewing two pieces of medium weight leather and the machine handled it beautifully. The tensions are a bit loose but I figure I can fix that.
Quick question for anyone who might know.
Is the manual for the 15-90 the same (aside for the motor belt stuff) as the one for the 15-91??
I ask because thanks to Pascal I have the manual for the 15-91 but can't seem to find the 15-90 manual anywhere without paying for it.

Oh and I am hoping to find a service manual- I was quoted $70 just to look at the machine.

[Pascal]

You're correct -- the 15-90 and the 15-91 are the same machine ... with the exception of the motor arrangement.  It's direct mounted and geared on the 15-91 and belt driven external on the 15-90.  Some folks feel the 15-90 is a little more powerful because of this (the motors are the same, BTW).  Everything in the manual for the 15-91 applies to the 15-90 except for any motor drive stuff.

I know I've seen service manuals for free download -- let me dig around and see if I can find them.  Ahh -- how about http://www.parts.singerco.com/IPinstManuals/15-91.pdf ?  It's for the 15-91, but it's really virtually the same machine as the 15-90.

I've got a page set up regarding the Singer buttonholer at http://www.using-sewing-machines.com/Singerbuttonholer.html -- it's on a 201-2, not a 15-90, but they were very similar contemporary machines and the operation should be the same.  Singer had a couple of variations of buttonholers -- but the only real difference is that one is for upright needle machines and the other is for slant-needle machines.  Your 15-90 is an upright needle (same as the 201).

A good information source (in addition to the wefixit group at Yahoo groups) is Jenny's blog at http://blog.sew-classic.com/ .

[Auryn]

Ahhhh Pascal,
what would I do without your infinite wealth of knowledge on this machine.
I have about 60 pages of material to go through now.
Hopefully by the end of the week I will have an awesome leather piece to show
thanks so much

[Kate XXXXXX]

Hehehehehe...  I've just been playing with buttonholers on my 99K.  I have 3.  They fit all the low shank machines except the slant needle ones.  None of my buttonholers looks quite like Pascal's, but one takes the same sort of cams.

Pascal, the trick to making decent buttonholes with these things is twofold:

First, use a standard weight cotton thread (Gutterman type rather than YLI's finer stuff, or Aurifil).  Don't use poly - it stretches too much and the buttonholes go all tight and puckered.  Remember to slacken off the tension a tad as well.

Second, don't set the stitch length too dense if you have the adjustable sort rather than the cam sort.  With both, go round twice!

They make better buttonholes on medium to heavy close woven fabrics than on light weight or loose weave fabrics.  I posted pix of my three here, along with some other junk: http://community.livejournal.com/vintagemachines/25020.html

[Auryn]

Pascal,
that manual you graciously linked me to is a adjustment manual, do you know if there's an owner's manual anywhere?? I need something for basic things like adjusting the tension on the bobbin.

Kate- love the page. I have that button holer in the green case like at the top of your page. Still haven't had a go with it.


The machine is sewing leather beautifully- just got to make a little lower tension adjustment.
I have decided I'm going to leave the machine set up for leather that way I can always go right to it. well leather and button holes if the buttonholer works well 

[Pascal]

You can find a scan of the owner's manual at http://www.sew-classic.com/uploads/15-91.pdf.  Actually, that entire page at http://blog.sew-classic.com/2008/10/05/singer-1591-sewing-machine-review.aspx is a good source of information for the 15-91 (which is almost the same as the 15-90)