The sewing machine

[berserkbishop]

Thanks to all for the advice! I figure I only spent 15 dollars for it so if I do have to take it and have it "tuned up" or whatever the case may be then in the end I will only be out $40 or so bucks. I think I will go and talk to a repair shop, I'm sure there is one here in ozarks, because I know NOTHING about sewing. No better way to learn than just doing it right?

[O'Neille]

The information for timing, cleaning and basic maintenance for your machine can be found on the web. Get a new needle, good thread and look for any similar machine information. They are all basically the same. This isn't a space shuttle.

[berserkbishop]

The information for timing, cleaning and basic maintenance for your machine can be found on the web. Get a new needle, good thread and look for any similar machine information. They are all basically the same. This isn't a space shuttle.

Obviously you have never met me. . . sewing illiterate doesnt do me justice. I have tried to find similar manuals for it, but that hasnt really helped. I am going to find the serial number on it and see if that yeilds any more info.

[O'Neille]

You'll do fine, go into your local repair shop and buy some needles and some good thread. Ask the guy with the caloused fingers what you could do to make your machine work better and you'll probably get more information than you can digest. I always leave my local shop with a wealth of information for a three dollar investment. Now go to bed it's a school night!

[berserkbishop]

Now go to bed it's a school night!

Awwwwww. Come on dad its Christmas break! I work 3rd shift so I am about 4 hours away from being in bed. I'm not worried too much about the sewing machine, I will get it working. Now I just have to pick out fabric for my X-Kilt. I am thinking about taking apart my gold brothers kilt and re-using the fabric there. . .any thoughts on how that would work out?

[James MacMillan]

Awwwwww. Come on dad its Christmas break! I work 3rd shift so I am about 4 hours away from being in bed. I'm not worried too much about the sewing machine, I will get it working. Now I just have to pick out fabric for my X-Kilt. I am thinking about taking apart my gold brothers kilt and re-using the fabric there. . .any thoughts on how that would work out?

I did that once with a really cheaply made kilt. Took it all apart, steamed and pressed the fabric, and then had it made (not by me) into a casual kilt, flashes, tie and a vest. I think I was in Okinawa at the time. Good fabric should never be wasted.

[berserkbishop]

The disassembly on the gold brothers kilt looks like it may be more involved and more trouble than it is worth just for me to make an x-kilt out of. . . the duck cloth at wally world is looking like an easier option. I am afraid that I will mess up the kilt so bad that it will no longer be anything kilt like. Maybe for my second project the gold bro's kilt will be reborn as a box pleat.

[Alan H]

Awwwwww. Come on dad its Christmas break! I work 3rd shift so I am about 4 hours away from being in bed. I'm not worried too much about the sewing machine, I will get it working. Now I just have to pick out fabric for my X-Kilt. I am thinking about taking apart my gold brothers kilt and re-using the fabric there. . .any thoughts on how that would work out?

For your first X-Kilt, I'd recommend a solid color material, or camouflage. That way you don't have to worry about lining up tartan stripes when making your first kilt. Dealing with "presser foot creep" will make you crazy.....save that for later.

[Hachiman]

There's another possible explanation for the tangled mess when using the sewing machine.... it's possible that the tension is wrong. If one thread is tighter than the other, things get ugly fast.

Unfortunately, the means for adjusting the tension changes from one machine to another, so how you adjust the tension on your "new" model is a mystery to me. Sorry.

cheers

Hachiman