I am new to sewing and would like to get a machine to do some small outdoor-related project (homemade backpack, etc...).
I am trying to decide if I should buy a small machine (currently leaning towards a 3/4 size Janome/Kenmore, Janome model # 1017) or try to fix up a Singer 301 I have access to. The 301 seems to be in pretty good condition, it runs pretty smooth. I still have to play with the timing of the bobbin, I think, I can raise the bobbin thread but after that it gets tangled and eventually the needle's thread breaks.
Also the zig-zag attachment is frozen up and stiff. What is the best way to try to unstick/ungunk it? I was thinking of letting it soak in warm water and then oiling it.
Good projects! Penny S is about somewhere with a very good site full of relevant info for you.
Stick with the 301! The thread problem sounds more like tension or putting the bobbin in the case the wrong way round! Wind a fresh bobbin, and follow the manual's instructions for threading both upper and lower threads. Also, put a new needle in the machine and make sure it is in the right way round!
AKK! NO!! Nononononononono! (Somebody tie his thumbs together to stop him!) ;D
Seriously, you are asking for BIIIIG fat rusty problems doing that! What you need is to clean off all the old grease using WD40, make sure you dry THAT all of carefully, and then GREASE it with the correct lubricant: there's a site somewhere called We Fix It that is about sewing machine fixing, and they will help you a lot.
You're welcome - just don't wash a sewing machine! Oh, and keep us posted about how you get on.
I agree with Kate about fixing up the Singer 301. It's what I use for most every sewing project and I LOVE it. I just resized a leather jacket with no difficulty. Here's something to check: is the bobbin case positioned correctly? Look to see if the thumb-looking piece is upright and positioned between the two square pieces on the underside of the throat plate. If not, unscrew the throat plate, lift it up and reposition the bobbin holder. If it is, I got nothin' else.
The 301 is supposed to be a very good machine and is definitely worth fixing. I might supplement it though with a modern serger for finishing edges, after you gain some experience.
The bobbin case and feed dogs should be carefully cleaned. It could have a major lint buildup in those areas. The area should also be inspected for loose threads from previous thread jams. Tweezers and a small pair of scissors or an exacto knife will help remove them if they are found. The feed dogs are easy to get at, just unscrew the plate that is above them. The plate is that area where the needle goes down through. If that doesn't help, try asking the members of wefixit
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for advice.
DON'T DO THAT!!!!!
You'll make it worse. Try unsticking it with wd-40. Depending on which zigzagger you have it will also need grease and/or oil. Instructions for where to place the lubricants are in the instruction manual that comes with it.
Personally I don't like the singer zig zag attachments. They move the fabric instead of having the needle move, so I find them very difficult to control . I do all of my sewing on a vintage singer straight stitch sewing machines, and finish the edges with a modern serger.
I'll eventually buy a machine with a built in zig zag when I start learning to make lingerie. For the projects you described though the singer 301 should be fine. I'd recommend spending your money on a serger not a second sewing machine. The best way to determine what you'll need is to start reading books on how to make the types of projects you are considering. You may not even need zig zag capabilities at all.
Brought the sewing machine to my house today, unjammed it and it is working beutifully. All the zig-zag required was help from some pliers. I might play with the tension a bit but other than that its fine. I do wish the zig-zag was built-in, though.
Just... need... to.. read I guess. I'm getting a few books from the library. How to overcast I should probably learn. Anything related to sewing outdoor gear/clothing.
Also how to sew on stretch material with my 301A. I guess I can pull on the material while sewing, or do a zig zag stitch.
If you choose to pull on the material, be careful not to pull against the needle. Instead, hold the fabric firmly in front of the needle, and behind the needle, and guide it along through the needle in a stretched state.
The area below the needle, the jagged part in the plate, is known as a feed dog. This sinks and rises, in perfect time with the needle's rise and fall, and advances the fabric backwards, a stitch length at a time. Pulling against the needle not only defeats this action, it can also cause the needle to break, which can damage your fabric at the least, and damage you, at the worst.
Naff title, but good book: Sewing for Dummies. Also, the Reader's Digest book. Hit the URL below and take a walk through my Book list for some details and more suggestions, including one for outdoors stuff. There are also some hints and tips on basic seaming and seam finishes on the site.
Narrow zigzag, small stitch, and taut sewing - remember to pull equally both before and behind the needle, or you will bend and break the needle when it hits the stitch plate! I use the same technique on bias cut fabric, as it too likes a bit of stretch in the seams.
and there's a more comprehensive list at the lightweight backpacker, which btw has a great gear making discussion board, with lots of self taught guy-types.
I don't use anything but straight stitch when sewing knits (unless I want to cover a raw edge.) But I don't recommend that a beginner pull on the material -- it's somewhat dangerous; the pull behind the needle must *exactly* match the pull from the front, or the machine won't work properly and a sufficiently-assymetric pull will break the needle.
But you can probably think of a woven-fabric project or two to warm up on.
Try searching on eBay for used copies of the "stretch and sew" books. They were written at the time when stretchy fabric was first becoming popular and they had instructions on how to sew stretchy fabric on a straight stitch machine. Personally though I think that if you plan to sew stretchy fabric you should consider a serger for those projects. They do the job the best. You can use the 301 for everything else though.
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