Newbie just bought a singer 514 Help!

I find the goods take ages to arrive!

Reply to
sigmund
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On Fri 14 Nov08 22:22, Lizzy Taylor wrote in :

It was a bit!

Sal

Reply to
Sal

On Sat 15 Nov08 13:13, wrote in :

Or "last seen in full working order"!

Sal

Reply to
Sal

On Sat 15 Nov08 01:28, IMS wrote in :

Oh oh! Lowprice but not so good value? I've heard that before.

Sal

Reply to
Sal

...and they put way too much in how the machine looks and 'runs.' They might state "it works fine!" when all they've done is turn it on and hit the foot pedal - and never stitched with it.

Reply to
No_Spam_Please

allthumbs had written this in response to

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: Joy Beeson wrote:

-------------------------------------

Thanks I will definately do that! I found my post on another website as well when I googled looking for parts for my machine... must be some type of hijacking typooon? ANYHOW...I managed to get through reading my manual enough to learn how to turn it on, thread the bobber, and then the machine, ran through a few different pieces of fabric...and then I got really excited! Ran out to Walmart, picked up suggested retail, hurried home and then...managed to hem 2 pairs of jeans!!!!!!!!! (broke one needle since I accidently ran over my hem and sewed 2 together...) blush. But it was only a few stitches and they can right out, put in new one and away I went!!! Took way longer than I was thinking though, and Calvin Klein has no fear of me sneaking up behind him to steal the lime light...but hey! They are done! I got overenthusiastic then, tried an old pair of my daughters fleece jogging pants, but they turned out awful... Gathered and slipped around, and I lost all track of measurement. At least with the jeans I could iron as I went along for my measures, but this stufff... What a mess. Into the garbage they went as I picked out a whole in them trying to take the stitches out...sigh. Over all a much better experience than I was fearing, but I wish there was a way for some kind of an arm so that the tube part of the jeans was easier to sew... They twist and turn so much! The machine purred like a kitten, nice and quiet, but after back surgery 5 weeks ago, sitting in that kind of position for any amount of time is sure a challenge...I will wait a few more days before I take another stab at it again... But I survived! And so far, I think sewing just might become my new friend!LOL!

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Reply to
allthumbs

formatting link
Joy Beeson wrote:> > On 14 Nov 2008 13:56:45 GMT,lauriah2_at_hotmail_dot snipped-for-privacy@foo.com > (allthumbs) wrote:>

the motor

pedal

difficult place.

website as

some type

learn how to

through a few

and

needle since I

it was

away I

has no fear

They are

daughters

slipped

jeans I

What a

them trying

wish there was

jeans was

purred like a

sitting in

challenge...I will

my new

A "free arm" machine is what you are wishing for ...

you slip the tube of fabric { sleeve, pant leg, etc.} over the "free arm" and not worry with keeping the fabric bends from sneeking under the foot with the stuff you are trying to sew .

Fleece fabric and any soft stretchy fabrics (knits,spandex, lycra, etc ) have there own difficulties with sewing. You will want to use another set of skills/tricks to sew those reliably and masterfully. Lots of people here can help with that skill set.

The best "trick" is to use a test/scrap piece first to sort out the sewing settings and to practice a bit before actually sewing the real thing ....

HTH robb

Reply to
robb

formatting link
Joy Beeson wrote:> > On 14 Nov 2008 13:56:45 GMT,lauriah2_at_hotmail_dot snipped-for-privacy@foo.com > (allthumbs) wrote:>

the motor

pedal

difficult place.

website as

some type

learn how to

through a few

and

needle since I

it was

away I

has no fear

They are

daughters

slipped

jeans I

What a

them trying

wish there was

jeans was

purred like a

sitting in

challenge...I will

my new

A "free arm" machine is what you are wishing for ...

you slip the tube of fabric { sleeve, pant leg, etc.} over the "free arm" and not worry with keeping the fabric bends from sneeking under the foot with the stuff you are trying to sew .

Fleece fabric and any soft stretchy fabrics (knits,spandex, lycra, etc ) have there own difficulties with sewing. You will want to use another set of skills/tricks to sew those reliably and masterfully. Lots of people here can help with that skill set.

The best "trick" is to use a test/scrap piece first to sort out the sewing settings and to practice a bit before actually sewing the real thing ....

HTH robb

Reply to
robb

After forty years of using a free-arm machine, I fell in love with an old treadle and started using it for everything straight stitch could handle. I was surprised that the flat bed didn't make sewing tubes much harder -- I even managed to flat-fell seams in long sleeves, something that isn't all that easy even with a free arm.

But the forty years were the main ingredient. When you are just starting, small bumps can be very big.

Joy Beeson

Reply to
Joy Beeson

Stop frequently and turn the jeans around with the foot down and the needle down. Do it carefully - and sew the leg from the inside with the jeans right side out - sounds difficult but it isn't.

The machine purred like a

Congratulations on your great new buy :-))

but after back surgery 5 weeks ago, sitting in

You should be sitting upright and not leaning forward or crouching over the machine. We're mostly older here so have to take care of our aging back so been there/learned not to.

If you can find a few old door stops or a piece of timber that slopes, you might be able to tilt the machine forward by putting it under the machine at the back so that you can see better, but don't slouch and find a chair that gives you good lumbar support :-))

I will

Nice to hear of another convert.

Reply to
FarmI

Tilting the machine is a good way to deal with a too-high table. Putting the machine on an old typing stand is a better way. (My machine is on a typing table from the time after electric motors were added to typewriters, but before the platen stopped thunking back and forth. Tables from a later date are too flimsy for sewing machines.)

You want to put the machine on the table a little to the right of center, so that the needle is in front of you.

Reply to
Joy Beeson

The most important things are to make sure that the machine fits you, and it's placed so that the table it's on and the chair you sit on allow you to reach and see all without bending, hunching over (except perhaps for brief needle threading moments!*), and that the chair doesn't leave your feet dangling in mid air and you groping for the foot control! Ideally, the flatbed of the machine should be at the same point from your fingers as the keyboard: sit on ther chair, back straight, and hold your forearms parallel to the table surface. Let your fingers doopnaturally. Your fingers should just brush the keyboard or the machine bed. Your feet (in heels or not, whatever you sew in) should be resting on the floor/support with foot pedal on, and your knees bent in a right angle. This is why dining chairs and tables are not really suitable for sewing. Your sewing should also be fully supported to the left of and behind the machine, so that you don't strain arms and back trying to stop it dragging itself to the floor. I have mobile extensions for use with bigger projects.

My sewing benches in the room upstairs are slightly higher than dining tables. I adjust the office style chair to fit, and support my feet if wearing only soacks, unless it's one of those tasks where I'm up and down and back and forth between machines and ironing board (downstairs).

*Take off specs. Put them down somewhere to the right of sewing machine. Hunch down so nose is 3" from needle. Pop thread through eye of needle. Straighten up. Swear gently as hair is YET AGAIN caught in take-up lever. Disentagle hair Grope for specs. After 20 minutes, find them behind the machine/on the floor/under the pattern envelope you moved looking for specs. Brush hair and re-tie it up out of the way. Meanwhile, the thread has mysteriously come out of the needle...
Reply to
Kate XXXXXX

LOL. I find it quite annoying and slightly painful when my hair gets caught in the tension disks as I lower the presser foot after leaning forward to make sure something is positioned "just so".

Lizzy

Reply to
Lizzy Taylor

So neither of you will laugh at me for my very, very, very short haircut, which I must say I am loving. At one time, I had hair that I sat on -- not deliberately, but inevitably. Then came that head snap when I got up, probably made my neck muscles very strong. But it had to go, it was like having an extra job, taking care of it, not to mention the weight of it. Now, I'm at about a half inch to an inch long. Heeee

-- I loooooove it!

Reply to
Pogonip

Can it sew leather for bags?

Reply to
Naeema

No it can not it is a home machine

Reply to
Ron Anderson

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