Use of chainstitch sewing machine?

I have a Wilcox & Gibbs machine. The stitch is decorative if you stitch on the *back* of the fabric, which puts the chain on the surface. I used to have a Touch & Sew with a chain stitch feature - a special plate that goes over the bobbin and a couple of extra pieces - and used that for things that I knew I would want to "let out" in the future - like hems in clothes for growing children.

The stitch is not secure unless you fasten the end of the stitching, either by knotting it, or sewing across it, as in quilting. Since there's only one thread instead of two, it's not as strong a seam.

They're fun to use.

You might use it to Embroider TAMBOUR .. mirjam

My mother in law still has her grandmother's chainstitcher, which was used for her childhood dresses, among other things. She discovered she could get sent home from school if she picked the stitching out... ;-)

There are single thread chainstitchers and double thread. I think the double thread (with a bobbin) were and are more common. It's great to have a chainstitch handy for basting, and I use the chainstitch on my coverstitch machine for doing padding stitching for working hand embroidery over.

Buy it, restore it, and sell it at a profit if you don't want to use it...

One of my students' favorite projects was making neckties. We took apart old neckties, and the best and most expensive of them were made with a chain stitch machine. This made it very easy to take them apart without distortion. I think chain stitch machines are still used for neckties.

Teri

Most of Alan's best silk ones seem to be hand stitched.

Seconded! I have often longed for a chain stitch for basting a garment together for a fittings. I loath and despise unpicking basting stitches, even

Beverly, who really doesn't have room for any more machines, but....

I once bought a toy crank-operated chainstitch machine thinking that I could use it for basting and embroidery. But even though it dated back to when sewing machines were machinery, it was still a toy -- it took me about three inches of hem to decide that it was easier to sew by hand.

If I had a place to put it -- I've got a machine set up in the sewing room, one in the bedroom, one in the garage, and DH put a computer in the only possible spot in the living room -- I'd love to have a chainstitch machine.

Joy Beeson

As are all of mine.

My Kenmore has an attachment, I think it goes into the bobbin shuttle, which apparently converts to chain stitching. Sometime I will take a picture of the manual page and the attachment, I haven't tried it yet but it sounds neat.

Michelle Giordano

Dear Kate,

The center length of the tie is stitched by hand; if you ever have a chance, take apart one of Alan's old ties, and I think you'll find that the points (the only other sewing in the tie) are done with chain stitches. There is more folding and pressing than there is sewing.

Teri

I have one for my New Home. It works beautifully.

I think the linings are hand stitched too! They were on the one I had to re-stitch, anyway...

The pints on the cheaper poly ties are hand stitched. ALL of James's school ties are machined. There I think they go for strength rather than beauty. Next time I buy him a school tie, I'll need to see if they do an adult size!

Yes, I had a toy sewing machine which did lockstitch and bought one second hand for my husband to play with about twenty years ago, I think you can still buy them. They're a lot of fun.

And the stiches are easier to pull out! You might not think that's an dvantage though :-)

Give it to me :-)))))

Mary

Old Ties Great Source for wonderful colorful new clothes !!! skirts shirts , Collars etc,,, I once saw in a book a skirt made of old OPENED flaatened ties , with ribbons of Jeans in between them it was FANTASTIC ,,,, mirjam