Bernette 410 -- stitch length problems

See what I mean, OP? I can't imagine ever parting with mine either.

How do you get it to stay in reverse?

I think we must all be very good at re-inventing the wheel. For many years, whenever I have shortened jeans for DD, I have used the cut off section of the hem as a "hump jumper". I just never called it that....

I even save a few of them in case a re-hemming doesn't require cutting off the full depth of the old hem.

Beverly

I've done this too, in a pinch. The advantage of the purchased hump jumper (costs money, darn it!) is that its 'fork' design lets you position it with the prongs extended under the presser foot, equalizing the thickness under the entire foot instead of just at the back.

The open slot in hump jumpers is just over a half inch, and in the jean-a-ma-jig is a full inch, which usually lets you clear the extra thickness before the presser foot slides off.

Doreen in Alabama

You are right. Mine doesn't either (reverse that is) I haven't sewn on it in too long I guess. I don't guess that has ever bothered me if I didn't even notice though.

Interesting that my 930 cost about $1400 in 1985. It is still worth more than half that amount and sews like a dream. She has sewn a zillion miles I bet. Everytime I have the gals over to sew someone comments about how smooth it is. They all expect it to sew like an old clunker I guess. A friend has an 830 and she says everytime she goes sewing machine shopping she can't find a reason to get a new one. Taria

Phaedr> >

I got a thing called a 'button reed' with my Husqvarna sewing machine. Looks like this Hump Jumper thing, but is grey:

That's interesting. The Sewing Place description says "The perfect tool for making the space for a button shank." Since I always sew buttons on by hand, that use for the hump jumper had never occurred to me, but I can see that it would be very helpful in conjunction with the button foot.

If I may amend my explanation of the purchased thingys' benefits, I should have said "The advantage of the purchased hump jumper (costs money, darn it!) is that its 'fork' design lets you position it with the prongs extended under the presser foot *as you approach the problematic area*, equalizing the thickness under the entire foot instead of just at the back."

Doreen in Alabama

Thanks for your tips, Cea. The ingenuity of people in solving problems with what they have at hand is always a source of amazement for me.

Betty in Georgia

Phaedrine wrote in news:Phaedrine.Stonebridge-810B63.00301331082006@news-

My point was that age or previous ownership isn't necessarily a sign of a machine that's outlived it's usefulness.

I even pulled out my manual thinking maybe I had missed something all these years! LOL It sews in reverse.... just not continuous reverse without holding the lever.... though I imagine something could be propped under it for that purpose.

The power board on my 931 blew recently--- the first thing to ever go wrong with the machine--- and had to be replaced. I've used the machine practically every day since I bought it and have sewed just about anything you can think of on it. I felt like my firstborn had gone off to college while it was out for repair. I recently purchased a 200e but I still consider the 931 my workhorse.

Phae

I see. And here I thought you were addressing something I said since you posted it to me. I said it was a poor quality machine that had already been *reconditioned* 20 years ago.

Phaedrine wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news-50.dca.giganews.com :

Geez, relax, it was an innocent remark not a personal attack.

You're welcome> Now, I just wish I could remember what I opened a _big _paper clip up for...I remember it as a quite clever solution for something, so I've kept it in my machine parts box, hoping the moment would re-occur. It's going on about 6 or 7 years, so I guess that particular brain fart is gone forever. Cea

Now, I just wish I could remember what I opened a

Spacer to make button thread shank come out longer? Liz

I keep one pin cushion specifically for "used-no-longer-useful" sewing machine needles for that purpose. ;-) Isn't it funny how we come up with these little work-arounds?

Beverly