Some thoughts on using a treadle sewing machine

I have had a chance to use my Bernina Treadle Conversion sewing machine for making 2 projects since I have made the conversion. One thing I have noticed is that the treadle is, oh so slow, in relation to using an electric sewing machine. I had expected as much before I started on this journey. I am now finding that it has become more of a , how shall I say, meditative endeavor. There is a hypnotic rhythm to the soft click-clack of the treadle movement that is restive and relaxing, even though you are putting out much more effort to do the sewing. I don't know how easy it will be to do complex curves with lots of pinning involved, as the constant starting and stopping of the machine to remove pins, makes for a need to restart the treadle which involves a use of the hand wheel with a gentle push in the direction you wish it to rotate. I am one of those people who refuses to sew over pins except by accident. That makes for a lot of stopping and starting. I did adapt a quick withdrawal of the pin maneuver which speeded up the whole process, but it necessitated the inserting of the pin to a lesser depth than I would do if I was using an electric machine.I could slow down even further, as I approached a pin, and extract it just as it came up to the front of the pressure foot. I guess these are a few of the special techniques that I must adapt to when using this machine. Does anybody have any other things that might be of help when sewing on a Treadle that they have found are different from sewing on their electric machine? I am sure there are some of you that are privy to these arcane skills, and would be willing to pass them on. Thanks in advance.

John (Click-Clack)

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Sorry for the double post.

John

You could stop using pins? Sharon Schamber uses Elmer's School Glue instead of pins. Of course, that also may not be your cup of tea -- extra prep work. You can see her technique at:

Bev in TX

I despise messing with pins while I'm at the sewing machine, so when I assemble pieces I pin two times -- first, the usual get-it-perfect pin bit, and then more pins placed parallel to the stitching line and about an inch from that line. I remove the first pins and can then stitch on the machine without moving any pins or running over any pins. I have to move a wee bit slower to maintain accuracy, but with the treadle that isn't a concern at all. You might give it a try and see if you like it.

I pin with the points going toward the stitching line, but far enough away that I can't sew over them, and I use very few pins. I really like the way you have your Benin treadle set up. You did good! Barbara in Central FL

That sounds like a good plan. I will give it a try the next time I get on this machine. I don't mind pins on the electric machine as I have one less thing to do (treadle), and can pull the pins as I sew. But, on the close curves with lots of pinning, on the treadle, it is stop and start, and that is a real hassle. Thanks for the idea.

John

I learned how to sew on one with my Great Aunt when I was 5. I have one DS got for me on Mom's Day but haven't been able to use it because of a Hip problem. (That is being worked on...maybe someday soon I can make a quilt on it.) Our goal when we bought it was my being ABLE to use it. Some goals take longer to attain/obtain. This is one of them.

I'll be watching what advice you get.and , if you have any to add, John, I'd appreciate it.

Butterfly (It's been a long long time)

Not the way I treadle. Maybe I just have too much stress that I need to work out. :)

Not once you get good at it. I almost never have to touch the hand wheel to start up. Just takes a bit of practice.

I thought that might be the case. I assumed that once I got up to speed, so to speak, it would all fall together. I do love using it the

John

The hand wheel is custom turned out of a large block of Brass. It is much larger, and many times heavier, than the standard Bernina hand wheel. The mass of the hand wheel, and the large belt wheel below the tabletop, contributes to it's momentum and like a Singer Treadle, will continue rotating after pressure is left off of the peddle, until it finally comes to a stop. The disconnect for the bobbin winder is the same one that is on the machine and is inside the flare of the hand wheel and engages the bobbin rewind in the same way as always, by rotating it to unlatch from the drive of the main gear function of the machine. You pedal to rewind bobbins.

John

John, My experience with treadle machines is limited. My darling Granny (and yes, there must be a special place in heaven for our grannies) let me be the "motor" while she stitched. I sat under her feet and made that treadle go as fast as I could. Which wasn't terribly fast. But Granny could make that machine sing. Oh my, I can still hear the sound if I close my eyes and put myself back there. I do believe her feet moved so fast you could only see a blur. She let me stitch a little bit. Just at the end of a seam or sometimes a little bit if she was making something for me. Mostly, she taught me to love that old machine just for itself. What a woman!

You're going to love your treadle. And pretty soon you'll be flying, too.

Sunny

I love my treadle. I don't use it all that often but like you I don't like going over pins so I learned that when I plan to use the treadle I will thread baste curves instead of using pins. this makes for smoother movement of my treadle. Of course mine is a very old machine (1905). It sews so smoothly that I don't think twice about the stopping and starting that I have to do from time to time. You are right about the metatative part of using my treadle. I use it when I am doing special quilts or quilts where the fabrics are all reproduction fabrics. I love to think it has a more authentic flavor to the finished quilt. julia

Oh, Polly, I hope so too! My paternal grandmother had a back yard that fascinated us kids. Every year the area of grass in the middle shrank, and the flower borders around it grew deeper. We learned to make hollyhock dolls, and make weird noises on a grass blade, to drop a seed in the ground every time we pulled a radish or carrot.......she was wonderful. And she, too, saved pennies and nickels from her pocketbook so we could get popsicles and other treats. Thank you for the memory.