First sewing experience

Hello again, folks.

Well, it looks like whatever was wrong with my computer has now been resolved, so I will therefore continue.

I also bought a toy sewing machine, with the idea of studying it, and then building a larger one just like it. Even though this toy machine is very obviously not designed to sew heavy denim, I somehow could not resist trying it out on some denim which I cut from an old pair of Levis, just in order to see what the result would be. Well, as might be expected, the motor was not up to the task, although it surprised me to discover that I was able to sew by turning the handwheel. This is a chain-stitching machine, by the way, though I plan on getting a toy lockstitcher also. Because I have a variable-speed portable drill, it will be possible for me to take the handwheel off of the sewing machine, chuck the handwheel shaft into the drill, and then operate the machine with the power coming from the drill. This will give me a chance to then work on the feeding situation for both the thread and the cloth. After this, I suppose, I will be upgrading the needle. Of course, I still will have a limited space to work in, so I will eventually build the larger machine.

I just thought that you folks might be interested in hearing about my project. I am a beginning home shop machinist, and I have been reading about the history of the sewing machine. I also am planning to sew myself a denim suit. I have already bought the material, and the first pattern.

Happy Sewing,

Michael Mandaville

Austin, Texas

I don't understand why you want to build a large toy, when you can just buy a used machine for the same price.........to each his own I guess......post pics when you are done!

Thanks for posting here, you might just end up addicted to this group!

Michelle Giordano, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Canada.

Michael, That sounds like a very interesting project for a machinist to do. You'll have to keep us updated on your progress. Happy sewing after you build it! Emily Houston with many friends in Austin.

I don't know why you would want to sew things from scratch when you can just buy them from a store....

Hello again, Emily, Michelle, and All...

...and thanks for the welcome. I agree that for what I will be spending on my project, it probably would be possible for me to purchase a good used machine, so I don't think that I would recommend that a person could build their own sewing machine as a way to save some money, though I do think that building a sewing machine would be a good way for a person to gain some experience in machine building. I hang out with fellows who build all sorts of machines such as metalworking lathes and milling machines, and I think that this will be a fun project for me. I will keep you posted!

Mike Mandaville

I know....point taken! I wasn't berating him, just wondering......

Michelle Giordano

Instead of copying a toy sewing machine, I would advise copying a old singer. I don't know the models number, but most black machines have very basic metal parts that would be easier to copy than a toy with lots of plastic gears. The ones that are designed to be in a sewing table have most of the mechanism exposed when you flip up the machine. Look around at junk stores and yardsales. Since you don't want to sew with it, you can buy one that would other wise be junk.

You are going to have to pay special attention to the timing. That is the position of the needle to the bobbin thread as it passes. Different machines have slightly different mechanisms. Maybe someone that knows more about older machines can recommend model number to look out for.

Here is a very interesting site on how the stitch is formed.

Hi Mike,

Well I must say I admire your tenacity. =20

But....why not just check out the garage sales, classified ads, used furniture stores or thrift shops in your area and pick up a cheap but VERY well made old Singer or Kenmore sewing machine? Then you would have a blast cleaning it up and getting it to sew again, not to mention rescuing it from the landfill.

--Irene (who has about 50-60 vintage sewing machines and has taken classes on how to repair them)=20

-------------- You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.=20

--Mae West=20

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In article , of

uttered> I hang out with fellows who build all sorts of machines such as >metalworking lathes and milling machines, and I think that this will be >a fun project for me. I will keep you posted!Commendable, if bizarre. However, do these other chaps already know how their machine of choice works and how to use it before they try to build their own?

Either way, I think you'd do better to pick up a "proper" hand-crank or treadle from the charity shop/ freecycle/ wherever and use that to fathom out which particular wheel you wish to reinvent if you actually want to sew anything worth having. Toy machines are just that - toys. You'd be doing well to make a frock for Barbie on one.

why are you gals so intent on giving this guy a hard time for wanting to do something that obviously he's interested in, he has the tools and skills for, and would fufill some sort of need/desire he has to make something? I say, he's a machinist, more power to him....!! Go Mike, have lots of fun!!! Don't let those who question you be more than a gnat of annoyance!!

Penny S

A

What fun! Be sure to post a link to pictures when you get all done. :) We had friends over last night and I was showing off my industrial straight stitch machine. The guy was really impressed. He works on all sorts of BIG machines all the time, and he said how he has always been fascinated with sewing machines. ;) So I understand where you are coming from. Have fun with your project. Can't wait to hear all about it.

Sharon

Miichael, Way to go! Have fun building your machine. You soound like my son. He's alaways looking to build things anad see if he can improve on what's out there. I hope you come up with something so fabulous that we'll all be green with envy. Ignore the nay sayers. There just jelous! Don't for get the picutes as you go along. We, well me would like to see the process. Juno

On 2005-05-30 snipped-for-privacy@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com said: >Newsgroups: alt.sewing >Hello again, folks. [snip] >I have a variable-speed portable drill, it will be possible for me >to take the handwheel off of the sewing machine, chuck the >handwheel shaft into the drill, and then operate the machine with >the power coming from the drill. I recommend retaining the handwheel (really a flywheel) for its inertia's help in getting through a stitch.

Why not just install a larger motor? Belt drives are so easy...

Tom Willmon Mountainair, (mid) New Mexico, USA

Net-Tamer V 1.12.0 - Registered

Great link! Even my DH was impressed.

Susan aka Betsy Ross

then building a larger one just like it.

OMG this is excellent. My SO has his own machine shop too. I am really interested in what you come up with!

"Oh honey...I need a new scroll foot..."

gabrielle

metalworking lathes and milling machines, and I think that this will be a fun project for me. I will keep you posted!

On-line forum, JIC you don't already know about it:

Folks, I must admit that I am very pleasantly surprised by the number of responses which I am getting here.

Hello, Joy.

I have already been to the site for which you posted the link, though I am very glad that you posted it, because the animation especially is excellent, I think. In fact, it was the animation on that page which compelled me to purchase my toy Singer!

Mike Austin, Tx

Hello, AJ

The advantage of starting out with the machine which I am starting out with is that its mechanism is simpler than a more complex machine. I believe that it takes a certain amount of skill to build a toy machine, even. Please keep in mind that my goal is to acquire the skill, and that the machine is only a by product of that process.

Mike meditating on how I would be "doing well" :-)