Treadle Sewing Machine/ Quilting

I plan to do some actual quilting on mine! I can drop the feed dogs if I want, but I also bought a walking foot for it.

Thanks, Kate. Do they all drop the feed dogs or is this something to look for ? I guess I need to do some research before I start looking.... Thanks again, Dawn

Depends what kind of machine it is. Mine's a Singer 15-81, and the feed dog dropper is underneath. You can see the whole machine on my web site, plus a picture of me treadling! One of the best things I have done is join the Treadleonians. They are dedicated ti USING their treadle and other people powered sewing machines, and have lots of knowledge about this sort of stuff. Go to Captain Dick's Treadle On web site, and see what you can find:

Both.

No, not all drop the feed dogs. Most of the old singers don't, they require a special plate to cover them instead which can be hard to find. The exceptions that I know of are the 15-88, 15-89, 15-90, and-91. The 15-88 is a treadle, the 89 a hand crank, 90 electric, and 91 is a gear driven electric with a potted motor. These 4 seem to be popular with quilters because of the feed dog dropping mechanism. I personally haven't quilted (yet), but I have used the dropped feed dogs for darning. It's actually kind of fun!

Rebecca

I don't have a treadle machine...yet >grin

Thanks for all the information!

I don't quilt, but I do have six treadles. I sew on them. I like the quietness and the sound of them. I also find that I can sew a long, straight seam on a treadle much better than I can on an electric machine. It may be about having something to do while waiting to get to the end of the seam. ;-)

My totally unbiased opinion (if you believe that, I have some real estate you'll want) is that every seamstress or sewist should have at least one treadle machine. If the power goes off, you can sew. If you need to stitch up an open seam or other disaster late at night, you can do it without waking anyone.

Treadles look neat! Often the ironwork is lacy, and the machines themselves are impressive engineering. Some of the cabinets are drop-dead gorgeous. They qualify as antiques, many of them, and they absolutely fascinate young boys. Go figure!

I don't have that problem - must be something to do with the number of straight seams I have had to do in the last few years! ;) I find i go straighter the faster I go!

Would that real estate include a bridge? ;P

I have just the one treadle (on my web site) plus the hand crank. DH almost (but not quite! It wasn't quite worth it!) threw a hissy fit when the treadle came home! Then he was nice enough to fit the belt for me. He has refused to let me learn to use the little sander on the table (badly in need of restoration), because he will make a better job of it than I will as a newbie! If we are going to have this thing in the house, it's going to look GOOD! When restored to its former glory, it will live on the upstairs landing, by a north facing window. It will be the only one, as we have no more wardrobes to get rid of! The treadle will go where the school costume wardrobe presently hangs out, and the whole place will look a lot more spacious!

It has only ben here a few weeks, but has already caused comment with visitors! Usually their first question is 'Do you use it?' and the second one 'Why?'. Bunch of philistines! ;P

At present mine is a bit of a mess, and it has fairly utilitarian legs, but I do love it. It's usable, and I intend to make the lady who gave it to me a quilt on it. I've already used the hand crank to piece a tiddly quilt top, and have used it for many years for manymanymany projects. They are both on the web site - URL below.

I find boys are equally fascinated by the multiple stitch patterns and computer controls of the Lily - and find it very easy to use. The major problem I have with the treadle is that it's so long since I used one that I find it awkward to start off in the right direction! It can set off backwards, and break the thread!

Wow, six...we'd have to be sitting on them >g

Not just a bridge, but a toll booth, too!

Often all you need is some "refinisher" - like Formby's or Howard's - and a green plastic scrubber or a bit of steel wool. Check to make sure any veneer is tightly glued. There are tricks with an iron, a damp cloth, and some clamps to fix loosening veneer.

Indeed! And what were they doing pre-Y2K? Giving any thought to power outages and the like?

I learned to sew on a treadle way back in Home Ec classes. I always start any machine with my hand on the balance wheel, starting it off in the right direction. It's not even a conscious act. My Willcox & Gibbs treadle has a place for a small rubber ball that prevents you from treadling backwards. Ingenious!

My cousin has our grandmother's White treadle, and I was lucky enough to furnish her with a full set of attachments and a belt for it. There is a soothing connection with the past that comes with using the old treadle machines.

When you come right down to it, our modern machines are not significantly different from these golden oldies. They make a stitch in exactly the same way, and probably

But if you want to feel like a beginner, look at the old Singer book Singer Instructions for Art Embroidery and Lace Work which has the most incredibly beautiful decorative stitching, all originally done on a straight-stitch treadle. Robbie Fanning at Open Chain publishing reprinted it, and there are still some "original" editions out there, too. A feast for the eyes.

LOL! During the big blackout in August I attempted to sew on one of my treadles. I couldn't see well enough to thread the needle, and attempting to do so by candle light or flashlight wasn't very helpful either! I would have had to wait until high noon, and rearrange all my furniture to get it up by the window that has the most sun. No, a treadle didn't help entertain me during the last black out. :o(

Now this part I agree with. I do love treadles, but I just wouldn't depend on being able to use them during a black out. ;o)

Rebecca

I have one of the original editions ( found it on eBay). It's an awesome book. One day I hope to be good enough to attempt some of the things in it.

Rebecca

Coleman makes a battery powered lamp that is great. I always swore by Coleman white gas lamps (indispensable during hurricane season in south Florida) but this one gives as good a light without the hazards of gasoline and flame. It's a humongous battery, though.

OOh! AND a troll to live under it? Got to have a troll, or you can't collect the tolls from goats! ;P !

We don't get so many power outages here, and those we do get are usually caused by storms, either letting lightning or water into the sub-station, or trees falling on the power lines. Even so, I have been known to sew using Jenny by the light of the Tilly lamp!

I learned when I was 5, treadling Granny's with one foot because I was too small to sit and treadle! That was 41 years ago, mind, giving me plenty of time to forget! I have to remember the hand wheel thing - too used to the electric one and the hand crank!