Sewing

There is a small hole on the top of the machine. Push the Elna screwdriver down into this hole with one hand. The bulb will pop out the bottom. Push the bulb up and turn anti-clockwise to remove.

The sewing machine with the foot pedal, also called a foot treadle, was invented by Elias Howe, Jr. Howe was born in Spencer, Massachusetts in July of 1819. He started out working at a textile factory.

If you want to replace the needle on your sewing machine, you unscrew the thumbscrew behind and above the needle (with the presser foot down) and remove the old needle. Then hold the new needle under there with the point down and insert it into the slot. The slot is usually half round, half flat so you have to be sure the flat part of the needle matches the flat part of the slot. When it is in there, you just finger tighten the thumbscrew and you are ready to go.

Janome makes the the current Kenmore sewing machines.

Bernina. if you buy a genuine Bernina it will be the last machine you will ever need. i am a sewing machine mechanic and i work on all brands and i quilt as well as sew all my own clothing. i have owned and sewed on all the brands. has the most precise stitch and there machines have the leased amount of breakdowns or problems. if you buy a cheap singer or other junk you can find at Walmart you will have so much trouble you will end up hating sewing and you wont realize its just your machine that sucks.

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I tend to agree to some degree. I too have a Bernina, but I also own 2 Viking sewing machines ( one for working with leather, and one for working with very heavy fabrics, such as denim or canvas. I also own a Pfaff which is VERY good for quilting.

I have thrown out numerous other makes and models. Though I WILL keep my old Singer treadle. : }

I have seen them on e-bay for as little as $250. It depends on the accessory and the prices vary in different parts of the country.

Your best deal will be to visit your local sewing machine sales office and ask for their lowest price. You will get the best service in person.

According to ehow.com, Baby Locks are made by Brother.

We own a Kenmore Model 48 sewing machine which we purchased new from Sears in 1964. Hope this helps.

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September 30, 2009

My Grandma got her Kenmore 48 for her 20th wedding anniversary in 1961. The owners manual (I have inherited the machine) is dated 1960. For a machine that is almost 50 years old it runs incrediably well. It came new, mounted in a decorative cabinet and even that has withstood the test of time and dozens of kids!! What a great investment my Grandpa made!!!

It would be between 1959-62

In order to use a sewing machine safely, you need to be attentive. Keep your eyes on the needle and keep your hands away from the moving machanism. If you do not know how to use a feature, especially one that involves changing out parts, read the directions carefully first.

No, you dont need a sewing machine to sew but it is better to have one as they are faster. if your not bothered about the speed of your work than you can always hand stitch. The stitches would probably be more accurate with a sewing machine but the only main difference is the speed.

Calico fabric was popular during the 1800's. It was a common cotton fabric often known as being used by the pioneers. It is referenced in the "Little House on the Prairie" books as being used for dresses for the girls. Today it is used for quilting and other homemaking crafts.

According to LoveToKnow, this machine is worth about $150-$300 on ebay; depending on the condition.

Interesting. I have the very same unit and it is in very good shape. Someone loved it obviously. :)

To be able to let your creative juices flow.

There are many times when you see something made of fabric that you would like but it doesn't come in your size, or the waist is too large, or the hem is too long. You can buy it and fix it yourself.

A piece of fabric may catch your eye and you decide to make a quilt with it and others.

Create a unique gift for someone you love, giving of your time and talent which is precious these days.

You might want to make curtains for a hard to fit window. Or a bed set may not have curtains to match, but they do sell extra sheets. You can make them yourself.

Make your own or your child's Halloween costumes. Period costumes for reenactments, clothes they don't sell in the stores.

Create toys for kids. Teddy bears are fun to make. Make clothes for dolls.

The list goes on and on.

The hand wheel on a sewing machine is primarily used to raise the needle in order to feed or remove the work (seam, zipper, button or whatever you are sewing) into or out of the machine. It is also used to advance the work slowly to reach a certain point manually, where you might again resume sewing.

Vintage sewing machines are valued much like vintage automobiles. Just saying you have an 1891 Singer sewing machine is not enough to establish the value. Several other factors must be considered: - Condition: Is it a rusty hulk, or shiny, showroom shape? - Model: Each manufacturer made several machines for different pocketbooks, just as with autos, the luxury models usually retain their value better than the utility models. - Configuration: How many drawers does the treadle cabinet have? COunting the center drawer, it could be 3, 5, or 7 drawers. Is there any fancy carving on the cabinet, or is it pretty plain? Often, the treadle cabinet is worth more than the machine itself! Has it been electrified by removing it from the treadle cabinet and adding a motor and foot control, or is it in its original configuration? - Accessories: Does the machine have its instruction manual and full complement of accessories that came with it? Are there any additional accessories that were purchased later? Then there are other issues that can affect the selling price of a vintage sewing machine: - Location: If you live in an upscale U.S. neighborhood, probably very few buyers will be interested in an average condition old sewing machine. If you live in an area with a large number of lower income families, they might want an old, reliable sewing machine to actually sew on. - Furniture value: If your machine is in a nice wood cabinet, some may be interested in it purely for its decorative value. Others will shy away because they don't have room for a cabinet or it does not match their décor. Some buyers will only want a portable model they can stash away in a closet when not in use. - Shipping: If you are only willing to sell locally, your market will be limited. If your machine is small enough to ship, listing it on Ebay might bring a quicker sale and higher price. Speaking of Ebay, that is probably the best place to research prices for old sewing machines. Look for machines of the same model and age, in the same condition. Note the accessories that come with it and see how closely your item matches the Ebay item.

It makes the needle move.

Actually the pressure foot works in conjunction with the feed dog mechanism, as well as in synchronicity with the needle movement, and the looping hook. In a zigzag for instance the side to side movement creates a taller or shorter 'Z' based on distance the feed dog moves the material. The feed dog is simply a jagged stepped piece of steel which travels one direction in an elevated motion, 'pushing' the material through the machine. The feed dog returns it's travel in a lowered position, thereby allowing the material to pass in one continuous direction. Often it is the pressure foot which is the final adjustment in preparing ones machine, and is adjusted with more pressure for materials with a more stable nature. It has been my experience that if a fabric is not smooth ( IE. a pocket on a pair of jeans), that loosening the pressure foot allows for easier control whilst sewing around bumpy edges. In fact, I must admit I am more of a technician than a sewer ( what do you call one who sews?), but I've found that you can increase the number of stitches in a given area if you lessen the foot pressure and pull the material back slightly- then let the material go back across the same point again. This of course is the bane of every sewing person ( smells, oops spells better than sewer). If one could only sew a cloth with the same accuracy that their machine was prepared to handle there would be far more people still making their own cloths, or at least fixing them. The bottom line is that the less you sew the more needles you'll break. Practice practice practice.

There is no way to determine what the value of a sewing machine is worth without seeing it. It all depends on the condition of the machine. If it is a rare machine, it could be worth more, but there are very few buyers in the market today.

An etui is a small (ornamental) case for holding needles etc.

yes they did

If you go to a fabric store to buy the material, they will have patterns there as well. Find the pattern that is closest to the design of your dress, find your size listed on the pattern and it will tell you how much you need.

You select the right needle for your sewing machine by the type of fabric you are using. For instance, you would use a #18 for leathers and a #11 ballpoint for lightweight knits and a #14 for linens. The place you buy needles has a chart for what you need.

I have the 201 manufactured in 1953. I have been doing much research on the 201 and 201-2 for the last couple years. In good working condition with cabinet you are worth to a collector about $150.00. Collectors love the 201 class because it will sew through demin leather and heavy fabics with ease. It is also a very quiet machine. Good luck and happy sewing.

Whilst there have been many variations of the sewing machine through the years, credit is generally given to Elias Howe. Elias Howe was employed in a machinist's shop, where he had the opportunity to experiment with inventing a sewing machine. He successfully demonstrated his first sewing machine in 1846, and patented his lockstitch sewing machine on 10 September 1846 in New Hartford, Connecticut.

Howe faced a legal battle after Isaac Singer invented the up-and-down motion mechanism, and Allen Wilson developed a rotary hook shuttle, both filing for patents. After winning one suit, the three inventors pooled their patent rights in the Sewing Machine Combination. It was under this patent that the sewing machine was then successfully marketed.