OldSewinGear News Reviews & How To's

How to thread a Japanese Class 15 bobbin

8/16/2013

Japanese Class 15 "clone"

If you've already read "Bobbin Case Basics" you won't be surprised by anything you read here. But you may find it helpful if you own one of the many Singer 15 "clones" built in Japan.

Japanese 15 clones use the same bobbin as the Singer 15 machines, but the bobbin case is set up backwards. The flat tension spring is on the opposite side, which means the thread wraps in the opposite direction when you insert the bobbin in the case.

However the basic principle of bobbin loading is the same whether you are loading a Singer 15 or a Japanese 15 bobbin: the thread slides under the tension spring in the opposite direction that it wraps on the bobbin.

Threading Japanese Class 15 bobbin case

Here's the step-by-step:

1. Hold bobbin case in left hand with open side facing right and slotted groove pointing toward you.
2. Hold bobbin in right hand with thread wrapping AWAY from you over the top of the bobbin.
3. Insert bobbin into case with a right to left motion.
4. Pull thread into the slotted groove.
5. Slide thread TOWARD you and DOWN along the tension spring until thread pops into notch at the bottom.
6. Load bobbin into machine.

There, wasn't that easy?

When in doubt, refer to your machine's instruction manual for specific instructions. Or you can visit our "Cheat Sheets" page for printable reference sheets.

Happy Sewing!
Barbara

OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

2 Comments

Feed-Dog Days of Summer

8/12/2013

3 Comments

Morse 200 De Luxe drop feed knob

Time to answer another "How do I..." question!

Today's contestant is the ever-popular "How do I drop the feed dogs for free motion embroidery or darning?"

That is an excellent question.
Some machines make it very easy with a clearly labeled knob or lever. Other models like to play hide and seek with the drop feed feature.

First of all, it's a good idea to find out if your machine HAS a drop-feed feature. Basic models such as the 221 Featherweight, 99K, and 185K don't have a drop feed, so you can save yourself the hassle of looking.

But many of the full-size Singer models DO have drop feed; it's just a matter of finding it.

"How do I drop the feed dogs?

Singer 15-91 Drop Feed

Singer's 15-91 is one of the "hide and seek" models. If you have the manual, it tells you where to find it, but it's not obvious when you're looking at the machine.

You have to tilt the machine backwards to access a knob located beneath the machine. It isn't marked, but it's located at the front left underneath the machine, as indicated in the above photo.

(Singer could have learned a thing or two from the Japanese on this one. The Toyota-built Morse 200 pictured at the beginning of the article has a drop feed feature that is a thing of beauty and easy to find! The Japanese didn't just clone the Singer 15, they improved on it!)

Singer 201-2 drop feed knob

Depending on the year of production, the screw may be chrome-plated or WW II-era "Black side."

You'll find the drop feed knob in this same location on Singer's 15-125 and 201-2 models.

Singer 301 drop feed knob

Singer 301 Slant Needle has a different drop-feed location. It's still underneath, but you don't have to tip the machine up. Instead, you flip up the end table and the drop feed knob is located just to the rear of the bobbin case. It isn't labeled, but it is a little easier to find.

Singer 401A throat plate position lever

Singer did a better job of labeling on the 401 and 500 slant needle machines, but still missed the mark in user friendliness. The "Throat Plate Position" lever is located at the front of the sewing platform right next to the spindle for bobbin winding.

It's easy to find, but nothing to get excited about, because it isn't really a drop feed feature.

Singer 401A needle plate in darning position

Rather than drop the feed, the lever raises the needle plate above the level of the feed dogs so that fabric slides freely. It works ok, but it's a little funky because it creates a harsh edge to hook things on.

Singer 411G darning collar

Singer attempted to mitigate the weak design by including a nifty rubber collar on the 411G, but never included it on the Anderson-built machines. The rubber collar helps a bit, but a true drop feed feature would have been nicer!

Singer 306 darning needle plate

Singer took a completely different approach on other machines, such as the 306.

Rather than messing around with levers or knobs, they simply included another needle plate with a raised portion that rode above the feed dogs.

So if your Singer doesn't have a drop feed adjustment, check to see if there's a darning needle plate available.

Still wondering how to drop the feed on your machine? If you have the instruction manual for your machine, look under "Darning" to see if there are instructions for dropping the feed dogs or elevating the sewing surface.

Have fun with your game of hide and seek. But remember, these old machines play to win!

Happy Sewing!
Barbara
OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

3 Comments

March of the Penguin

8/9/2013

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Several readers have asked for more video of the Singer Walking Presser Foot 160741 "Penguin."

Which presented a bit of a problem because I couldn't find the foot control and power cord for my Featherweight! It's on display in my office, but I use my slant needle 603 Touch & Sew for everyday sewing.

So I had to go spelunking in closets and the garage to find the Featherweight power cord to run a proper test. I finally located the foot control and cord in the Featherweight's case in a corner under my worktable.

I gave the Penguin a light oiling and let 'er rip. Without further ado, here's "Opus" in action:

The Penguin's walking action is a bit different than more modern walking foot attachments. The left side of the foot moves in sync with the feed dogs while the right side holds the fabric in place when the left side takes a step forward.

The Penguin is all metal and spring loaded, so it is a little noisier than modern plastic walking foot attachments. Otherwise it's smooth and efficient.

Thanks for giving me an excuse to have some more fun with this little guy!

Happy Sewing!
Barbara
OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

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And Now for Something Completely Different...

8/2/2013

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Click below for printable Haven House bookmark!

Free Bookmark
File Size:	157 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

This is completely off-topic, but I have to share this exciting news!

You've probably figured out by now that I love writing about sewing machines. But the truth is I just love to write.

So I wrote a book!

"Haven House" is a mystery-adventure
for young readers in the tradition of "The Secret Garden" and Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice."

All About Kids Publishing has just released a promotional video for Haven House:

"Haven House" is available from Barnes & Noble in paperback and from Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

I hope you enjoy the trailer and "Haven House" too. Let me know what you think!

Happy Sewing (Reading)!
Barbara
OldSewinGear...dedicated to helping you get the most out of your old sewing gear.

0 Comments

How to thread a Japanese Class 15 bobbin

Feed-Dog Days of Summer

March of the Penguin

And Now for Something Completely Different...

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How to thread a Japanese Class 15 bobbin

Feed-Dog Days of Summer

March of the Penguin

And Now for Something Completely Different...

News, Reviews, & How-To's

Contact Us

Categories

Archives

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿About Us

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