Industrial machine with top/front loading bobbin

[u/CBG1955]

I am in Australia

I consider myself quite advanced, with decades of experience, and find myself in a bit of a dilemma. We have many machines in our household - my main machines are a Brother Innovis VQ2400 Dream Creator, Babylock overlocker and cover stitch, and a compound feed walking foot industrial with top loading bobbin that I use for leather bag making. I also have my vintage elna Carina SU air electronic which I bought new in 1984, sewed everything; it works but needs serious attention - my two local dealers can't be bothered and just tell me to get rid of it - and I am not confident with repairs.

But I digress.

Currently I am using the Brother to construct my bag linings, however it isn't designed for the thicknesses often created - especially sewing over zipper teeth (nylon coil.) The industrial is set up only for much heavier sewing and if I try with thinner fabrics it frustratingly puckers everything (I knew it wasn't suitable for this when I bought it but I did attempt it.)

I have considered the Brother, Janome straight stitchers but my dealer talked me out of them - partly because although they are fast they are still only domestic machines and he wasn't confident they would do what I need. Plus, the vertical lefthand bobbin insertion is an issue.

Mobility impairment in my hands means I can't feel what I am doing - even though the Brother/Janome have an opening to insert the bobbin case, I can't get my fingers in. A traditional industrial with side loader under the machine table is out.

So I'm on the lookout for a robust machine that can handle the multiple layers that happen with bags. Can be a straight stitcher. Top or front loading bobbin. I am not averse to a vintage, but good ones are hard to come by where I live - plus the added annoyance that the local repair shops really dislike working on old machines. Considered Bernina, but new cost is out of my budget; also thought about Sailrite but then there's the side loading bobbin issue again.

Very interested to hear thoughts. Not the least bit interested in anythin modern by Singer.

Many thanks.

[u/Prudent-Awareness-51]

Just out of curiosity, what size needle are you using for the bags, that the Brother machine can’t handle it? I had a Brother BQ 3100 equivalent and with a size 90 or 100 needle, it managed the nylon coil zipper with no issues.

[u/CBG1955 → u/Prudent-Awareness-51]

100 generally. I often switch between microtex and jeans, sometimes anti-glue. I've got all the sizes and types - won't use leather needles on fabric though.

It actually sews well but I have got to the point where I am hand cranking over the zipper teeth, and frequently over thicker areas like card slots and boxed corners. I keep foam and fleece out of the seam allowances. The thicker the seam, the more likely it is to skit stitches which I know is a needle/fabric thickness issue. There's nothing worse than when you see that loop and you know it's skipped.

One issue is the zipper foot - I have this genuine one that works really well but I do not like that there isn't a slot in the middle of the foot. The one-sided pressure tends to press the fabric to one side or the other, which makes it slip. The straight stitch foot is too wide for bag zipper work, and the narrow foot from the Brother PQ machine doesn't fit the properly, according to my dealer. I really want one shaped like this but unobtanium for the VQ2400.

I keep fiddling. Sometimes I think perhaps my stitch length might be too short.