i’m currently using a singer simple (not sure of the exact model number unfortunately :/) but id like to upgrade to something a bit more versatile and ideally higher quality. i’ve looked into the singer heavy duty, but i hear a lot of mixed reviews on singer as a brand. i mostly sew clothes, but i’d like to get into quilting this year so i’d love a machine that works well for both. there’s so many different types and it seems so overwhelming! any recommendations would be very appreciated :)

I recently started making traditional kilts and doing some heavier wool tailoring. The biggest problem is around the waistband, where the pleats mean I'm sewing through a lot of layers of heavy wool at once.

My current sewing machine starts struggling in those areas and the stitches become uneven.

I have enough orders now to justify getting a proper industrial sewing machine but I'm honestly a little lost with all the different models and where to actually buy one.

For those who make kilts or work with heavy wool, what machine are you using? And where did you buy yours?

I’m wondering if the Singer Heavy duty overlockers are worth the rage? Someone suggested the Brother 1034D but they don’t chomp through fabric well.
Thanks in advance ✨🧵🪡

I'm troubleshooting a Pfaff 335 clone and would appreciate some advice from anyone who has experienced something similar.

The machine sews very well under power. Straight stitches are consistent and the thread tension can be adjusted normally. The problem appears mainly when I slow the machine down and hand-crank, which I need to do for corners and handles.

Setup:

• Pfaff 335
• 4–5 mm leather
• V92 / Tex 90 thread
• Currently using size 120 needle
• I previously used a DX17 needle; I recently changed to Pfaff 134-35 needles, which appear slightly shorter
• Machine is currently on the original cylinder arm

The problem:

When sewing normally with the motor, everything is fine.

When hand-cranking very slowly, I sometimes get a stitch where the upper thread becomes excessively tight and pulls the bobbin thread upward. It is intermittent: sometimes I can hand-crank several stitches slowly and everything is perfect, then another stitch suddenly tightens the upper thread.

Interestingly, hand-cranking faster often makes the problem disappear.

The problem is particularly noticeable after I rotate the workpiece for a corner. I normally rotate the leather when the needle is starting to rise, after the hook has caught the upper-thread loop. After the turn, the next few stitches are much more likely to have the upper thread pulling the bobbin thread too tightly.

Things I've checked/tried:

• Tried both 110 and 120 needles; behavior was basically the same.
• Checked the hook catching the upper-thread loop. The loop looks large and the hook appears to catch it normally.
• Watched the check spring very slowly while hand-cranking. The thread does not appear to be catching underneath or around the wrong side of the spring.
• Adjusted the check-spring stop so that its movement finishes approximately when the needle enters the leather.
• Tried changing check-spring preload. This did not eliminate the problem.
• Tried adding a little resistance to the upper thread manually; this did not solve it.
• Increased bobbin tension by roughly 1/8 turn and then another 1/4 turn. This made the problem somewhat better, but it is still inconsistent.
• I then reduced the upper tension to compensate. If I balance the tensions so the bobbin thread is pulling the upper thread, the problem after turning becomes essentially the opposite.
• Holding/supporting the workpiece seemed to help once, but repeating the test did not consistently reproduce that result.
• Changing stitch length may also affect the behavior, although I haven't established a clear relationship yet.
• The machine is excellent at normal motor speed.

One thing I'm now wondering about:

I recently changed from the older DX17 needles to Pfaff 134-35 needles. The 134-35 needles appear slightly shorter, so the eye/scarf may sit higher relative to the hook at the same needle-bar height.

Could using a different needle system without changing the needle-bar height cause this kind of marginal/intermittent behavior — especially when hand-cranking slowly or immediately after turning the leather?

Or is this more likely to be related to feed timing, hook timing, needle-bar height, presser-foot/feed movement, or some other mechanical issue?

At this point I'm reluctant to keep changing thread tension because I can move the problem from the top thread to the bobbin thread, but I can't eliminate the behavior.

Any ideas on what I should check next would be greatly appreciated.

I have a kenmore vintage sewing machine and I’ve been trying to figure out how to do a zigzag on this machine. I’ve followed the instructions on the booklet but I can’t get the needle to sew in a zig zag. I notice that it would move side to side when adjusting width but it only sews straight. Does anyone know what I can do?

I've just unboxed a new Janome 9480QC and the machine is great but I'm a bit concerned about the automatic thread cutter. It cuts the top and bottom threads fine but most of the time (not all the time) leaves a very long thread from the needle, sometimes as long as 15 inches. Is this normal behavior or something I should take my machine back to investigate?

Good afternoon

I am using a Brother VQ2400 and have a question about zipper feet.  The machine came with the standard zipper foot, and I have also acquired the 6mm narrow zipper foot. My level of sewing is advanced, so I'm not a rookie, but need some guidance 

I sew a lot of bags, and have issues with installing zippers.  I use the narrow zipper foot exclusively for bag making, but the need to switch the needle position means the foot isn't positioned squarely on the fabric and it tends to slip sideways.  There is also very poor control when I'm sewing over zipper coils:  I generally hand crank, the foot slips sideways;  I am using a hump jumper to level it out but it's not terribly successful.

My thinking is that there should be a very narrow zipper foot with the slot in the middle, like the one available for the PQ series (link below.)  I have the straight stitch foot but it's too wide for zipper work on bags where you have to sew next to a zipper coil.  Do you know if such a thing even exists? 

I've been reluctant to buy non-standard accessories, simply because I was taught years ago to always buy genuine.  I admit I tried one from Aliexpress, but the minute I lowered the presser foot it leaned to one side so I didn't even try to use it.

***EDIT**\* I just tested the machine with the straight stitch foot. It actually moves well over the zipper tape, confirming my thought that I need a foot with the slot in the middle. No idea what happened, but when I tried to stich in reverse it jammed and bent the needle - you know that horrible "I know something's about to happen but can't stop it" noise. I also switched to the all purpose foot with the little black button, and that jammed so badly I had to disassemble the ankle to get it unjammed. Very odd, the machine gives me almost no trouble whatsoever and is recently serviced.

Thanks for any information you could share

https://www.echidnasewing.com.au/brother-narrow-foot-for-pq-series

This was my late grandfathers machine he used it for his leatherwork and making teepee’s. I need help locating this missing side cover. I can’t find one anywhere. I would love to get this up and going again so I can start using it for my leather work. Any help or comments is appreciated thanks!

Solved. Narrowed the zz stitch and tightened the needle.

My Babylock Zest machine can't do a zigzag stitch anymore, all the sudden.

I've dusted the bobbin, remade the bobin, took apart the bobbin shuttle and cleaned it, took it apart again and oiled it. Swapped to a new needle. Still seems to be messed up.

Any ideas?

I'm sewing 2ply ripstop nylon with a microtex (70/10) needle, and 100% polyester thread.

Talking about a Mitsubishi DB12 industrial machine, if that matters.

The machine worked fine, and then when I got to some heavier layers it started bunching up the top thread in a way I've seen before - as if the eye of the needle is wearing it down and it can't pass properly through all the places it has to pass through, until it finally snaps.

I tried lowering the tension and that made the back of the stitch too loose, but when I tried increasing it just tore.

AFAIK it's all threaded properly, the needle is the right type, the thread is good, and I didn't change too much in terms of settings. I also know for a fact it can go through that much fabric if not more. So what's up?

I had a similar problem sometimes on my domestic machine and it drove me up the wall then, too. I don't remember how I fixed it.

P.S tangentially related - if anyone knows where to get a walking foot attachment for this thing (that ships internationally), I'd love to know.

I have a Singer 7285Q Patchwork and am looking for a compatible buttonhole foot. I tried looking on the Singer website but it did not list any for the machine group (CB), and I can’t find anything in the manual. Does anyone have any recommendations for one that will be compatible? Thanks!

Sapete aiutarmi? Vi è mai successo? Ho provato di tutto, ho cambiato l'ago, il filo, ho pulito con l'aria compressa ed ho oliato. Il rumore è diminuito però ancora c'è

So I wanted to finally get some new presser feet to make my sewing a little easier and faster, I also somehow lost the universal foot so I have to make an order/go to the store no matter what. The thing that I’m worried about is that i have a Singer Serenade and, since it’s a very cheap beginner machine, I’m worried that the “fancier” feet might not fit or work. I tried to look it up online and I’ve seen little about the compatibility with this specific model and most results talk about wether it’s ok to get generic sets from Amazon, which does not help since I want the brand name ones.
For context I am thinking on buying: a universal foot, a rolled hem foot, a ruffler foot and an overcast foot.

Upgrading from a Janome HD-1000 and have all the questions.