Mickey2

Yet some quilt rather problem free on the 201, and I an stubbornly looking for the way about it ;- )

This is a rather fancy setup, but works brilliantly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6VrkUdkBiA

Cari-in-Oly

Not really fancy, just a frame set up. Very cool to see. I soooo can't wait for my new house so I can get a frame. I have a couple Brother machines I want to put on a frame, now seeing this I might try my 201 too.
Comparing this to free motion work with the machine in a cabinet is comparing apples to oranges though. Moving the fabric under the machine vs. moving the machine across the fabric. My hands are getting bad enough that free motion work on anything bigger than a baby quilt is getting too hard that's why I want a frame, and possibly a long arm set up.

Cari

Mickey2

If understand it correctly, the main issue is sorting out tension in the bobbin area. Drop in bobbin is less than ideal for free motion, and the drag of the material in all directions throws it off. Is it something a hoop or smooth even movements can improve on? Do you ever have tension problems with model 15? Darn if I have to go look for a 15 now.

manicmike

Why not? They're cheap and plentiful. You seem to be in northern Europe, so I'd go for a European vertical bobbin machine.
I like German and Swiss machines a lot, 1950s Pfaffs and '60s Berninas being my favourites. There were a lot of German 15s made too that are usually at least as good as a Singer 15.

Mickey2

Almost all old Singers here are from the Kilbowie factory in Scotland, with the odd exception. Pfaffs and Berninas turn up freqently, flat beds not as often as the free arm versions. An unusual Singer, looks like a model 15, turned up when I did a search now, never seen it before. A treadle, but could be fitted with an electrical setup, maybe the table could be kept.


[ATTACH=CONFIG]535962[/ATTACH]

Rodney

That's the newer model 15. I forget the exact designation. 15-125 maybe. I don't see them often here.
Rodney

Mickey2

On further inspection it looks like it says "15M"? Model 15 turns up regularly, for some reason hardly any close to me at the moment. There is a Pfaff 30, a few black cast iron Husqvarnas, a couple of green ones, all old straight stitchers I suspect have the vertical bobbin case. There's Gritzner that looks like model 15. Maybe I should inquire futher on one of them. I have a 1965 Bernina 730, it's a favorite and very trouble free machine, maybe I should try quilting on a free arm model. My 201 is in a table, and it's so smooth to transport larger pieces of fabric across the extended flat bed, it's a joy to work on in general. No joy with free motion though.

Cari-in-Oly

Rodney the 15-125s are green and have a potted motor. I've never seen one like that shown.

Cari

Mickey2

I am getting better at it! I found an Australian blog and a lady there has a very good way with the 201. I sat down, threaded the machine up with a light to medium weight cotton thread. At first I had the same issues with loops galore and thread breaking, but after a bit of tuning the tension knob and getting into the feel of the speed on the machine and the movements of my hands it goes much smoother. I have almost perfect stitches, a couple of places it slips of I go too fast; then loops appear or it skips stitches in a bend. It's all in the speed and movement.

I have the feed dogs lowered, pretty tight upper tension (closer to 7), and when I aim for low speed and have fairly small stitches it stitches fine. I need more practice. How does it all come together on a 15?

Cari-in-Oly

It comes together the same with all machines. Practice, practice, practice, and then practice some more. Just what you have been doing. I've been at it for 5 years and still do a couple practice pieces before each quilt, just to get my mind and hands "in the groove" again.

Cari