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-   -   Respond if you have a Singer 15-91 (https://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage-antique-machine-enthusiasts-f22/respond-if-you-have-singer-15-91-a-t274661.html)

maviskw 01-19-2016 07:36 PM

Mine is a conversation piece on my breezeway. My "young sewing machine guy" gave it to me, and at the time it was a boat anchor. It may still be, but I got the gunk off it with GooGone. You couldn't even see the decals until the camera flash showed that they were there. It moves, but the electric connections have been broken off and it needs a bobbin case. Someday I may put a hand crank on it.

oreo1912 01-19-2016 08:38 PM

I have 2. One is a centennial badged. Picked up both at thrift stores for 20.00 each. They both sew great. Used to fmq on it until i was gifted with a 201. It is even better to fmq and has a drop in bobbin. Use the 15-91 for piecing and sometimes fmq. I look ar them and the others I have in my little sweat shop and ask. Who wants to play today?

pennycandy 01-20-2016 02:59 AM

Mine was my mil's that I inherited when she passed. I wasn't very interested in it because I thought it would cost more than it's was worth to repair. After joining QB and reading the Vintage & Antique Machine section, I read the instruction manual. Once I had it threaded properly and understood it only needed a bit of basic rewiring I decided to keep it. I've done lots of repair work on clothing ( denim and duck pants) quilts, curtains and anything else that I don't need a zig zag stitch. It also let me into an interest in older machines and finally buying a treadle which is my "toy".

lovelyl 01-20-2016 03:59 AM


Originally Posted by Abby'smom (Post 7438371)
:) I love my 1932 Singer 15-91 and wish that I had started using it sooner than just 2 years ago when my 1991 Singer broke a gear!!-- I use it for quilting my tops as it sews easily through the layers and often for my piecing as it is threaded and ready to go --my other machine is a fancy 1978 Kenmore!! -- if my old Singer had zigzag, it would perfect for me!!

I pretty sure one of the vintage low shank zigzag attachments will fit the 15-91. I have one that fits my Featherweight, haven't tried it on the 15-91 but I don't see why it wouldn't work. It's fun to watch because the attachment moves the fabric side to side instead of the needle to create the zigzag!

Vridar 01-20-2016 07:06 AM

I have 3 15-91s and a 15-125. I use one of them as my resident machine in our home. My favorite Singer is a 201-2 at our lake home but prefer not to exchange when we go from one place to the other. The 15 has the feel of the 201 but not the finesse of the 201. Also, I will use a 15 when I'm working with heavier material. I'm told the 15 is better at FMQ. I have not tried it yet.

Margie07 01-20-2016 09:00 AM


Originally Posted by Abby'smom (Post 7438371)
:) I love my 1932 Singer 15-91 and wish that I had started using it sooner than just 2 years ago when my 1991 Singer broke a gear!!-- I use it for quilting my tops as it sews easily through the layers and often for my piecing as it is threaded and ready to go --my other machine is a fancy 1978 Kenmore!! -- if my old Singer had zigzag, it would perfect for me!!

If you are interested in a Singer Zig Zagger attachment, click on the link below. Make sure you get one designed for a 15 class low shank.

http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...tachments.html

maviskw 01-20-2016 01:51 PM


Originally Posted by lovelyl (Post 7439292)
I pretty sure one of the vintage low shank zigzag attachments will fit the 15-91. I have one that fits my Featherweight, haven't tried it on the 15-91 but I don't see why it wouldn't work. It's fun to watch because the attachment moves the fabric side to side instead of the needle to create the zigzag!

I have this zig-zag attachment for my 301 slant needle. I used it for a few years when I got it (in 1956), but not since. I got a Necchi Lydia 3 zig-zag machine in the late 70's.

Mickey2 01-20-2016 02:39 PM

I have the large Singer zigzagger attachment in question, the black with cams that look like red knobs (I think there is a yellow cam set, as well as a blue). I can confirm it will work on any low shank machine like the 15. It's probably not the best zigzagger made, but it has the highest number of stitch patterns. For me it hasn't been practical at all. It does zigzag, but nothing like the swing needle zigzag on my vintage Bernina or Elna Supermatic. It's hard to maneuver, particularly along edges, and it misbehaves on thinner fabrics; there is nothing like the sating stitch fine tuning you get on the 1950s Berninas and Elnas on this attachment. I rather go for the narrow Greist version, or Japanese made versions. The Swiss zigzagger cost a bit too much, but isn't impossibly expensive if you really want it.

tlpa 01-21-2016 10:59 AM


Originally Posted by Cari-in-Oly (Post 7439020)
Any low shank darning/ FM/embroidery foot should work. It's up to you to decide what works best for you and your machine. I use a couple different darning(hopping) feet on various machines for free motion work but when I use Orphan Annie, my sorry little 15 class clone to fm quilt, I leave the feed dogs up, set my stitch length to zero, and (gasp! quilt police!) leave the regular straight stitch foot on her. That's what she likes.

Cari

Thank you Cari-in-Oly and Manalto. I may even have a low shank darning foot around here somewhere. I'll see if I can locate one and give it a try!

minibarn 01-21-2016 08:05 PM

I have a 15-91. It was my grandmothers, then my mothers...they have both passed away now but I remember my mom using it to sew my sister and I dresses when we were girls. I am not sure why, but she always gave the hand wheel a turn before she started sewing...like you do when using a treadle. Now that I know how to use a treadle it makes me laugh to think about her doing that (the 15-91 is electric remember). Anyway, DH rewired mine (by Rain's instructions) and while the machine worked OK, it was not great. Just before Christmas I came here trying to figure out what was wrong, and by reading my manual I realized I had been putting the needle in wrong!!! For 2 years!!! Anyway, it sews great now and I use it for everything. I have not tried FMQing yet though. I have the zig zagger too, which works well and is fun to watch but have only played w/it so far. I was not happy w/this machine until recently but I am glad I did not give up on it.


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