GingerNana

I'm new here & to vintage machines. When I mentioned that my stitches were too tight when sewing in reverse, a repairman told me that for this machine stitching in reverse is only meant to be used for locking stitches at the beginning/end of seams, not for sewing in reverse more than that.

I may have set my hopes to high, but I am hoping to learn stitch painting. I'd like to use it for shading parts of applique. I can't find anything about reverse stitching.

If he wasn't correct, is there another reason why my stitches would be too tight in reverse? The actually cause the fabric to curl up. Thank you for any responses may get. I look forward to learning and getting to know some of you.

OurWorkbench

Welcome. I'm guessing that you have a 201-2 which is a highly respected vintage machine. Evidently your repairman isn't familiar with this machine. There are some machines that will only back tack, however, the 201-2 and 15's that have a similar stitch length regulator will reverse the same length stitches as the forward stitch. That is if the "stitch length regulator thumb screw" is tightened as described in the manual. http://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_mach...ine-manual.pdf or https://www.singer.com/sites/default...20Machines.pdf

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

Mickey2

One of the common issues causing problems with stitch length is cleaning; lint can gather around the feed dogs under the throat plate and hault the movement. A thorough cleaning and even scraping all grooves and corners with a tooth pick can be necessary. If theres lots of lint, you can be sure there's equal amounts under the bobbin case, it all needs to come out.

Another issue is oiling, pay particular attention to all links from stitch length lever to feed dogs; every thing needs oil, there is a groove you access behind the round plate in the back where the back of the stitch length lever moves up and down. There are quite a few joints, grooves and cam like parts involved. There is a tiny roller that can get stuck under the base, it often needs extra attention to start moving again.

Like Janey says, a 201 has full stitch length function forward and reverse, very accurate stitch length both ways when set. I know two people who have set up a 201 for free motion embroidery, one describe her technique as "like drawing with thread".

I don't know about "too tight in revese", but I guess it has to do with tension. You could do the drop test on the bobbin case (since it's a drop in bobbin case; a 1 oz. bag of rice or beans on the end of the thread). I am not a free motion expert at all, and I fuzz quite a bit to get tension correct for FM quilting; like you, tension is often on the tight side. It's all about getting it right. You should be able to turn the top tension dial all the way from 1 to 9, if not it needs adjustment. With a good thread and correct tension a 201 should behave very well.

Seb58

Reading this thread, I've tried stitching in reverse with my 201K and I notice that while the forward stitch is perfect, the back stitch is slightly tighter and the bottom thread tends to show on top. I guess then that a proper back stitch requires a tighter bobbin tension...
Were these machines (15s and 201s) really designed to sew in reverse at length?

cashs_mom

I don't know about the machine stitching in reverse, however, I have done thread painting. I always did it free motion. I didn't use the reverse on the machine. I can't imagine doing thread painting with the feed dogs up. It would be very hard to control your stitching. Have you tried doing it free motion with the feed dogs down?

Mickey2

How thin is the fabric you are working with? I've noticed light weight cotton and sheer materials need much more accurate tension setting, but there really should be an adjustment that works well for forward and reverse. I have had similar problems my self on my 201s, but it all was down to adjustments. Perfect interlocking of both threads on one layer of material can be very fuzzy to get right.

QuiltnNan

this was my first thought about it, too