ChattyKathy

Hi... I have Singer 66 that I converted to a hand crank and back clamp with this board's help, into the 66's treadle base I put my Singer 15-90 de-motorized, I have 2 Morses (a pink and a blue), 2 Featherweights, and a 401 and recently acquired a Singer 15 vs India with Phoenix decals.

I am interested in doing some Zigzag stitching. I was wondering about the different Zigzag attachments. I know Singer makes them but there are also Greist Zizzag attachments. Are there difference between them? is one better than another? Thanks

I also have a Necchi BU with the wonder wheel. I sewed some think plastic covers to protect my SUV's backseat from my big dog's claws. She sewed them like nothing and the next day I sewed some flimsy thin fabric with basically the same settings.

I think I am maxed out at my house thanks to this Boards help.
Kathy

Rodney

You're welcome.

I don't think there's much practical difference between the Greist or Singer zigzaggers. I think I've seen at least a couple people mention performance issues with them. I know at least one of them has interchangeable cams for different stitches.

Unless you just like playing with attachments you might be better off looking for an older ZZ machine to add to your herd. They're like potato chips. There's always room for one more. I know in my area I can pick up a complete working ZZ machine at a thrift store for $10 and up. A ZZ attachment from Ebay will cost about the same or more.
Rodney

NapaJohn

Get a zigzagger if you just want a gadget, but use the 401 or the Necchi BU for zigzagging. They were made to do it.

manicmike

I'd agree 100% with NapaJohn here. On a project I have a 201 (for SS) and a Bernina 730 (everything else) set up. Simple theory: Use the best machine for the task. If your table is small, your Necchi or 401 are perfectly capable of doing everything. Zig-zag attachments were made for folks who only have a straight stitcher.

Rodney

Oops. I missed the 401 and wasn't sure about the Necchi. The 401 has a lot of built in stitches and you can get cams for more.
You already have what you need for any ZZ sewing you want to do.
Rodney

greywuuf

I can not speak to the difference between the brands, But I have used a vintage singer one on my model 27 treadle machine. it works best with light material. I find it useful to "overcast" edges on things like linen scarves and things of that nature. Since it relies on moving the fabric... you need a clean smooth table and fabric that is slightly "sticky" to itself ( say flannel ) or a single layer of light fabric for it to work its best.

greywuuf

I will add my only experience is with the OLD all metal no cam style ZZ feet.

miriam

My experience is read all the directions. Clean the attachment and oil it. Don't bother unless you use the darning plate with the zz attachment. I have several attachments but I still like the zz machine better for zz.

J Miller

The ZZ attachments are dependent on the needle bar stroke for the wideness of their zigs and zags. Example, I have both Greist and Singer ZZ attachments, if I put them on a Singer such as the 201 or 15-91 I get a nice wide zz or patterns if you have the one with cams.
However if I try to use it on a 15 clone, it doesn't make patterns worth a hoot and the ZZs are very narrow. Turns out the clones, at least the ones I've got, have a shorter needle bar stroke than the Singers, so they just don't work as good.
Use a ZZ machine and your project will come out much nicer.

Joe

ChattyKathy

Thanks for all the info. I guess I have been madly in love with my treadle 15-90 and need to change my mentality towards "machine for the job". It was for this reason that I was interested in new Gadgets. I guess this was the manner in which my other machines were calling me...LOL LOL LOL
I do have to say that living in the far out (1/2-2 hrs outside of downtown) areas of Chicago, I have not seen any prices on CL lower than $20/machine. That is what I paid for my first (blue) Morse a year ago. So getting a new machine is not really such easy picking.
Rodney, I am so very happy that you are back.
thanks again, Kathy