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This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: blackie
Date: 06-23-2007, 11:53 PM (1 of 6)
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I am 30 years old, which is young enough to have never been taught how to darn or to even know what darning is! Today I set up my new sewing room at my mom's house (it just wasn't working in mine). It was a lot of work to move all my fabric, cabinets, and machines. But I did it; and I decided to finish a bit of mending to break the new room in. Mainly, this meant sewing on buttons and patching a pair of pants for my son. I decided on a whim to machine-darn the patch (after making one using fabric, interfacing, and my zig-zag attachment). I knew darning was a free-motion activity. I found a darning foot and put it on the machine, not too sure what I should do with the wire guide on the right-hand side. I started sewing and noticed the machine released the fabric as the needle came up! This was quite odd and scary-feeling but I also noticed the darn work (hee hee) was quite successful - tensions were balanced, stitch felt firm. I finished the patch rapidly and thought it looked swell (my darn lines were quite silly and all-over-the-map). My manual for my 201 doesn't show you how to attach the darning foot and it is even hard to tell if I have the right darning foot (it seemed to fit fine). I am wondering if anyone has any insight on using the foot and techniques, because it was the most sturdy patch I have sewn. (X-posted to my Vintage Singer Yahoo group) see the mundane life of a housewife.
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User: blackie
Member since: 03-31-2004 Total posts: 594 |
From: grandma C
Date: 06-24-2007, 03:07 AM (2 of 6)
| I am Anxious to read the posts here because I have one of those feet also and havn't got a clue what to do with it. I don't see anything the manual about it. My hubby would like me to mend a pair of his jeans. I don't like to mend denim. Using the machine and darning foot would be a lifesaver. Is the foot the one with a spring and a wire thing on it. |
User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: material_pakrat
Date: 06-24-2007, 06:41 PM (3 of 6)
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Sounds like you had it hooked up without even realising it Blackie. The RHS wire thingy goes over the needle screw to lift the footoff the needle. They are the best thing in the world for patching jeans. I used to have to rip the seams open to sew a patch, and would have rather thrown the pants out than fix them. But now my Mum cant do her own patching, I have no choice. The biggest tip I have for using, is to start sewing at a "middle" speed, which seems to give a better all over finish, including stitch length. http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/tvt035.asp This is the best video I have found to show you how to use a darning foot for quilting, but it also applies to all uses of the foot. Cheers. Soph. Cheers, Soph.
I'm happiest when I am sewing! |
User: material_pakrat
Member since: 12-13-2006 Total posts: 220 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 06-24-2007, 09:09 PM (4 of 6)
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Blackie you obviously have it on right or it would have jammed up on the first stitch. Remember to have your feed dogs dropped, covered or set at "0" stitch length. You will find that the faster you run the machine the more control you will have. If used on a zig zag machine you can embroider or monogram quite easily but it will not work with the zig zag attachment. Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
From: grandma C
Date: 06-27-2007, 02:40 AM (5 of 6)
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After I read Blackies post I went to my machine (Janome MC 5000) and put the correct foot on and tried it and took a few stitches and the machine jammed. I tried over and over. I have one ? . When I put the foot on and lower the presser foot it doesn't rest down on the fabric. Is this incorrect? I bought the machine used and the darning foot and free-motion embroidery foot were included. I found no instructions in the instruction book. Blackie thanks so much for your post. Best wishes in your endeavors. Belinda |
User: grandma C
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 263 |
From: Tom Land
Date: 06-27-2007, 09:37 AM (6 of 6)
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Belinda, you may not be lowering your presser foot. With the free-motion foot the foot will come up when the needle does but will go down to hold the fabric when the needle goes down. When you lower the presser foot lifter with the needle up it doesn't look like it has done anything so people sometimes forget to lower it. It must be lowered or there is no tension on the thread.
Have fun or don't do it, Tom
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User: Tom Land
Member since: 09-21-2005 Total posts: 514 |
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