Lizzie, I maintain the antique and vintage sewing machines for my wife who is a professional quilter and quilting instructor. Although she uses her Berninas and a sitdown professional longarm quilting machine, she still loves her Singer 221 and 201-2 for piecing. She is very impressed with your free motion quilting on your early Singer 15-88 treadle. She going to forward the video to all of her quilting friends. Thank you for this wonderful video.
I love all of your videos! I have learned so much by watching your work. Obviosly, you take great care in preparing your tutorials because the voice overs are clear and soothing. The quality of your work is lovely. There's not one bad thing to say. Keep up the good work! We love you at our house!
In spite of having an electric machine of my own I wanted to use my mother's machine for exactly this purpose too. And thanks to you I now know how to do it.
I've never used a sewing Singer machine, but I got the old singer of the machine and edited, and now I fell in love with them, because it is our past and art and we thank you for the recording.
Thank you very much for this wonderful, helpful video! I have a White Rotary treadle and have wanted for years to free motion quilt with it. It seems all that's stopping me is having the right foot. Thanks again!
You just inspired me into writing the first comment on TH-cam, deciding to restore my Pfaff 130 to treadling and trying my hands on free motion after that. Thank you!
Hello Peytuhr, Best of luck with your machine restoration. However, it might turn out that your machine isn't suitable for free motion work. Please check out the information on my blog and in the details given with this video. Also it might help to do some research about your Pfaff. So far as I understand it is a swing needle machine, and my knowledge of such machines is zero.
The cling wrap over the feed dogs is brilliant. My feed cover plate I have doesn't fit very well on my machine. It moves. This is an excellent solution!
Hello Missy, No, I don't mind at all! I often hear that people have problems with the tension and have to make a big adjustment for FMQ, but my machine doesn't give me any tension problems.
I LOVE this tutorial. I SO want to use my treadle for FMQ as it has the biggest harp. The rest of my machines have small spaces and it's hard to move my hands AND the quilts too.
Hello Lori, Glad you enjoyed the video! Lots of sites for you to try - Sew Classic, Treadle Lady, Helen Howes... but the back clamping foot might be a bit of a problem.
Thank you for the tutorial, I am very excited to give this a try once I source the correct type of foot. Will check out your blog too, thanks again. :-)
Hello Elsa, I didn't make any recommendations about tension because every machine is different - it is a question of knowing your own machine. With my treadle if the tension is right for ordinary straight stitch sewing then I do not need to adjust it for free motion quilting. As for stitch size - well, as I said on the video, set it to zero. Muv
I'm very impressed. It inspires me to try fmq. I have a good electric machine but have lately acquired vintage machines here and there and thought I must be going mad, but discover that there are lots of other people hoarding them. I'm collecting a treadle soon, which reminds me of my mother who used one to earn a living when I was very small. I was fascinated watching her feet driving the machine along, while the machine made exactly the noise yours made. Do you do that lovely quilting I've seen on your blog on the treadle? It's very beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Elfy. Yes, I do all my free motion quilting on this particular treadle machine. I have never used or owned an electric machine - all my sewing is done either on treadle or hand machines. I am hoping to do some more free motion videos this year...
I was just telling my husband how I am going to have to reevaluate my sewing machines - I have a couple electric machines, but each one has it's own issues and I am getting so frustrated with them! I purchased my husband's great aunt and uncle's New Home treadle and it stitches beautifully! I joked about making it my primary machine, but after watching a couple of your videos I think I might just do it! It's not all that old, the sales receipt and serial number are from around 1955 if I remember correctly, but I don't care :) Not sure i have the coordination for FMQ with it, if it will even work for that, but I am going to try piecing my next quilt with it!
I have 9 machines and only three are what I would call great. My favorite is a 301a. I have a 15, and a 66 that are in great shape. However, I have been thinking of getting a treadle because it seems when I watch the videos the users seem to have great control over the machine. They also seem to be the best for free motion quilting or embroidery. I can't do either, but I am interested in learning. Her videos make me want a treadle. I'm afraid I'm going to have to get one now!
Great stuff Muv ....i particularly like the fetching pink gloves they look like they do the business....must get myself a pair......have never thought of them before but it makes sense....x
Hello Eileen, You can do straight line quilting on any treadle, but for free motion make sure you get the right model - a Singer 15. Yes, I'm still very much enjoying it. Plenty more info on my blog lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/
Love the clingfilm idea, if you left it on presumably it would protect the decals from wear? Thought your stitching looked very neat and professional. Did occur to me, would take quite a long time to do a full size quilt!
Hi! Thanks for sharing how to free motion quilting on the Singer Class 15. I have a Singer 15-88. I noticed that you a a throat plate that has lines. Where can I buy one? Thanks for the tip of the cling paper! Great video!
Where can one buy all the xtra attachments? You are very clever! I have a Lewenstein, appr 1920, i have learned to sow on iT when I was 20. I have iT now 40 years. 😁👍still working very well!
eileenfb1948 Congratulations Eileen! If you go to my blog and click on the heading Singer 201K in the sidebar on the right, you will find lots of information, pictures and some mini videos of my 201K. I use it for sewing with attachments (ruffler, buttonholer etc.) and piecing for quilts, and I use the 15K treadle just for free motion quilting. They are both wonderful machines.
Thanks so much for this. I found a hopping foot in my mother's old box of tricks. I will definitely give this a go. I have 201K formerly treadle but now electric. I may even switch it back to treadle, treadling was something I did in my childhood. Thanks again. Is the hopping foot a darning foot?
I wish I had seen this before I FMQed my last quilt on my treadle! I had problems with my tension on the underside being too loose, but am not sure how to fix it? I am using a Singer 16 industrial, who I refer to as "my big old lady" LOL Do you mind if I share this on my blog?
How do I set the stitch length to zero? I have a 66 and the knob has no markings on it so I can’t tell where I am with tension. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you.
Thank you Gorgana. If you visit my blog Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing you will see more about free motion quilting. I have been trying out a few different patterns recently.
Lizzie, do you know how to lesson the pressure on the pressure foot? I tried to figure it out but if I release that spring on top of that bar its way to loose but when I push it down, I have way to much pressure that bunches up my fabric when sewing. Thank you, T
hello Lizzie. can you help me with my sewing machine as i wanna have a go at this. my sewing machine looks like yours but its a Jones C.B treadle. and were can i get that foot from in the UK. Darren
***** thank you for this Lizzie. my sewing machine is all nice and clean now and oiled. thank's to your videos on haw to clean&oil your sewing machine big thank's darren
Hello Ssarryo, No, I haven't. Several reasons- I haven't got one, I'm not sure I would like risking a plate slipping and wrecking the needle on it, and in any event I don't think it would work as well as the cling film. The idea of the cling film is not so much to cover the feed dog teeth - you could FMQ quite easily without them covered, provided they are either dropped or set at zero - but to give a smooth surface over the bed of the machine so the work glides more easily when you are quilting.
Hello Increviltv1, Glad you enjoyed the video. You must check whether your machine is suitable for free motion quilting. Has it got the same type of bobbin mechanism underneath as a Singer 15? Watch our video "How to thread a Singer 15K" and see if your machine is the same. Muv
Hi Lizzie, I have a question! I have my 201K set up in a treadle cabinet and it stitches wonderfully until I try to freemotion quilt. I have it prepared as follows: feed dogs down, stitch length on zero, the exact same free motion foot attachment as you have there. As soon as I start to quilt it does a few stitches fine and then fails to form any more stitches. Its like the hook is not picking up the thread. I have also tried putting in a Magic Genie Teflon bobbin disk to help the bobbin flailing when I change directions. Do you have any ideas? Thank you in advance.
Hello Linda, skipped stitches can happen when the needle is blunt. A new needle might be all you need. If your feed dogs drop the stitch setting doesn't matter. I have to set mine to zero because my dogs don't drop. I have never used a 201 for free motion quilting. I use a 15K - this blog post shows why: lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-best-vintage-machine-for-free.html So far as I understand it, with a 15K the bobbin thread comes from directly beneath, whereas with a 201K it comes from the left, so the stitch mechanism is less well suited to lateral movement of the work. I have no idea what a magic genie Teflon bobbin disc is, but if your bobbin has a tendency to shift around, are you sure you have the right bobbin for the machine? Any plastic bobbin is by definition the wrong bobbin. Hope this helps.
It is a hopping foot. The foot isn't raised when quilting, it is down. During quilting the lever that makes contact with the needle clamp automatically raises it between each stitch to reduce the pressure and make movement of the fabric easier.
Thank you for the super fast reply! I have the same hopping foot, actually. The problem is that when the foot is lowered, the circle part is incredibly firm against the sewing surface. There's no gliding at all. I read in a blog that the material being quilted should have no resistance under the foot. Did you adjust your foot tension so it's loose / slack or do you work with it tight in the down position? Thank you for your wisdom - it's so appreciated.
No, the circle part shouldn't be firm. Even when it is on the down part of its up and down motion, it should have enough give for you to be able to slide the work out from underneath with just a gentle pull. Make sure you are using thin wadding, reduce the pressure on the presser bar and see if you can get the work to glide. If it turns out that you have a foot that isn't suitable for your machine, Helen Howes will sort you out. helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/quiltfeet.html#hoppingfeet
Hello gip068, There's nothing different about the position of the feet for going fast. Watch our video "How to Treadle" - the position of the feet applies for all speeds. Muv
There should be a a round screw knob like the one that holds your needle in place, lift up the machine and you'll see it under there but I can't describe how to do it.
Hello Eileen, If you mean I should be able to drop the feed dogs, no I can't. There were different models of the Singer 15, and I have the 15K 80. However, I can do it on my Singer 201K treadle, and I describe how to do it here:- lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Feed%20Dogs
Horizontal bobbin machines like the 66, 99 and 201 tend to be really bad at free motion work. I wouldn't. Tried it once because other people said it was a bad idea and they were right (but the 201k is fantastic at everything else). Reasons why can be found easily enough, but I would use a 15k or a featherweight (both vertical bobbins).
Thank you for this tutorial. Looking at it 10 years later😊
Ohhh... the perfect English.... I enjoy listening to you! Just like in tutorials for foreign English learners... ))) Thank you!!!
THE BEST TUTORIAL I HAVE SEEN FOR FREE MOTION ON TREADLE!! Thank you Lizzie...:)
Lizzie,
I maintain the antique and vintage sewing machines for my wife who is a professional quilter and quilting instructor. Although she uses her Berninas and a sitdown professional longarm quilting machine, she still loves her Singer 221 and 201-2 for piecing.
She is very impressed with your free motion quilting on your early Singer 15-88 treadle. She going to forward the video to all of her quilting friends.
Thank you for this wonderful video.
ibsoarin Thank you, that is very kind of you to say so.
I also have a 201K treadle, which is a very nice machine to use for piecing.
That is excellent Lizzie. All the tricks there...........you cannot beat Craft and making with a quality machine. Even the noise is hypnotic.
You are an excellent teacher and you are doing very well at this point of quilting. Thanks for all the videos
I love all of your videos! I have learned so much by watching your work. Obviosly, you take great care in preparing your tutorials because the voice overs are clear and soothing. The quality of your work is lovely. There's not one bad thing to say. Keep up the good work! We love you at our house!
In spite of having an electric machine of my own I wanted to use my mother's machine for exactly this purpose too. And thanks to you I now know how to do it.
I've never used a sewing Singer machine, but I got the old singer of the machine and edited, and now I fell in love with them, because it is our past and art and we thank you for the recording.
Thank you very much for this wonderful, helpful video! I have a White Rotary treadle and have wanted for years to free motion quilt with it. It seems all that's stopping me is having the right foot. Thanks again!
You just inspired me into writing the first comment on TH-cam, deciding to restore my Pfaff 130 to treadling and trying my hands on free motion after that. Thank you!
Hello Peytuhr, Best of luck with your machine restoration. However, it might turn out that your machine isn't suitable for free motion work. Please check out the information on my blog and in the details given with this video. Also it might help to do some research about your Pfaff. So far as I understand it is a swing needle machine, and my knowledge of such machines is zero.
Well done my dear! Thank you so much for sharing and for giving me hope. I just bought one and I'm more excited that I can do this on it. Yay!!
The cling wrap over the feed dogs is brilliant.
My feed cover plate I have doesn't fit very well on my machine. It moves. This is an excellent solution!
I just want u to know u helped me do a border..u are the only one that did it so I understood it..Ty so much.
Hello Missy,
No, I don't mind at all!
I often hear that people have problems with the tension and have to make a big adjustment for FMQ, but my machine doesn't give me any tension problems.
I LOVE this tutorial. I SO want to use my treadle for FMQ as it has the biggest harp. The rest of my machines have small spaces and it's hard to move my hands AND the quilts too.
Hello Lori,
Glad you enjoyed the video!
Lots of sites for you to try - Sew Classic, Treadle Lady, Helen Howes... but the back clamping foot might be a bit of a problem.
Thank you for the tutorial, I am very excited to give this a try once I source the correct type of foot. Will check out your blog too, thanks again. :-)
Hello Elsa, I didn't make any recommendations about tension because every machine is different - it is a question of knowing your own machine. With my treadle if the tension is right for ordinary straight stitch sewing then I do not need to adjust it for free motion quilting. As for stitch size - well, as I said on the video, set it to zero. Muv
I'm very impressed. It inspires me to try fmq. I have a good electric machine but have lately acquired vintage machines here and there and thought I must be going mad, but discover that there are lots of other people hoarding them. I'm collecting a treadle soon, which reminds me of my mother who used one to earn a living when I was very small. I was fascinated watching her feet driving the machine along, while the machine made exactly the noise yours made. Do you do that lovely quilting I've seen on your blog on the treadle? It's very beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Elfy. Yes, I do all my free motion quilting on this particular treadle machine. I have never used or owned an electric machine - all my sewing is done either on treadle or hand machines. I am hoping to do some more free motion videos this year...
I was just telling my husband how I am going to have to reevaluate my sewing machines - I have a couple electric machines, but each one has it's own issues and I am getting so frustrated with them! I purchased my husband's great aunt and uncle's New Home treadle and it stitches beautifully! I joked about making it my primary machine, but after watching a couple of your videos I think I might just do it! It's not all that old, the sales receipt and serial number are from around 1955 if I remember correctly, but I don't care :) Not sure i have the coordination for FMQ with it, if it will even work for that, but I am going to try piecing my next quilt with it!
I have 9 machines and only three are what I would call great. My favorite is a 301a. I have a 15, and a 66 that are in great shape. However, I have been thinking of getting a treadle because it seems when I watch the videos the users seem to have great control over the machine. They also seem to be the best for free motion quilting or embroidery. I can't do either, but I am interested in learning. Her videos make me want a treadle. I'm afraid I'm going to have to get one now!
Great stuff Muv ....i particularly like the fetching pink gloves they look like they do the business....must get myself a pair......have never thought of them before but it makes sense....x
Very well presented and explained. Thankyou
Thank you for this video .I'm thinking of getting myself a treadle and wanted to know if I could quilt on it. Hope you're still enjoying it.
Hello Eileen, You can do straight line quilting on any treadle, but for free motion make sure you get the right model - a Singer 15. Yes, I'm still very much enjoying it. Plenty more info on my blog lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/
I am impressed! Your work looks lovely and of professional quality. But then you've probably only practiced a million hours or so LOL!
Love the clingfilm idea, if you left it on presumably it would protect the decals from wear? Thought your stitching looked very neat and professional. Did occur to me, would take quite a long time to do a full size quilt!
Thank you for sharing this. It looks beautiful.
Hi! Thanks for sharing how to free motion quilting on the Singer Class 15. I have a Singer 15-88. I noticed that you a a throat plate that has lines. Where can I buy one? Thanks for the tip of the cling paper! Great video!
Where can one buy all the xtra attachments? You are very clever! I have a Lewenstein, appr 1920, i have learned to sow on iT when I was 20. I have iT now 40 years. 😁👍still working very well!
I am so inspired! Thank you.
كولش عجبني عاشت الأيادي
wow.. awesome video
Thank you MsPartenos! I have been speaking English for an awfully long time...
well done good job you have done brilliant a your cute machine.
Thanks for the link as I've yet to learn how to drop the feed on my newly acquired 201- she's gorgeous!
eileenfb1948 Congratulations Eileen! If you go to my blog and click on the heading Singer 201K in the sidebar on the right, you will find lots of information, pictures and some mini videos of my 201K. I use it for sewing with attachments (ruffler, buttonholer etc.) and piecing for quilts, and I use the 15K treadle just for free motion quilting. They are both wonderful machines.
Thanks so much for this. I found a hopping foot in my mother's old box of tricks. I will definitely give this a go. I have 201K formerly treadle but now electric. I may even switch it back to treadle, treadling was something I did in my childhood. Thanks again. Is the hopping foot a darning foot?
Hello Lucy, Not all darning feet are hopping feet, but hopping feet are darning feet... if you get what I mean.
Thank you for sharing. It looks great!!
Wowser! Nice job indeed!
I wish I had seen this before I FMQed my last quilt on my treadle! I had problems with my tension on the underside being too loose, but am not sure how to fix it? I am using a Singer 16 industrial, who I refer to as "my big old lady" LOL Do you mind if I share this on my blog?
think you for this video you are ameezing lizzie
Can free mutton quilting pressure foot be used on all sewing machines?
Let me understand
How do I set the stitch length to zero? I have a 66 and the knob has no markings on it so I can’t tell where I am with tension. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you.
Just wondering is the cling wrap safe for the vintage delicate decals?
Thank you Gorgana. If you visit my blog Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing you will see more about free motion quilting. I have been trying out a few different patterns recently.
Lizzie, do you know how to lesson the pressure on the pressure foot? I tried to figure it out but if I release that spring on top of that bar its way to loose but when I push it down, I have way to much pressure that bunches up my fabric when sewing. Thank you, T
When treadling this fast, what is the best position for your feet. can you show the footwork when treadling this fast please.
Thank you for posting
nice work
hello Lizzie. can you help me with my sewing machine as i wanna have a go at this. my sewing machine looks like yours but its a Jones C.B treadle. and were can i get that foot from in the UK.
Darren
www.helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/quiltfeet.html
***** thank you for this Lizzie. my sewing machine is all nice and clean now and oiled. thank's to your videos on haw to clean&oil your sewing machine
big thank's darren
Hello, Lizzie. Thank you for the tutorial. I have one question though. Have you tried using a feed cover plate instead of using cling film?
Hello Ssarryo, No, I haven't. Several reasons- I haven't got one, I'm not sure I would like risking a plate slipping and wrecking the needle on it, and in any event I don't think it would work as well as the cling film. The idea of the cling film is not so much to cover the feed dog teeth - you could FMQ quite easily without them covered, provided they are either dropped or set at zero - but to give a smooth surface over the bed of the machine so the work glides more easily when you are quilting.
***** Ok. I understand. You're method makes sense in that case. I shall try your method of FMQ sometime in the future. Thank you.
Hello Lizzie,
Do you know where I can find a darning foot for my Pfaff 130 within the US?? Thank you for your help.
Hi lizzie I have not this part and I don't know where I buy can you help me I am very thank full to
You 💝
Hello Increviltv1, Glad you enjoyed the video. You must check whether your machine is suitable for free motion quilting. Has it got the same type of bobbin mechanism underneath as a Singer 15? Watch our video "How to thread a Singer 15K" and see if your machine is the same. Muv
Looks good to me
You can remove the feed dogs, its just two little screws after you remove the needle plate.
Hi Lizzie, I have a question! I have my 201K set up in a treadle cabinet and it stitches wonderfully until I try to freemotion quilt. I have it prepared as follows: feed dogs down, stitch length on zero, the exact same free motion foot attachment as you have there. As soon as I start to quilt it does a few stitches fine and then fails to form any more stitches. Its like the hook is not picking up the thread. I have also tried putting in a Magic Genie Teflon bobbin disk to help the bobbin flailing when I change directions. Do you have any ideas? Thank you in advance.
Hello Linda, skipped stitches can happen when the needle is blunt. A new needle might be all you need. If your feed dogs drop the stitch setting doesn't matter. I have to set mine to zero because my dogs don't drop. I have never used a 201 for free motion quilting. I use a 15K - this blog post shows why: lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-best-vintage-machine-for-free.html So far as I understand it, with a 15K the bobbin thread comes from directly beneath, whereas with a 201K it comes from the left, so the stitch mechanism is less well suited to lateral movement of the work.
I have no idea what a magic genie Teflon bobbin disc is, but if your bobbin has a tendency to shift around, are you sure you have the right bobbin for the machine? Any plastic bobbin is by definition the wrong bobbin.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for your speedy reply. Well the needle is old, So I will check, if that is all I will let you know for other people can use the information.
May I know where to buy the presser foot?
So, if I'm understanding you correctly, you do your FMQ with the darning foot *raised* -- is that right?
It is a hopping foot. The foot isn't raised when quilting, it is down. During quilting the lever that makes contact with the needle clamp automatically raises it between each stitch to reduce the pressure and make movement of the fabric easier.
Thank you for the super fast reply! I have the same hopping foot, actually. The problem is that when the foot is lowered, the circle part is incredibly firm against the sewing surface. There's no gliding at all. I read in a blog that the material being quilted should have no resistance under the foot. Did you adjust your foot tension so it's loose / slack or do you work with it tight in the down position? Thank you for your wisdom - it's so appreciated.
No, the circle part shouldn't be firm. Even when it is on the down part of its up and down motion, it should have enough give for you to be able to slide the work out from underneath with just a gentle pull. Make sure you are using thin wadding, reduce the pressure on the presser bar and see if you can get the work to glide. If it turns out that you have a foot that isn't suitable for your machine, Helen Howes will sort you out.
helenhowes-sewingmachines.co.uk/quiltfeet.html#hoppingfeet
Hello gip068, There's nothing different about the position of the feet for going fast. Watch our video "How to Treadle" - the position of the feet applies for all speeds. Muv
There should be a a round screw knob like the one that holds your needle in place, lift up the machine and you'll see it under there but I can't describe how to do it.
Hello Eileen, If you mean I should be able to drop the feed dogs, no I can't. There were different models of the Singer 15, and I have the 15K 80. However, I can do it on my Singer 201K treadle, and I describe how to do it here:-
lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Feed%20Dogs
Great.
Really sickly shade of pink. I wouldn't eat anything that colour - too much nasty colouring. Can't complain for 99p though. Love, Muv
Is it possible for me to do it with a 99k? I intend to do some artwork on paper
Don't try it Simon, it will end in tears.
Horizontal bobbin machines like the 66, 99 and 201 tend to be really bad at free motion work. I wouldn't. Tried it once because other people said it was a bad idea and they were right (but the 201k is fantastic at everything else). Reasons why can be found easily enough, but I would use a 15k or a featherweight (both vertical bobbins).
ohhh~~~~🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰
where did you get them for 99p
RetroZombie - Go to the channel page and click on "browse videos." Do a google search for a hopping foot.
and as to the tension and the stitch size?
What foot is this
Hopping.
Excelente la practica, pero no entiendo el ingles.
Wow, that's skill