Same here. Granny’s old machine was a tabletop Singer of an earlier vintage with a wind up handle so you had to manoevre thread and material etc with only one hand. Mum’s treadle one like this was soo much easier cos you could have 2 hands available. And Mum had zillions of different feet for it. Only downside was no zigzag stitches, but it’s straight stitching was excellent. My sister has it now, and it’s still in use.
The treadle I learnt on had zigzag, I remember using it to finish seam edges and to make buttonholes. I still remember the method for making buttonholes. Mark the ends of the hole with pins. Set the zigzag to maximum width, near zero length. Do about 10 stitches. Adjust zigzag to about 3 mm width, sew down one side of buttonhole, do the other end of the buttonhole, turn the fabric then do the second side. Finish the thread with a reverse knot , then cut. Very very carefully cut the buttonhole slit between the two sides of sewing.
I don’t know any family history on the treadle. The Elna I have is early 80s and was my Grans. Don’t care about the lack of fancy stitches. It’s innards are mostly metal so it’s a tank! Wouldn’t mind an auto buttonhole thing, I suck st those
Same here. Granny’s old machine was a tabletop Singer of an earlier vintage with a wind up handle so you had to manoevre thread and material etc with only one hand. Mum’s treadle one like this was soo much easier cos you could have 2 hands available. And Mum had zillions of different feet for it. Only downside was no zigzag stitches, but it’s straight stitching was excellent. My sister has it now, and it’s still in use.
The treadle I learnt on had zigzag, I remember using it to finish seam edges and to make buttonholes. I still remember the method for making buttonholes. Mark the ends of the hole with pins. Set the zigzag to maximum width, near zero length. Do about 10 stitches. Adjust zigzag to about 3 mm width, sew down one side of buttonhole, do the other end of the buttonhole, turn the fabric then do the second side. Finish the thread with a reverse knot , then cut. Very very carefully cut the buttonhole slit between the two sides of sewing.
I know this method, but am just shit at it. Never seem to line the ends up right. I do them by hand if they must exist.
That’s what the unpicker is for.
I don’t know any family history on the treadle. The Elna I have is early 80s and was my Grans. Don’t care about the lack of fancy stitches. It’s innards are mostly metal so it’s a tank! Wouldn’t mind an auto buttonhole thing, I suck st those
yup, a solid inner frame is the best. These old machines are very strong, the timing rarely goes out and they can sew through tough fabrics.
Reminds me of an “optical bench”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_table