Great video. I usually skip the hem tape, and with most fabrics, do a quick 4 thread serge on the raw edge to eliminate fraying, then run a blind hem!

Great article... I can think of some other things this might work well with. maybe hard to control slinky's and such?There are some wonderful tear away and wash away stabilizers available today, I think i'd go for those instead of the register tape - but that's certainly resourceful!

I was just glad to see someone using a Husqvarna machine rather than an Oh so expensive Bernina! Nice to see a lovely manually done buttonhole too - though there are many machines that will make a lovely automatic one. Though I've made a zillion buttonholes Louises "finishing" touches are new to me and will be immediately incorporated into my future technique - thank you for sharing!

It's a Viking 936 for me after several years of trying various models, this machine has everything I need including coverstitch. I use it almost every day, as I make about 75% of my own clothing and am a quilter. I always serge the edges of every new fabric brought into the stash to prevent fraying - as everything is washed before going to the cutting table...
Thanks for the nice pictures of the "basics"...

This is my GREAT, GREAT Grandmother's machine. I have my grandmother's Singer. A model 66, circa 1948, her son's bought it for her upon their return from WWII, and it replaced a much older machine in her little wooden standard Singer treadle base - I thought it was much older (given it's non-electric nature), but when it was passed on to me recently, I was astounded to find the original sales slip (showing the trade in of an older model) and the date! I remember her using it many times. I replaced the belt, did a bit of cleaning and she still works like a dream, in spite of a lot of wear and tear. Grandma Birdie Lee Fillette raised 8 chilcren in Alexandria, Louisiana.
- Karen Alexander, Austin, Tx

I teach beginning sewing, and owners classes at a local machine shop. I've heard many stories of dissappointment using this very sub-standard machines. The aggravation of using a cheap (cute does NOT mean that it works well!) machine is often enough to turn off today's short-attention span youngster from every trying sewing again. The BEST machine is mom's, used with mom's guidance. The next best thing is a structured teaching environment, where machines are provided and the class is taught by someone experienced in teaching youngsters - in a fairly small (under 6 kids) class... a hard thing to find. When your child is ready to sew - visit your LOCAL sewing dealer, ask them what machines they recommend for youngsters, get a demo, use the machine yourself, and buy a machine that has at least a 1 year warranty on parts and labor - anything else will not be worth the money or time spent. Expect to spend $140-150.00. $200 is better. Don't buy a machine with an old style bobbin and bobbin case - a drop in bobbin is easiest to learn. Start with easy projects - for example a pillowcase, or a small drawstring bag... and MOST important..HAVE FUN!

I agree with the earlier not that it looks like a very early zig zag foot, (maybe from the 1940's or 50's) with a channel to allow the attachment perhaps of lace or ribbon. It doesn't appear to be a Singer - attachments made by Singer were clearly stamped "SINGER" and/or had a part number on them.

It is definitely NOT a ruffler... which had even more adjustments! To see a good picture of an early (1949 printing) Singer ruffler, see Mary Brooks Picken's: "Singer Sewing Book", published by Singer, page No 113, 196. This is a great, though somewhat hard to find book on everything to do with household sewing.

The Zigzagger ws an extra accessory, I've seen very few of these "bare" zig zaggers. Later in the 1950's a very cool, and more palatable looking zig zagger came out with varied cams for different stitches was produced. The pages referenced above show the zig zag stitch used to insert lace and apply applique work.

This book is my "bible" for sewing (as it was my mother's"... and shows how to use all the "old" feet that came with your Singer. The "dressmaker" size machines all came with a Ruffler as a standard accessory, many, many are still out there, and they operate wonderfully with almost any modern low shank machine. Because machines soon appeared in the mid to late 50's with built in zig zag, these attachments were short lived, and soon discarded.

I collect, restore, and use many Singer models. This part may be from another machine maker, or one of the accessory makers. If it were made by Greist, it also would have been marked, but almost any other maker, would leave no mark!

- Karen Alexander
Austin, Tx
Singer 15, 15-31, 101, 201, 221, 14-91, and 401,
www.karenquiltslife.blogspot.com