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Messages - Bill

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1
Vintage Machines / Re: Jones z-690 Foreign
« on: Today at 09:17:58 »

Hi Bill,

Thanks for this, i really appreciate your advice. Would I need to look for someone who specialises in vintage machines? Or should most sewing machine repair people/shops be able to work on this machine?

Thanks,
Emily

Hi Emily,

As others have said, I think any reasonably competent sewing machine repair shop would be fine. I've not personally heard of any specialist vintage repair shops but that's not to say they don't exist.
To the best of my limited knowledge, all sewing machines regardless of manufacturer or design follow the same basic mechanical process from power input to final stitch. It's the seriously tight engineering tolerances and extras stuffed into the end machine that complicate matters and most shops if they've been around a few years will have no doubt serviced and repaired hundreds if not thousands of machines over that time.
I hope you'll send us all some pics of the machine though. We all love a bit of sewing machine porn here  :laughing:

2
Vintage Machines / Re: Jones z-690 Foreign
« on: March 21, 2024, 11:21:48 AM »
My Brother machine doesn't need much cleaning and I  certainly never use oil anywhere near it.

Most machines these days use plastic bobbin cases which don't require oil. Unless a certain specialist oil is used, it can even increase the degradation of the plastic.
My Bernina and I think most berninas use steel bobbin cases which when rotating at speed in a steel bobbin case enclosure causes friction and heat buildup. The one day I didn't oil it, I was quickly reminded by the unhealthy grating noise from that area.

3
Vintage Machines / Re: Jones z-690 Foreign
« on: March 21, 2024, 08:09:36 AM »
Calling @Celia to Bills rescue!

CELIAAAAAAA!
HEEEEEEEEEEELP!
COME PUT SMARTYPANTS KNOWITALL FINGER WAGGING @Iminei STRAIGHT PLEASE!

 :D :P :laughing:



4
Vintage Machines / Re: Jones z-690 Foreign
« on: March 20, 2024, 12:11:33 PM »
Hello @Mrs_Robinson and welcome to the forum.
I'm well known round here for tinkering with sewing machines so take it from me, take your machine to a sewing machine repair shop. The horrors awaiting someone who opens the Pandora's box that is a sewing machine with limited sewing machine experience can't even be put into words. Trust me on this.
Ever seen the film Alien? That was made following the writers experience of looking into the insides of a sewing machine!

5
Patterns Discussion / Re: Has anyone tried Spencer Ogg patterns
« on: March 18, 2024, 12:17:50 PM »
I made 2 of her Worsely Wallets @Celia for DD1 and the ex.  Very clear instructions and a joy to make.

6
Machine Accessories / Re: Scissors
« on: March 15, 2024, 10:31:09 AM »
Dunno about that...
I've cut some rather nice curves with the rotary blades. The biggest problems with rotary cutters are the need for a cutting mat and if the ruler slips, the straight line goes out the window.

7
Machine Accessories / Re: Scissors
« on: March 15, 2024, 09:04:46 AM »
I've the same shears from Amazon as @BrendaP  , some pinking shears I bought from the fabric shop down the road which actually work quite well and a few embroidery/stork scissors for chopping threads. Oddly enough, at one time my preferred method of butchering fabric was via a rotary cutter but I find myself leaning towards the scissors these days!

8
Fun with Fabric / Re: Working with leather
« on: March 12, 2024, 12:44:11 PM »
You could hand sew the edges. There are tools which look like a fork for punching sew holes which you can then thread with waxed...err...thread and a leather needle.
There are also stamps with designs on them.

9
Hi, I'm new... / Re: Hello
« on: March 06, 2024, 14:49:54 PM »
Hi Dan and welcome to the forum.
You and I share similar starts to sewing. I bought one of those dinky toy sewing machines as I wanted to make a groundsheet for one of my tents and caught the bug. I've been through quite a few machines since then and have learnt quite a lot. The folks on the forum are very encouraging, friendly and pics of sewing projects are practically a rule here  :)
Your bag is top notch  :thumb:

10
Sewalongs and Competitions / Re: Weekly Sewing Club Wednesdays 2-4pm
« on: March 01, 2024, 11:43:08 AM »

So tomorrow I will attempt to set up and experiment with new machine (Bertha). Not been used (experimented with) yet. May need advice ?


These were quite handy for me when learning how to use the B77.

When using the lettering, before you choose your first letter, press the + sign at the bottom of the screen or the machine will stitch the same letter over and over again. Press the + sign again when you're finished your word otherwise when you choose your next stitch, that word will be stitched out again.
Took me ages to figure that out.

11
The Show Must Go On / Re: It starts all over again.
« on: February 29, 2024, 00:48:49 AM »
Massacre  :laughing:
Probably teaching the chicken how to lay the egg here but a book I've bought recently mentions tying an elastic band around the body to find the natural waist.
Is that your gin and tonic I see lurking in the big bottle with a blue lid?

12
I bought these just over 2 1/2 years ago and they've been used a billion times since. Accurate (I've checked with my engineers steel ruler) and more grippy then the posh omnigrid ones I have. More durable too. There's a 6.5 x 24 inch one there in the options  :thumb:

13
In the wardrobe / Re: Men’s pyjamas
« on: February 25, 2024, 11:35:38 AM »
Have you considered a long sleeve t-shirt pattern and make it from wool?
I have 2 of these and they're the most comfortable tops ever.

14
Sewing Machines / Re: Celia’s new machine
« on: February 24, 2024, 15:33:57 PM »
My 570qe had a baby!  :laughing:

15
Hi, I'm new... / Re: Hi, I’ve just joined the forum.
« on: February 24, 2024, 10:45:07 AM »
Ouch! @Tamnymore you ought to be hung, drawn and quartered for that insult!  :laughing:

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