You’re welcome, Therese ☺️ I’m happy you like it. I’m repeatedly making videos like this so that many people will know. These old machines are not only beautiful for display, they are excellent machines.
Wow. This was the best 7 minutes I've spent in MANY years! I've been sewing for ~70 years. I started on my mother's White treadle machine (which was 'electrified' so I didn't have to use the treadle part) and the only way I knew how to back stitch was to start sewing a half-inch in, then lift the presser foot and turn the fabric 180 degrees, then sew to the edge, then turn the fabric 180 degrees again and continue to sew. The amount of time I would have saved by knowing this tip would have saved me so much time!! My parents didn't have much money, so I made a lot of my own clothes. I have such good memories of going to J.C. Penneys with my mother and buying fabric from the sale fabric table and being so proud of my wardrobe when I finished sewing.
Happy my video helped you. These old machines are excellent machines despite not having the modern features of modern machines. I couldn't let go of my oldies ( I have 8) even though I don't have much space in our house anymore haha. Thank you for your lovely comment - Mrs G xx
This is the BEST video I've every found to show how to wind the bobbin and thread the machine for a vintage Singer. Thank You!! I hope you'll be making more videos for sewing on vintage machines!
Hi basilrose, thank you for the lovely comment! It’ll inspire me to make more videos on my vintage machines :) Hope you subscribe and share my videos. Thanks again!!!
This method of backstitching on a vintage machine is so genius. I've made a few garments now and I didn't know about this method so I just turned the fabric and its so cumbersome and time consuming. I'm so excited to use this method with my next project. Thank you for sharing this technique.
Thankyou so much for this video! I’m just digging out an old machine that’s been kicking around for years…turns out it’s a Singer 66-6 in Model 40 cabinet. Seems in almost perfect running order (just the bobbin tire worn out). Today it’s being cleaned and polished and then I hope to use it to quilt my Granddaughter’s wedding quilt. I really appreciate your close view of winding the bobbin, threading the machine and especially the reverse trick! 😊🥰
You’re welcome! Happy to know you like it. Thank you for leaving a lovely comment. Viewers like you motivate me to make more videos about these excellent old machines. It is my goal to encourage more people to use these old machines because they are very good machines, strong and have good stitch quality, and they have very long shelf life. All my old machines are older than me and some are over hundred years old. Thanks again for taking the time to leave me a lovely comment. Enjoy quilting with your Singer 66 ❤️
New subscriber. I just won an auction on Goodwill and now have a 1921 Singer 66 red eye coming via FedEx. Your videos are invaluable for me and very well produced. I will send away for a handcrank and operate the machine at craft fairs. An actual, operating, vintage sewing machine attracts a lot of people. My goal is to connect with young people and help them understand that not all things were made to be thrown away. Perhaps a few will go on to learn a new skill and get away from the iphones and texting and such (at least for a little while). Your videos are my favorites. All the best to you, Mark in Florida.
Hi Mark, thank you for subscribing and the lovely comment. And congratulations on your new antique Singer 66 Red Eye. I love what you plan to do connecting with the young generation to help them to appreciate these excellent old machines. That is also my goal in making videos about my old sewing machines. All the best to us, and thanks again! - Sal
You do really good videos on how to do things with these older machines. Yes, lots of other people do them, but yours are done extremely well, with a good understanding of what people need to see and hear to be able to learn what you're showing. (And what they don't need - I love that you get to the point.) The quality of the "lesson plan" really shows. I encourage you to do more of them.
@@learntosewwithmrsg No, no - thank you for making videos that inspire me to write. I stumbled across you due to "the algorithm", and I'm really glad I did. I've watched many, many videos on using vintage machines so when I say yours are really good it says a lot. I hope a lot more people find them. They don't know what they're missing out on. I didn't! :-)
Thank you Megan, I've been getting more subscriptions since you and the others went out of your way to leave these lovely comments! Much, much appreciated, thanks again! :)
You’re welcome, Jolene. Thanks for leaving a comment and enjoy quilting with the Singer 66. It’s a pretty machine, the red eye decal singer 66. The red eye is not common here in Australia, but I’ve seen a few. Our singer 66 here were mostly made in the UK and has the lutos/Egyptian decals like that of my singer 66. And machines with the sphinx decals are also common here.
Thank you. I just could not figure out how to back stitch with out very much effort, and THIS video helps me put this fine machine back into service. You saved my Singer from just being a decoration . Thank you again
I have watch so many videos for these machines and it is the first time I see the backstitch. I can’t thank you enough as I was lifting the pedal and going back a bit to stitch again. I can’t wait to try it. Thank you so much. Also, the clear view of how the thread wraps around the bobbin is just reassuring.
Just dropping a line to say thank you, specially the back stitch is very useful and so easy. Lifting just a little bit is the trick indeed, that I didn’t realize at first. Happy Holidays!
That backstretch trick was so simple yet amazing I never would have thought of that and always stayed away from no reverse machines you just changed my life lol. Thank you sincerely
Hi Michael, you're welcome! I'm happy it helped you. I learned to use this technique from the day I learned to sew, long, long time ago, from my two neighbours who were working at a Tailor Shop in my hometown. I learned my first sewing lessons from them. Now I am happy to pass it on. Thank you for your lovely comment. I wish to share this technique to users of these beautiful, early sewing machines, so if you can share this video, I would appreciate it very much. Thanks for your lovely comment ☺️
Thank you! I decided to try to use the sewing machine that has long been an end table, and didn't know how to backtack without swiveling the entire thing I am sewing under the presser foot at the beginning and end of every seam. This works so well!
the treadle is the best machine i have ever used. in will sew anything. it will hem jeans and go over the fat seams. it will sew leather, depending on the thickness. Once it even put three stitches through my thumb!
Thank you! Please share with your sewing friends who also use old machines, if that’s okay with you. I would love more people to learn it. Thanks again!
@@AnitaSouthall I have uploaded 2 new videos on sewing with hand crank machine, how to reverse and threading and winding the shuttle bobbin and also how to use a hand crank machine to hem a denim pants.
Thanks so much for the helpful tips! I got my late grandma's singer sewing machine, but I didn't have any idea of how to do the back stitch. Your video really helps me and I'm looking forward to make more projects with it!
I was searching for "lock or back stitch on white vintage treadle sewing machine without reverse" and found this... I liked the way you locked the stitch but best of all was the Darning, that is what I use my machine for most of the time. I liked your video and sub'd you channel.
I have learnt so much more about my vintage machine. I can now back stitch . I can now alter the stich length. I also saw you pick up the bobbin thread without the needle thread running through the foot hence easier to see to retrieve the loop. Thank you for taking the time to educate and help others!
Nice back stitch tip loved it and want to try it. Here is a tip for you on bobbin winding you don’t have to have the needle going up and down when bobbin winding you can loosen that smaller knob in the center of the hand wheel and it disengages the needle drive.
Great video covers all elements related to using the 66k and I had not thought about doing a backstitch as shown here, no doubt there is a knack to the slight lift of the presser foot and back movement of the material but I will try it now and hopefully will master it after about 6 hours 😃will also test out the darning. Also endorse other comments with how easy, relevant and detailed your videos are.
I just bought a 66 - Red eye for bag making. Thank you so much for a well thought out video of the basics. I could not figure out the back stitch and was pulling the thread through and knotting (on mock leather - ugg). This is fantastic!
Heheh thank you again! I love that machine! Happy I found her still in very good cosmetic condition. I had to clean her up for about 2 hours then oil and fixed her tension. Now she looks good as new again!
Thank you so much for your clear instructions! I have found a machine like this but hand-wheel-driven. - I’m going to think of a hands-free solution to keep the pressure foot lever slightly lifted, so I should be able to darn as well.
I have other videos on old machines you might get some ideas from, like installing an electric motor or installing on a treadle. Hope they help you. If you want to backstitch using hand crank, I have a video on that, too ☺️ Thanks for watching and leaving a comment ❤️
@@learntosewwithmrsg Many thanks indeed for your reply and ever so helpful new information! I’m a newbie subscriber so have not seen all of your videos yet. Shall go binge watching on the next rainy day, which here in the UK is bound to happen very soon :-)
I just go this machine at an estate sale with my grandma a few months ago and i finally got around to trying to figure out how to use it. I'm so glad that I found this video!!! Do you know where I can find needles and bobbins for this machine? Or will certain modern day needles and bobbins also work?
I use modern needles with most of my old machines. I talked about needles in one of my videos, the video about Singer 15-31. For Singer 66 bobbins, I haven’t found a modern equivalent so I ordered my bobbins on eBay. Just type singer 66 bobbins to find it there.
Thank you so much! I've been using my grandmother's treadle and I love it but couldn't work out how to backstitch and it's been bothering me so much! (I've also learnt that I have winding my bobbins wrong the whole time, oops!)
The greatest best video on the 66, here is why, camera angles very clear, and info is no where to be found, I spent 2 days, this weekend figuring it all out, except for reverse, which you explained very well, I spent a frustrating day learning how to thread the bobbin but I did, and I got to sew all day yesterday. Question: is the design on your 66 authentic, I have never seen that design? thank you so much for a great video, what about free motion? and buying other feet?
Hi Esperansa, you're welcome! I’m happy that my video helped you ☺️ My Singer 66 came with the Lotus Decal which was a common decal for singer 66 models made in Great Britain. The Red Eye Decal is popular in the US on this model, I believe. There are many sewing feet available on eBay and Facebook marketplace, I’ll show the feet in my upcoming videos. As to free motion with the singer 66, I’m still trying to figure it out as unlike the singer 306 and 319, I could not lower the feed dog and I can not remove the feed dog either. I do have a embroidery plate but I don’t like using it. I’ll show all these in my next video. And thank you for taking the time to leave me a lovely comment ❤️
I'm loving your videos!!! Thank you so much for sharing!! Do you have the feed dogs up while doing this reverse stitching? I'm a total newbie to my vintage Singer 66!!
Hi Deanna, yes the feed dogs are up. The slight lifting of the presser foot allows us to pull the fabric forward and the machine can stitch the fabric as we pull allowing the ‘backstitch’. Like free motion embroidery, only we don’t lower the feed dogs, instead we lift the presser foot slightly ☺️Thank you for leaving a lovely comment!
Lovely video. What is the darning for if I might ask? Id love to use my machine but the amount of thread that comes out when attempting a backstitch is disastrous. It's about half a foot of thread every time, I don't know what the issue is or how to fix it...
Thank you for your comment. Darning is used for repairing holes or tear on a garment or fabric. I am sorry to hear about your issue when backstitching. I only lift the presser foot lifter a tiny bit when I backstitch and put it down when sewing forward. I have another video on how to backstitch using my singer 99. If you like, you can also check that out and hopefully it was more visible how I backstitch there. The singer 66 and 99 are similar machines, the difference is the 99 is smaller. Hope you can fix the issue with your machine.
Hi Teri, yes, I’ll make a new video using my singer 28. I made a video about how to backstitch on my singer 128 but I used hand crank so the technique is different. But in my next video, I’ll attach an electric motor to my Singer 28 and show how to do backstitches. Hope you subscribe to my channel so you’ll be notified when I upload it. Thanks ☺️
I pulled my 99 out today to do some sewing with it and for some reason the feed dogs are going backwards now. My machine does noe come with a reverse option. I cannto for the life of me figure out what got jostled to cause the feed dogs to go the wrong way. Any tips?
Hi Ginger, I think this issue is for a sewing mechanic to look at. Whereabouts are you? I hope you can find one near you. If it has been sitting in storage for a long time, it’s better to have it checked, especially those machines with electric motor attachments. I know how to service my machines, but it’s just the regular cleaning and oiling and fine-tuning the upper thread and bobbin tension. In one occassion I messed up the timing of my machine when trying to set it up for embroidery. Thankfully I was able to fix it ! I won’t try that stunt again ☺️ I think there are some vintage sewing machine mechanics on RU-vid, perhaps you can ask them? Sorry I am not able to help, but thank you for your comment.
1:33 I noticed your bobbin winder has a black rubber(?) piece in the groove that makes contact with the belt to spin the mechanism. I was wondering if this is a piece specifically made for this purpose, and where I can find one? Mine is just a metal piece with a groove, and the belt sometimes just skims past it instead of catching and spinning it. Help would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Christin, I quickly googled “singer 66 bobbin winder rubber/tire” and there are some being sold on eBay. Maybe your local sewing machines repair guy have them as well. Hope this helps.
Your thread take up lever must be at its highest position before you lift your presser foot lifter to remove your fabric and cut the thread. If you try this tip, let me know if it helps
Thank you, though I am talking about the beginning of a stitch, holding on to the needle thread so it doen't pull out when begining sewing. @@learntosewwithmrsg
@@caduceus33 I'm talking about that, too. Sorry I didn't explain it clearly. When you do as I said above, your machine is ready to sew again and won't pull the thread too much when you start sewing. It may not work in some cases, like when your thread tension is too loose to keep the thread from being pulled up or when the presser foot lifter is up before you turn your handwheel to lower your needle to the fabric, but in general when the thread tension mechanism is working or at the right setting and the presser foot is down, you can start sewing without holding your thread tails because even if it pulls a little bit, you still have enough length of thread to start stitching. The top thread and the bobbin thread completed their cycle and ready to start stitching again when the thread take up is at its highest and about to go down again. Actually this is one of the subjects of my upcoming Learn To Sew series. Modern machines with auto needle up function does this automatically. With manual machines, we have to do it ourselves. Hope this helps and if you try this tip, please let me know if it works .
Hi anita, I'm glad you like them! I also recently bought a few vintage and antique machines, they are hardworking and can sew thicker fabrics. It amazes me that they can still sew after sooo many years. I'm sure they will still go on and on :)
Hi Tracy, the bobbins for singer 66 are the same for singer 99 and singer 201. You can search for these bobbins online by using the search word: class 66 bobbins or class 201 bobbins. They are available to buy on eBay, Etsy, and fb marketplace. Some local brick and mortar shops here in Australia sell them as well.
Wow! I have never seen back stitching done like that on a 66. So all this about no back stitch on a 66 just isn't true. Now I wonder if that's how they used to do it??? Seems easier than the 201. Impossible with a hand cranker though. I have a treadle so I will give it a go.
Hi Peter, let me know how it went. I also have a video on how I backstitch using a hand crank, if you would like to have a look. And yes, this is how they used to do it in the old days, I learned it from my neighbours who were working at a tailoring shop. I was using my singer 15 then, the one with a backstitch lever, but I still use this backstitch technique because it was easier to do when your right hand is already close to the presser foot lifter. Thank you for your comment and for subscribing!
@@learntosewwithmrsg Yes I will let you know. I love learning new things everyday. I have renovated who knows how many vintage machines and never knew about that back stitching method until your video. So that's how they did it! I homed in straight away that your right hand was nearer the presser foot than any back stitch lever. Please do a video about the 66 thread uncalibrated thread tensioner. My thoughts are that it is perfect as it is. Just adjust top and bottom tension until stitch locks in the middle . Use different coloured thread to set this. Once set leave it be. What's your take please?
@@petercane6376 Yes that’s how we adjust tension. But when the tension is still off, there could be other factors involved. Okay I will make a video about adjusting tension on the Singer 66 soon I hope ☺️
I think it’s not possible to use the same method that I used in this tutorial as it needs both hands to do the reverse. I’ll check with my hand crank machine and I’ll let you know if reverse can be done.
In addition to Mrs G's excellent video on how to do this when you've got just yourself on the handcrank you can, of course, enlist a willing helper if you have other people in the house to wind the crank for you while you backstitch, or even darn. Sometimes bribes are needed...! :-)
please watch the other video, it's for the singer 99, I think you can see how I backstitch there more clearly. Here's the link to the video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Au11M_dambU.html
Hi rndea100 I checked my 319k and the bobbin winder is different. Best to ask sewing machines mechanics. And you can check your local fb marketplace for vintage machines. You might chance on one selling for parts. Hope this helps a bit.
Oh I though you were talking about the bobbin winder of the singer 99 to put into a 319k. I haven’t tried using a spoke wheel on my 319k so I don’t know how it will work. Sorry I’m not able to help.