[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', 'P')heba, I think sewing is a good skill to have. You might want to check out the clothing forums at Craftster

[skyemoor]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('phebagirl', 'W')e may not have enough hay to make it through the winter. We may just squeak by.

[PhebaAndThePilgrim]

Good day from Pheba, from the farm:
Wow, the part about sewing sails for boats got me to thinking. One time I made my husband a homemade back rubber for the cattle. Almost destroyed my machine making it. I would love an industrial Singer sewing machine, but can't afford one, and have no space for it.
If any folks out there decide to seek out a sewing machine for this type of heavy duty work, please do not be duped by the sellers on E-bay selling Singer machines as "heavy Duty", or "industrial". please do some research. A true heavy duty, industrial machine for sewing boat sails, etc. has a separate motor, and was originally made for the purpose. Almost all of the machines sold on E-bay that are listed as capable of sewing leather, etc. are not truly heavy duty. Any machine that was manufactured as a domestic, home sewing machine is not capable of sewing leather, or canvas, or sail for any length of time. There is a great web-site called needlebar.com that has listings of some vintage singer sewing machines and their purpose.
I own 8 vintage Singers, a Bernina, and a Babylock serger. I am going to take a clothing construction class to help get my skills back to par. I have not assembled clothing in years. I love to sew, and actually prefer heavy duty projects. I reupholstered our sofa. The job took me 9 months.
My 1,500.00 dollar Bernina would not do the job, but an old Singer from Germany did a beautiful job with the upholstery thread.
Personally, I believe a good old sewing machine is a great investment. The newer computer models are mostly junk unless you go high-end, i.e., bernina, viking, etc.
If anybody wants any ideals on what models to look for I would be glad to share what I know.
Pheba.

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Phebagirl', 'I')f anybody wants any ideals on what models to look for I would be glad to share what I know.
Pheba.

[FoolYap]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Phebagirl', 'T')here is a great web-site called needlebar.com that has listings of some vintage singer sewing machines and their purpose.

[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Phebagirl', 'G')ood day from Pheba, from the farm:
Wow, the part about sewing sails for boats got me to thinking. One time I made my husband a homemade back rubber for the cattle. Almost destroyed my machine making it. I would love an industrial Singer sewing machine, but can't afford one, and have no space for it.
If any folks out there decide to seek out a sewing machine for this type of heavy duty work, please do not be duped by the sellers on E-bay selling Singer machines as "heavy Duty", or "industrial". please do some research. A true heavy duty, industrial machine for sewing boat sails, etc. has a separate motor, and was originally made for the purpose. Almost all of the machines sold on E-bay that are listed as capable of sewing leather, etc. are not truly heavy duty. Any machine that was manufactured as a domestic, home sewing machine is not capable of sewing leather, or canvas, or sail for any length of time. There is a great web-site called needlebar.com that has listings of some vintage singer sewing machines and their purpose.
I own 8 vintage Singers, a Bernina, and a Babylock serger. I am going to take a clothing construction class to help get my skills back to par. I have not assembled clothing in years. I love to sew, and actually prefer heavy duty projects. I reupholstered our sofa. The job took me 9 months.
My 1,500.00 dollar Bernina would not do the job, but an old Singer from Germany did a beautiful job with the upholstery thread.
Personally, I believe a good old sewing machine is a great investment. The newer computer models are mostly junk unless you go high-end, i.e., bernina, viking, etc.
If anybody wants any ideals on what models to look for I would be glad to share what I know.
Pheba.

[PhebaAndThePilgrim]

Good day from Pheba, from the farm:
I do apologize. Steve, you are correct. The address is needlebar.org.
Needlebar is a wonderful sight filled with information and photos on vintage Singer sewing machines. I highly reccomend spending some time getting to know the different types of machines.
The first thing you need to ask yourself is what you are going to use the machine for.
Do you want a domestic model, or do you need an industrial?
Beginners should not start on a super industrial machine. The machines have powerful separate motors that make the machines go very fast. They take some getting used to.
I have never sewn sails before, but there is one machine that sail makers seem to seek out. the PFaff 130. I do not know if the machine is industrial or domestic. I have never gotten into Pfaff machines. I am a Singer collector.
With any machine you should consider several things about the machine before you purchase it.
First, is it gear drive or belt driven? Belts break, but are cheap. plastic gears wear out and are very expensive to replace. Belts can slip when asked to perform beyond capability. Gears can burn out when plastic.
Second, is the machine an oscillating or rotary hook? The hook is the mechanism that turns the lower bobbin thread. The rotary machines turn the mechanism a full 180 degrees. The oscillating machines turn it half way then back again. If you turn the handwheel towards you (the wheel on the right of the machine), you should be able to watch the hook turn. The hook is the round mechanism that holds the lower round bobbin in place.
The oscillating vs rotary argument is kind of like the Chevy Ford argument. Oscillating hooks are preferred by some. Rotary hooks are quieter, with less vibration, and can usually perform faster.
All of my machines are rotary hook. All of them.
The next thing you need to ask is how much arm height you will need? Arm height is the clearance between the underside of the top of the machine arm, and the bed of the machine.
Most domestic machines will not hold a quilt for machine quilting, etc.
For me it is vitally important to know where a machine is made. My Bernina is Swiss made. I have Singers made in The U.S., Great britain, Canada, France, and Germany. My Babylock serger is made in Japan, but only because babylock holds all of the patents on sergers. I would never own any machine made in China.
If you are looking for a domestic model, there are several older Singers that would be great. Research needlebar.org.
Some of the early Fashion-mate, and Stylist machines can be found at flea markets and thrift shops for 5 to 10 dollars. The older the machine is the better. Fancy stitch capability is not important.
All metal gears are vital. I am thinking ahead to the day when cheap machines can no longer be imported from China.
My gut feeling is that a good working sewing machine will be worth its weight in gold. Especially if it is not computer based.
Most of the all metal Singers made during the 1950s and 1960s are all metal gears, and will virtually run forever if well cared for.
What I have:
A Singer 201-2. Singers best straight stitch machine ever made. If you can find one in great shape, snap it up. Like driving a Ferrari. (like I would know). Singer made 4 201 models:
Singer 201-1, treadle (I have been looking for one for 5 years now)
Singer 201-2, Potted motor. Motor permanently attached. So machine can not be treadled. Motor must be taken care of. Has grease cups that must be filled. Well worth the trouble. A gem of a machine.
Singer 301-3, external motor. Can be treadled.
Singer 301-4. Handcrank. Yep, handcrank. Very rare.
Singer 301. Called the Featherweight big sister. Just 17 pounds. all metal construction and gears. Slant needle (easy on the eyes). Selling like wildfire on E-bay. Please be careful purchasing this machine. The bobbin case is very expensive to replace.
Singer 431G. Germany. Extremely rare. You don't want to know what I paid for mine on E-bay. I have never regretted it. Machine upholstered my sofa, and is still going strong.
Singer Genie 354. Mostly just because it is so cute. I have one.
I could ramble on all day about this. I feel these machines need to be saved. Most of them are being snapped up and shipped to Mexico for use in home sweatshop businesses. A tragedy.
Needlebar.org lists all machines that can be treadled. Please note that the treadle feature does not work as well on machines not made for treadling. The handwheel should be larger and have a different counterbalance than an electric handwheel.
You can treadle them, but they do not operate as efficiently. A true treadle machine that works well is a treasure.
Sorry for the ramble.
Pheba.
The 400 500 series of Singers are also fine. Please avoid complicated machines that do a bunch of stitches. You will never use them, and the more complicated the machine, the harder to repair. Also, the more variance in the needle shaft, the lower the quality of the straight stitch.
I reccomend a machine that does a straight stitch, and a zigzag.

[FoolYap]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Phebagirl', 'W')hat I have:
A Singer 201-2. Singers best straight stitch machine ever made. If you can find one in great shape, snap it up. Like driving a Ferrari. (like I would know).

[PhebaAndThePilgrim]

Good evening, from Pheba from the farm:
Steve, I have to be careful not to go on a total rant on this subject. To me the older Singer sewing machines represent what I love about my country. They represent what we were capable of before we lost our way. Singer sewing machines were originally built to be passed from one generation to the next. They are quality products that were not meant to be disposed of. We need to go back to that mindset. That is why I love my old Singer machines. I also have a Singer 221 Featherweight. Aside from the fact that the machine is absolutely adorable, (cuteness is a big factor in selling anything to a woman, how I got my husband), I do not like the Featherweight. The 221 Featherweight is named for its light weight and durability. The machine weighs 11 pounds, and is balanced so it can sew just about any place without vibrating or shaking off. The machine has developed an absolute cult following among quilters. The machine is so easy to take to classes, and sews a perfect straight stitch on quilting pieces. That being said, the machine has little else to say for it. The 221 has a modest motor. If memory serves about .5 amp. The machine is not slant needle, and is belt driven. I just had to have one because everybody else had one. Now I have it, and I just don't use it. I keep it because it is cute.
The 301 is called the Featherweight big sister. At 17 pounds it is only slightly larger than the Featherweight, has an internal motor, all metal gears, slant needle, and as perfect a straight stitch as the Featherweight. The two machines take the same bobbin case. The 301 also has a slightly more powerful motor.
I would never think of using a Featherweight long term for any type of heavy fabric project. The machine was not made for such use. More than any factor, the size of the motor dictates what you can do with a machine.
There is a line of machines among the 400 500 series that I avoid. Some of the machines have internal built in cams. Cams are plastic discs with indentations that create fancy stitches. The internal cam drive has a tendency to jam and slip. I have tried repairing them myself and have just had bad luck with them, so I avoid them. You can tell an internal cam machine by the double round stitch knobs on the front of them. My only internal cam machine is my 431G. If it wasn't such a workhorse I would not fool with it. I have never used anything on the machine except straight stitch and zigzag.
I have owned 3 separate 401 machines, and have gotten rid of all 3 because of slippage of the internal cam mechanism.
I can not afford the 100.00 cost to send a machine for repair. I need to stay with machines I can repair myself, except for my Bernina.
If you E-Bay the Singer 401 you will see the round selection knobs on the front of the machines. Not my first choice, especially for a beginner.
Also, there is an awesome green singer, the 319K. I own a 319K. I call it the green beast. A very heavy duty machine. I do not reccomend the machine because it requires treadle needles that are difficult to find. I love the color.
The 201 machines are considered heavy duty, and are as close to industrial as a domestic machine with a .95 to 1 amp motor can get. All they do is a simple straight stitch, but they do it better than any machine every made, ever.
The 221 Featherweight is not heavy duty, it is a light duty machine. Very often people push the machine, but it is not built for such abuse, and the motor will not withstand it for very long.
Your 221 can make a dress, piece a quilt, etc. But I would not attempt to upholster the sofa with it, or even use it for heavy drapery fabric. But, that's your decision. My advice, try to find a 201 if you have space. The 201 is a tank, not a portable.
The old 327 is another Singer that is a tank. Weighs a ton, but sews great. Ugly as sin. The 338 is a blue machine. Very pretty. I own one. Uses flat cams for fancy stitches. Fun, but useless. the 338 has a neoprene belt, but otherwise is all metal, and very sturdy.
To shut up and finally answer your question, I would not use my 221 Featherweight for drapery construction. Many Featherweight addicts would disagree, but I would not want to risk damaging my motor. Also, depends on how heavy the fabric is. Many people use their Featherweight to sew denim. I would not want to do it all of the time.
The 201 would sew denim better than your 221, ditto on the drapes. If you sew denim on a regular basis, you may want to invest in a little gadget (2 to 3 dollars) called a "Jeans-A-Ma-Jig", also called a jeans Jeanie. Simply a piece of plastic to help the machine foot over the hump where the seams of denim come together. Bernina makes a foot called a Jeans foot. Actually rises and glides right over those huge humps of fabric. I did some research because I wanted a Jeans foot for my Singer machines. As far as I can tell Bernina is the only company that makes a Jeans foot. Also, where denim seams come together, take a pair of pliers, and mash the seams right before sewing. Flattens seams and makes it easier also. And finally, always use a denim needle when sewing denim. Sorry for rambling on again,
Pheba.

[FoolYap]

Thanks, Pheba! Well, I will have to think about what to do. On the one hand, sounds like a 201 would be a better all-around machine for me to have. OTOH, I haven't exactly gotten around to any of the sewing projects I had in mind.

I will probably keep the 221 as a learning machine for my wife (who also doesn't sew) and I, to do little projects with. It certainly was convenient to use it on the kitchen table when I played with it!

After we better understand what we're doing, though, I'll look for a used 201-class machine to add to the stable.

I certainly sympathize with the feeling that this country used to know how to build a quality sewing machine. It's always possible it may come back around. I used to feel the same about woodworking tools; the ones made prior to WW2 were so amazingly better than "modern" ones. But amazingly enough, in the past 10-15 years there has been somewhat a revolution in woodworking hand tools here, with some small firms coming in to bring back very high quality new tools. The cheap stuff in a Home Depot is still mostly junk, but the good stuff's out there if you know where to look. Perhaps sewing will undergo a similar revolution?

--Steve

[PhebaAndThePilgrim]

Good day from Pheba, from the farm:
My hubby agrees with you. He is a carpenter, and loves good old hand tools. I apologize to all on this site for digressing from topic on this post. While old sewing machines are not connected with fertilizer, they are connected to peak oil.
Positively keep your 221 Featherweight. They are a fascinating piece of American history. When I said that I did not like mine, I meant for the type of sewing I do. As a part of history, I would never part with it. Many generations from now I hope somebody is still using the machines I have. I hope that by taking good care of them I can pass them on for future generations.
Of course, they may have to power them with bicycles. Time will tell. Pheba

[Elmoeangel]

Can anyone tell me what year the Singer 201-2 was made. I bought one today that works like a dream. It's very clean, in a cabinet that looks original. It had the owners manual and all the attachments. I just can't figure out what year it was made. I really think I got a steal of a deal on it at an Estate sale I found it at. I gave $30.00 for it. Was it a good deal, and do you know the year they were made? Thanks for the help.
Lisa

[seahorse]

No ling to story yet, but check out the Drudge Report webpage, which says "fertilizer shortage". Keep checking this site to see what they "break."

Drudge Report

This food shortage news is everywhere.

[Jack]

My, my.

So we'll have famine and fuel shortage at the same time.

Interesting times...

[wisconsin_cur]

I was thinking about something I saw a couple of years a go. Then, at least, it was mostly a matter of changing expectations in reagards to price and busisness practices. Prices would be high so people would not order early, expecting natural gas to go down (bringing down the price of fertilizer).

Then everyone would get in at the last minute, eating up available supply because producers did not make enough, unwilling to commit to the expense without any contracts to sell the product at a price that would cover their costs.

Just in Time Fertilizer coming to an end

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')HE TIME when fertilizer dealers will be able to reliably supply customers who want to book fertilizer just before they need it is coming to an end.

Dealers, their hands forced by industry changes beyond their control, see the writing on the wall and are beginning to make plans to require customers to commit to purchases well in advance of their needs. Growers unwilling to book ahead will face the risk of not being able to buy fertilizer when they need it.

[wisconsin_cur]

I don't know where Drudge will link but NY time has an article,

Link

[nocar]

There is actually lots of fertilizer, just in the wrong place. Human urine (as well as other animal urine actually) is very good all-round fertilizer. It is 'just' a matter of organizing city collection and transfer to farms.

nocar

[Hagakure_Leofman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nocar', 'T')here is actually lots of fertilizer, just in the wrong place. Human urine (as well as other animal urine actually) is very good all-round fertilizer. It is 'just' a matter of organizing city collection and transfer to farms.

nocar

[GoghGoner]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('wisconsin_cur', 'I') don't know where Drudge will link but NY time has an article,

Link

[cudabachi]

link XUAN CANH, Vietnam — Truong Thi Nha stands just four and a half feet tall. Her three grown children tower over her, just as many young people in this village outside Hanoi dwarf their parents. The biggest reason the children are so robust: fertilizer. Ms. Nha, her face weathered beyond its 51 years, said her growth was stunted by a childhood of hunger and malnutrition. Just a few decades ago, crop yields here were far lower and diets much worse.

Then the widespread use of inexpensive chemical fertilizer, coupled with market reforms, helped power an agricultural explosion here that had already occurred in other parts of the world. Yields of rice and corn rose, and diets grew richer. Now those gains are threatened in many countries by spot shortages and soaring prices for fertilizer, the most essential ingredient of modern agriculture.