Fixing up New Home 551

Janome's New Home 551 is one of those machines that you think you can easily do without, only to discover that nope, you can't. Which is why, having sold my previous one because it was "surplus to requirements", I had to chase for a replacement because it left a gaping hole in those requirements... This…

Pfaff 230 not stitching patterns

Help! She's doing straight stitch and zig-zag like a good girl but is not doing any patterns! 😥 This is the Pfaff pattern disk showing you all the patterns that your Pfaff 230 Automatic can sew fully automatically. You pick a stitch of interest, set up the knobs as shown, set knob E to the…

Pfaff 230 Automatic

This is one of the great classics from 1955: Pfaff 230 Automatic, not to be confused with Pfaff 230 that didn't have any fancy stitches. This machine has signature Pfaff forward-facing vertical rotary hook with internal belt transmission. Zig-zag is done with a swing needle mechanism and all the fancy stuff is in the arm.…

The Mad Hatter – Vigorelli Fantasy

If you thought that Necchi's Supernova was mad with its stackable cams and four pattern modifiying knobs with virtually infinite design variations, then you haven't seen Vigorelli Fantasy. Bigger stackable cams that combine several patterns, seven pattern modifying knobs and levers, and a feed mechanism not only moving back and forth, but also sideways giving…

Fanciful ways of fancy stitches

How does a sewing machine produce fancy stitches? It's a combination of stitch length, zig-zag, needle position and reverse feed, and every fancy stitch can be reproduced manually, although it can be a very tedious process. Skip to particular sections: Fancy stitches done manually Fancy stitches with modulated zig-zag width Cam-driven zig-zag Combinations of geared…