MECHANICAL ACCESSORY #2: Singer ZigZagger; How We Made Overlock Stitches Before There Were Sergers!

[@wdtaut5650]

The engineering on these machines and their attachments is amazing. Thanks for showing this one. I like the penguin pot, too.

[@gincameron4453]

Really helpful vid! TQ. Have ordered a zigzag for my beloved 66k - can’t wait to get going on it. Expanding the versatility on these amazing vintage Singers is a joy. Happy to have found yr channel 😊

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gingermcmichael6493]

I have gotten good zig zag and satin stitch from this attachment (adjustable zig zigzagger)by loosening the presser bar until it just barely feeds then tighten it slightly. Then just hover your hands in a delta shape over the feeding fabric barely touching. Let the machine do the feeding. Once you get good at that you can work on directing it so you can use for appliqué.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Thanks for sharing Ginger. Not many folks have shared their experience with vintage attachments.

[@doratpc]

I was given a few singer attachments but i dont know how to utilise them. Can you help?

[@ronalddaub9740]

I get satin stitches from my zigzag attachment with cams on my 301 a slant, and . my 1950, model 66. By simply slowing the feed dogs down until it's satin 👉 To a point. And yes if you run the zigzag over the edge of material,, one one stroke,,, it will over lock on its own

[@ronalddaub9740]

Phaff had the 230in 1954.250 decorative stitches.. have on in my collection. Picot attachments are also fun.

[@ronalddaub9740]

The attachments in my opinion have . . The quality of watches,, its amazing what they would cost today. Especially the /EALRY, leverage TYPE button holer attachment

[@gingermcmichael6493]

Good reference on vintage attachments; The Sewing Machine Attachment Handbook by Charlene Phillips May be expensive to buy OOP. Try your library.

[@shirley1413]

I agree with you that people didn’t use the attachments,,, no patience and no you tubers to show us how to do things.

[@rendmendecclesiastes3728]

I was wondering if this attachment would work for my Singer 101. Thank you for reading the part in the booklet that specifies which hole to attach it to my machine!

[@NM-gv5nl]

A bit of crisp tissue underneath is a real help.

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Thank you NM. I always forget that important point. Funny, but I recently saw an article on the many alternate uses of Coffee Drip filters and they list this as one of them!!

[@justinshelton5026]

I have one of these for my old singer 66. It does take some practice to get used to. I mainly use it for couching or cording , since it has the little guide for the yarn or ribbon to run through. I also use it in the straight stitch setting for the same thing if I don’t want the stitching to show over the cording.

[@meganmills6545]

Do you have any hints or tips to help out a hapless beginner please? I just got the Vanguard (which Singer supplied in the UK instead of this one) and while it zig-zags it is very hard to steer - even though I only try to make one side follow a line as it "zigs" to that side (rather than keep it on centre for both the zig and zag). Are there tips about foot pressure, how much looser tension needs to be, does it need to loosened top and bottom etc? I can see that once you know how to drive them they stitch really well but I've definitely got my training wheels on and it shows! Thanks very much if you (or any readers) have any tips at all!... Megan

[@jesshothersall]

@@meganmills6545 I'm not exactly an expert either, but I haven't altered my tension at all (201K). I've found practicing with mine, that attaching the extra edging plate (he didn't show how, but mine is push in and twist, into place, and sticks out at the front), then feed the underside of fabric underneath the foot, and the hem side of fabric through the groove on your right, then keeping the top part of the fabric up against the inside edge of the groove? Or you can put one layer of fabric through one of the grooves on your left and a trim through the right groove, and it joins them together with zigzags. I'm still practicing too, but hope this might help you a little? Otherwise sew slowly, and just keep easing the fabric in the direction you need, the moment it starts wandering, lift presser foot and readjust, don't wait for it to get further off track, good luck :)

[@chineeboy18]

That's incredible to watch 8:13 . That's a one of a kind Sewing machine attachment. Sewing machines really has come a long way. It's funny that a brand like Singer had to play catch up to Necchi way back then. The Necchi machines made their zigzag stitches by synchronizing the needle shaft movement with the entire shuttle drive that moved left to right with the needle. You just don't see that kind of build anymore. The engineering on the Neechi Sewing machines that had the first zigzags had a one of a kind engineering build.

[@maria2400]

I love the gathering foot, the edger foot. I bought a pinking attachment that you attach like a walking foot to the 201. I love this attachment also. I do have a gold greist zigzag attachment I have yet to try. Thanks for sharing these videos.

[@iris7911]

I have this zig-zag attachment, came with a 15k88 (in Switzerland). Same manual, but in german 😊 You're right, the attachments I have are brand new, some of them as if they were never used... and it's reassuring to know that, because I was seriously doubting my basic abilities... I have been struggling with the hemmer foot for two days, and I'm still not able to use it at all... I inspected the zig-zag attachment and consulted the instructions, but decided to try it when I'm more experienced with the machine...

[@pamelaleitman9305]

Thank you so much! I used it boom on my new featherweight 221! Definitely I will use it!

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Wonderful!

[@billrachmad]

Those days, they wouldve basted the hem first bfore sewing the zigzag, that way the hemline wouldnt budge... But great demonstration.

[@SB_McCollum]

Awesome! I got a big box of attachments with my new Red Eye and I have no idea what they do. I think I have three of these, not all of them exactly the same and no instructions for any of them.

[@ecay]

I got one of those with a treadle that I bought. Didn't know what it was for the longest time

[@ronalddaub9740]

What is the number of the embroidery attachment that takes two spools of thread behind the machine and it has two spiderlike fingers that bring thread to the needle, with thread running into the stitch, at each stroke. it's a funny-looking thing and I believe it's rare

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Yes, they are rare. I've sold one of them before, but I don't have the number or recall it. There may be a website/blog out there where they highlight these. I would do a Google search and see if anything comes up. Also, check Groups that have vintage Singer fans in them online where others may know.

[@CO-kd6sd]

Is it possible to use a lavalier microphone for future videos? It's hard to hear what you're saying.

[@kogabear1]

Those do take some practice to get a decent stitch. The instructions make it look easier than it is. I have a Singer 206 zig zag made in Scotland for the U.S. market one of the original manufacturing runs, even that is cumbersome to use. I've only played with it and have not tried to make anything with it. Looks better all shinny in my collection.

[@eulanwheeler9951]

What it the little attachment HG123? Do you need that in order to do a ZigZag or is it for something different?

[@zeusincoming282]

Back in those days Even your most Basic Sewing machines were over a $1000 dollars in todays money! I think many were financed! Now you can go to walmart and pick up a Brother for $76 dollars.

[@marcgulko6893]

Quick question, do you know which part numbers worked for the 15-91? Been looking on eBay, but it’s hard to know which are the correct ones for that series. Looking at the automatic ones. Thanks

[@richardmarcotte9954]

Could you tell me witch Zigzag attachment can I use for a Singer 185?

[@doratpc]

Can be attach to any vintage machine? Gritzner too?

[@makeawish4074]

Plz give the link to buy this product plz sir

[@vonlunger2273]

Will yhis work on my Singer heavy Duty 4432 machine?

[@donnahostasch6439]

Information is good, but the audio quality is poor. While your demonstrating attachments, how about the buttonhole attachment? Especially the original one that adjusts with wingnuts instead of cams.

[@glockstitch]

Pretty neat

[@beverleyburke4619]

Would that foot work on my 251-12 factory machine?

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Unfortunately, no Beverly. This attachment was made for Low Shank style Singer machines and most Singer industrial models took high shank. In factory settings, they would not often use attachments but would have dedicated machines for ZigZag. Singer produced Industrial ZigZags long before introducing domestic/home versions.

[@cherylhenri1910]

Do you know if there is a zig zag attachment for a Kenmore Rotary 117-552?

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Hi Cheryl. I have never seen one but that doesn't mean they were not produced. Sear's Kenmore brand was just as big in the marketplace as was Singer and White and so it would have been something they would have wanted to offer. If anyone out there knows, please share with us. Thank you

[@LeadfootLeanna]

Hello, I have a zigzagger for my White Rotary, and they were made by the same company, and a lot of attachments are interchangeable between White and Kenmore. White and Greist made zigzaggers for Rotary machines. They aren't expensive, and are worth a shot, if you want to try one out.

[@Catsface99]

Do the attachments that fit the Singer Featherweight fit the Singer 15-91?

[@VintageSewingMachineGarage]

Yes, each machine uses "Low Shank" style feet and attachments. There may be some attachments (such as embroidery/free motion feet) that may not be compatible due to the shape of the machine body and other variables, but the vast majority of feet should be interchangeable.