White Rotary Treadle FMQ

Free motion quilting on a White Rotary Treadle machine

[@lindamorgan2678]

I really like your work, free motion quilting is such an art .. I could never do it. Thank you.

[@eavesdroppin1]

I have this machine (or one a little newer maybe 1918) which I want to get it up and working. Although I've had it for over 20 years, I never thought to use it for actually quilting my quilts. It's a little intimidating. Thank you for sharing! I need all the help I can get.

[@amysbees6686]

Brilliant quilting foot hack! Impressive work! Lovely machine! I just purchased one in a more typical yet handsome cabinet. White was known for its cabinets. I also have an electric rotary in a Martha Washington cabinet they needs a complete overhaul.

[@jafinch78]

Yesterday I made a video removing the head face to measure the presser-bar and was amazed to find all my antique machines presser bars are approximately the same diameter where the Singer VS-2 has a 0.290" largest and longest of them. I'm excited to see about retrofit capabilities... me more-so for the better Singer zig-zag attachment capabilities I've read. Thanks for sharing and all the detail.

[@lmarti204]

Wow!!...beautiful!

[@sharonlatour6230]

Great tutorial Mr. Latimer! Love the machine, you are a genius, making your own quilting foot. :)

[@ForgetU]

I thought your foot was from a a suspenders hook, then when you said garter belt, BINGO that's what it is. I remember as a kid holding my hockey socks up with a garter belt. I imagine you could use either. I saw another video that removed the plate then used washers to hold plate up high enough that the fabric feet grabber was no longer grabbing the fabric. I like your Idea better. I don't know how you can talk and do that embroidery at the same time.

[@sewxwhatsewxwhat8144]

Brilliant! I am new to white sewing machines. Katie farmer mentioned that mine was 1892 vibrating shuttle V - (5). I love the ease of operating this machine in comparison to the singers, it's a little bit of a different bird. I love them all :-) your work is truly beautiful. I love your solution to the missing foot! Oh! My balance wheel comes toward me just like the singers.

[@arnoldbullman3544]

I am glad to read your wheel turns like the Singers, I just got a White but it does not have Rotary on it, just White and tried turning it like he said it did not work until I turned the other way.

[@curtusreece6127]

The piece you used for you foot is a bibedoveral clasp to hook up your britches lol great machine I miss my white sewing machines they all burned up with my house an thank you for all your hard work on these videos

[@nancy-katharynmcgraw2669]

Actually it is from a binder clip, from office supplies or from quiltmakers. He has shared this information in other videos.

[@sondragingery5949]

Really nice to see the White Family Rotary quilting. I have my grandmother's machine, and prefer it to others. It's the smoothest stitcher I have. I had tried the paper-clip foot before but also found it not sturdy enough to work well. I think I'll try your method. Thanks for the great videos.

[@TimLatimerquilts]

Thanks....I hope it works for you.....the white is such a great machine!

[@MAJA98610]

I call this type of foot, just me, fork foot. Love what you are doing. THANK YOU

[@TimLatimerquilts]

perfect name!

[@manhandledinmt]

Awesome tutorial! Have the same machine in a different cabinet. Yours is gorgeous! Just an interesting aside, though, The Standard Sewing Machine Company used the same style of foot mount and they actually did do a darning/quilting foot that they called an Etcher. Looks like the little hopping foot that you (and I) are so fond of. Unfortunately, there aren't many out there. I've only seen them referenced in their catalogs and manuals. I adore my Standard Slim treadle and one day hope to find one of these feet (I am certain they'll fit the White Family Rotaries as well). Hopefully, too, you may come across one some day to play with! If I ever do, I"ll let you know! In the meantime, I'm super impressed by your own solution and created foot. I'm going to have to give that a try myself!! Thank you so much!

[@loriwiemann9836]

I just bought one of these at a thrift store for $36!!! Needs new belt and some massive cleaning..cabinet needs to be refinished but my cabinet doesnt have drawers manufactured in it. Suspecting it may be a childs model..super excited to try the old girl out!

[@HerbBaird]

could you possibly do a video showing how to thread the machine?

[@IvyRosethebus]

Genius! I have the same machine. I am sooooo excited to do free motion with mine! Brilliant. Thank you

[@JudithBrummett]

MANNNN that machine is really running good. I have an old Minnesota and the treadle is trying to seize up. I keep working it but it isnt getting better. Wants to go backstitch at random times too. Yours is wonderful!

[@geronimotudor3386]

Nice Tim. I have the same one!

[@alibabafurball]

Good work on the custom foot. Glad you didn't use a paperclip, they bend to easy. My New Williams fiddlebase machine uses the same type of attachments and runs backwards to a singer. I have made a 1891 singer vs2/27 into a embroidery machine with the needle clamp embroidery attachment and the feed dog blank. I am going to take out the presser bar totally and have taken out the feed dogs. I think i have seen you post on Bonnie Hunters videos. I will be probably piecing quilts on a singer Improved Family and quilting on the massive Improved Manufacture(like a singer 16). I have had a lot of people tell me to try a White machine. I subscribed and will look at lots more of your videos for sure.

[@TimLatimerquilts]

sounds like you have some great machines! happy quilting!

[@lesliesteinhauser2595]

How do you look up the serial number on the sewing machine? I think I have the same machine but I don’t know how old it is. I did hear that you can’t really go by the patent dates on the throat plate.

[@lauralynneh]

Tim, any tips on how to loosen that piece that changes the foot on White Rotary machine? Mine is so tight, but hate to use a pliers, thanks!

[@Birdsnest65]

I have a white rotary, electric, fr3282734 machine. Do you know if it will quilt in freestyle pattern like you are doing in this video? I bought it at a yard sale for 25.00 in a beautiful Martha Washington cabinet, the machine needs to be refurbished.

[@rhondaroberts9581]

Where can we go to find the manufacture dates of these treadle Whites?

[@HunterDeuling]

what a beautiful machine. and the cabinet. I bet it is heavy.

[@TimLatimerquilts]

yes! very heavy! I thought about putting it upstairs but this one is staying on the first floor :)

[@jomercer21113]

do you have a video on how to make the foot?

[@vasigrantsaris855]

What brand/type of sewing machine needle does this White machine take? I have a similar one and would like to get it working!

[@hopevergin3218]

Have you ever made one of those free motion foots for anyone else

[@fabianeoliveira1936]

Obrigada. Que maravilha.

[@dodododdy1342]

thank you

[@TimLatimerquilts]

you are welcome

[@IvyRosethebus]

What is your quilting sliding mat?

[@brianbartulis9709]

Nice work Tim. It was fun seeing my grandmother's machine sewing along. yeah, I've one I'm guessing of same era due to cabinet design/function. ~ ha, one drawer is half full of old buttons I love spending time checking out...rain on the roof day per se. ~ I've heard the White is a tough cookie machine if cared for/oil etc. Do you know if one as would get through sewing chamois pieces together? (the type of thin chamois for drying an auto) I was picturing a minimalist jacket mosquitoes can't bite through when up visiting grandma 'n grandpa's old digs on the hobby farm/woods. lol, however ugly it turned out would be fun to try. tips me hat ~

[@944gemma]

GREAt video. Love the home made foot. I wonder if a foot could be rigged for a back clamp Singer 66. I'll be giving that a good think. When's the book coming out?

[@TimLatimerquilts]

I think something could be worked out for the singer back clamp ......different attachment but a little trial and error and you should be able to come up with a solution. Book ....as soon as I get caught up with things I do plan to begin something .....

[@PatriciaCollette]

question: i just got a 1927 White Rotary Sewing Machine, question i don't see a power button anywhere is this a manual machine.

[@jaynedaily6080]

If your machine has a motor, just step on your power foot pedal to go.

[@gu2342]

Can you tell me where to buy this embroidered part? Thank you!

[@roanhielkema5714]

Have you thought of just taking the feed dogs out? Simplest solution imho

[@mrcorey2794]

Do you own any modern sewing machines? And how did you learn all your techniques are you self taught or did you take lessons? I am trying to teach myself. I'm 55 so I don't know how long it will take me to learn FMQing.

[@TimLatimerquilts]

My first machine is a Sears Kenmore that I bought new in the 80's when I started quilting I bought an inexpensive Brother (lots of stitches and mostly made of plastic) I then started on the vintage machine journey with a Singer 301a and have about 35 more since then.........I taught myself what I know ....I do best with trial and error ( I am a pretty good teacher but a really bad student )

[@mrcorey2794]

Thank you for your reply. I'm amazed at all your sewing machines, wow. Well, I inherited my Mom's Kenmore and so that's all I have. I'm trying to teach myself to sew and make quilts. I'm having trouble with the FMQing. So, my first quilt is finished and I'm just using the walking foot to quilt it. I guess it'll just take a long time to learn. I thought it would be easy as it looks so easy but I'm also not an artist so to make some of the designs I don't think I'll ever master those. Like the feathers and stuff. But I would like to at least stiple & meander and maybe make those stones that I've seen. I enjoy your videos, thank you for sharing your beautiful work.

[@mrcorey2794]

PS: I also live in a very small apartment so I had to use the church floor to baste the quilt. Worked out very well. And being a man I kind of feel awkward telling anyone what I'm doing.

[@TimLatimerquilts]

I should have made a video about a year ago when I first tired free motion........it was a real mess.......lots of practice and it gets so much easier .....keep at it .

[@TimLatimerquilts]

LOL....yes I understand that! I am so often the only man in any group of quilters and when ever I tell people I am a quilter I get a strange look

[@anneK3801]

I am so glad you made this video with a White Family Rotary. I still like my WFR (Mr. White) the best of my old machines, but frustrated by the lack of quilting feet. I wondered if you continued quilting with the machine that you modified by replacing the presser bar with a Singer presser bar so that you could use side clamping feet. I haven't had the guts yet to try that myself. I, too, love the craftsman style cabinet. Did you find this one at an antique mall? Now how to find a garter belt hook :-)

[@TimLatimerquilts]

I have been using that machine that I modified the presser bar on for embroidery only, I never could get just the right foot to fit it properly even with the new presser bar because of the distance between the needle and presser bar.....the needle still occasionally hits the foot, so I took out the feed dogs and use it with no foot at all for embroidery ( I think I'll put the old presser bar back and try making a foot like this one) I found this one on eBay and it was a local pick up (shipping would have been a fortune) I plan to try a few other materials to make a foot and I'll post someting about that soon......I have tried paperclips but they are just not stiff enough , but I'll see what I can come up with that anyone can find easily

[@anneK3801]

Ah ha! I wondered if the needle would strike the foot. Thank you for that information, now I won't try that route. I bought several quilting feet with plastic side clamps thinking I could find a way to cut or melt away enough to make it fit as a top clamping foot. I haven't figured it out yet. it seems like there's a niche for a clever fabricator here! I would be happy to buy a sturdy quilting foot made to fit a White Rotary! I bought my first treadle through an eBay local pick up. I am finding ebay and shopgoodwill to be too tempting. I'm at 13 machines and I don't dare admit it to my family.

[@juliabrown5396]

Anne Badgley the same kind of hook is on some of the elastic things you use on the corners of a fitted sheet.

[@billsovitsky121]

Try a paper clip?

[@TimLatimerquilts]

paperclips tend to bend to easily

[@berniepokorski2489]

Shazam!!!