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Using attachments from waaaaaaaay older models Possible? Or not?
jynclr Advanced Beginner TX USA Member since 2011 Posts: 339	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/20/12 3:35 PM Ok. I have a Singer 57825 sewing machine. (Here is the manual for reference.) I remember reading somewhere on the PR forum (gosh, I can NOT find it out and I've been looking for HOURS) that some older attachments will work on newer models. I believe this was directly referenced regarding Singer brand machines. So my question is, I don't have what I would consider decorative stitches. They're mostly function stitches. I had been looking at zig zagger attachments and I've been wondering if it would be possible to use one of those zig zaggers to get some decorative stitches. Is this possible? Has anyone tried this? If so, what were your results? Would you recommend I try this out? ------ Helen V: Baby Lock Companion - BL 1550 Rachel: Singer 57285c
tgm and Kittys Advanced Beginner WI USA Member since 2010 Posts: 5051	Login to reply to this post In reply to jynclr Like this post Date: 1/20/12 4:33 PM I know that an older ruffler attachment will indeed work. I have used it on low shank sm ... not sure if high shank are also easy to transfer. ...... There is a posting here on attachments from last year... have to look for it.. Lisalu started it .... much info there! We will have to see if we can find it. Here ...Attachments for Vintage Machines (Pages 1 2 3 ... 18) I put attachments & boards in the left corner here on PR. -- Edited on 1/20/12 4:35 PM -- ------
Jennifer Hill Advanced AB CANADA Member since 2002 Posts: 1229	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/20/12 5:09 PM There is general agreement (although not quite unamimous) that vintage zig-zag attachments are total junk, when used on any machine of any age. These were not Singer's finest ideas. They work (don't work?) by moving the fabric side to side over feed dogs that want to move the fabric in a perpendicular direction. Not a technical recipe for success... Even if they do sorta work, they were designed to do a limited number of stitch patterns composed of plain zz plus straight stitches, all at the same stitch length. Not what most of us today think of as very decorative. If your machine can use generic low shank attachments, you can likely use buttonholers, rufflers, tuckers, underbraiders, etc. These items all worked very well on the machines they were originally designed for, so may also work on modern machines. If you really need decorative stitches, you would be much better served by saving up for a machine (new or used) that has built in stitches. Jennifer in Calgary
jannw   Intermediate WA USA Member since 2006 Posts: 5649	Login to reply to this post In reply to jynclr Like this post Date: 1/20/12 5:25 PM I've been able to use most of the vintage attachments on a modern mechanical Brother, but have had less success on my computerized machine. Part of the problem is that it only has two needle positons and is a 7mm instead of the regular 5mm. (I believe those are the correct numbers). I do have an attachment called a "decorative zigzagger", but have not much success in making it work on any machine, including the vintage models. It is also the only one I've ever seen for sale. So finding one might be a problem also. Brother is having a sale right now..if you can afford it, check out Amazon. Some machines are under a $100 and have some decorative stitches, if you really want them. edit..I just looked at your machine and it looks as if it has the basic decorative stitches and zig zag. I don't think you'll get any more from an attachment. You might try the thrfts for an older machine that has more of a stitch selection. -- Edited on 1/20/12 5:29 PM -- ------ 2009-113.25 yds 2010-115.5 2011-80.25+30+donated 2012-26 January 5yds.. Everyone who sews seriously has a stockpile of fabrics, because it is natural to purchase more than can be sewn in any one season" Singer, Timesaving Sewing, 1987
sewsherry561 Intermediate MA USA Member since 2012 Posts: 10	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 9:20 AM Recently I used my very old Singer ruffler attachment on my brand new Toyota sewing machine and it worked perfectly! I am going to try the other old attachments and see if they work as well!
Padmé Member since 2006 Posts: 1494	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 10:33 AM If you could get a computerized machine with a variety of button holes, and decorative stitches, it would be a perfect compliment to your mechanical. I recently made a bunch of big stacking pillows and some fleece throws for my oldest son's apartment and I used my basic Singer. Now I am making some flannel shirts for my husband and I'm using my computerized machine. I have done delicate things on my Singer, and I've also used the old button hole set for different types of button holes. You can also use your functional stitches and turn them into decorative stitches by playing around with them.
Sew Ducky Beginner TN USA Member since 2006 Posts: 910	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/21/12 10:50 AM On the rare occasion I've had to use my mom's plastic wonder Singer from the 90s, my attachments (buttonholer from the 40s specifically) haven't worked. Her 60s one did. On the same token, a binder foot from the 50s didn't work, but one made in the 80s did, even though they are technically the exact same thing. I find that I can use them on the 20s all metal treadle, but not always on the ones that have more plastic components. (But even then, sometimes it depends on the attachment, too.) I think on modern machines, sometimes the attachments are a hit and miss. ------ Elaina SewDucky.com
lisalu Advanced Beginner GA USA Member since 2008 Posts: 1265	Login to reply to this post In reply to Jennifer Hill Like this post Date: 1/21/12 10:56 AM Oh, no, Jennifer, the ZZ attachments aren't "junk"! :) Let me elaborate: here's what they DON'T do so well, which is the zig zag stitch as a function such as finishing seam edges. It can be done but its not so easy to do with any kind of flimsy fabric. It doesn't work well to do blind hemming because - obviously - it is moving the fabric back and forth and it is almost impossible to keep it in a straight line while its doing that. (And ditto the Hemstitcher attachment for the same reasons.) BUT It makes beautiful deco stitches! These are only the ones that come with the ZZ attachment, and there are more cam sets available, of course. Take a look at that fantastic arrowhead stitchI don't know if they made the Singer Automatic Zig Zagger for high or slant shank machines, but the ones you can commonly find should fit all low shank machines. (as far as I know!) -- Edited on 1/21/12 10:57 AM --
beauturbo Advanced CA USA Member since 2009 Posts: 518	Login to reply to this post In reply to jynclr Like this post Date: 1/21/12 3:51 PM An attachment is ever, only as good as the person and the actual machine you bolt it onto. and since you cannot right now even get a good nice tight, well made and good tension adjusted, pretty looking satin stitch on your costs brand new, not very food at all, less than $200 Singer 57825 machine that you got second hand, used at the thrift store, since someone else did not want it anymore and it either has issues because of still something wrong with it, or maybe sewing technique and it's real built in zig zag swing is not even making the best of satin stitches for you, in that one case, I really don't think putting on a old collectable now Singer zig zag attachment, made for much more expensive machines back in their time period , but only for straight stitchers, and trying to force your machine with your issues, that you still have with it, to just use that instead, and expecting any better results to happen, is really not an reasonable expectation at all. And pretty much the wrong way to go about it, and expect any good results. If you find a old Singer Zig Zag attachment for free or a few bucks, then just bolt it on there and try it for fun if you want, but all other issues, will still remain the same I think. And even be exagerated even more, just because you already even have a swing needle machine, and those attachments don't/never work as good as a real needle swing (why they invented real needle swing) and just try to move your fabric back and forth instead. But since people with older singer machines now (that are actually working right to begin with and they know how to use them right) collect those zig zag attachments, and some are willing to pay a lot of money for them, don't pay very much for one at all, and expect good results, or any better results on your machine instead, for all the above reasons. Just because that is only sort of common sense. So, any large amount of $, (to me which would be $25 and above) I think you would be much better off, just putting it, into a better machine instead. The thrift stores are still full of lots of nice machines that could do a wonderful satin stitch, with built in needle swing and lots of fancy stitches. For $25 and up, just get a old Singer 401 or something instead from the thrift store! Just my personal opinion, but it's probably a pretty good one :)
jynclr Advanced Beginner TX USA Member since 2011 Posts: 339	Login to reply to this post In reply to beauturbo Like this post Date: 1/21/12 4:14 PM beauturbo, you'll get no argument from me. I completely agree! I don't know if you saw my post here where I said I was just done with trying to make this machine work. When I wrote my original post about attachments, I was thinking, simply, about how I am going to "make do" with the machine I currently have. I tried some experimentation last night and a tried to make a shirt this morning. I've given up on the machine. I don't think I'm THAT horrible of a sewer! And as I've mentioned before, my boyfriend did make the comment, "Now you know why someone gave that machine up." Yep. Boy do I! BTW, I had bought it from a local dealer who sold used machines. I assumed it had been worked on - maybe it was, I don't know. At any rate, if I buy any of the zig zag attachments it'll be because I have a machine that they were intended for. Otherwise, I'm going to save that money and apply it to something I really want. So I'm going to start saving now. -- Edited on 1/21/12 4:14 PM -- ------ Helen V: Baby Lock Companion - BL 1550 Rachel: Singer 57285c

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