Sewing Machines

The Sewing Machines in the Hackspace vary massively, there is bound to be one that fits your needs!

Please take care to not leave the industrial machines in a mess - make sure to leave them threaded for the next user!

Industrial Sewing Machine

This is a Toyota LS2-AD157-100.

Toyota Sewing Machine in the Studio

It is reasonably easy to thread. No assistance should be needed to use it, but leave it threaded when finished. There is a way to spin the under-bobbin using the motor.

It can go through ticker material such as velcro, webbing and potentially thinner leather.

Please mind not to change the tension, there is no need to unless you know what you are doing.

Industrial Overlocker

Please seek assistance on the Google Group if you do not know how to operate this machine. Training is not mandatory but is recommended. Rethreading this takes an awful long time.

This is a Willcox & Gibbs 500-4 Type 516-4-38. There is a manual available in the draw - this should be photocopied later. The type number relates to how to thread it which is in the manual. There are some coloured guides on the machine in paint - not yet fully accurate but certainly "good enough".

Overlocker in the Studio

Please mind not to change the tension, there is no need to unless you know what you are doing.

The thread is setup with 5 bobbins. These can be easily re-threaded between black or white or whatever you bring if you tie on the new thread and pull the old one through.

When using it make sure to have the fabric as shown:

Overlocker fabric in position.

Then when finished keep the motor going to get a good amount of threaded material to cut. DO NOT PULL IT THROUGH, UNLIKE THE SEWING MACHINE THIS WILL CAUSE IT TO SNAP THREADS AND WILL REQUIRE RETHREADING.

Overlocker thread is out far enough to now cut

IKEA SY Sewing machine

The baby of the bunch. Lightweight - but an excellent machine to introduce people to machine sewing on lighter-weight materials. Produces a range of 13 different stitch styles.

More Description

IKEA-style instructions

Full Instruction Manual

Lubrication and Maintenance

Spares and accessories are kept inside the removable section of casing in front of the spool mechanism.

Parts (the presser-foot holder / shank) have broken easily (2/12/2014) but this machine follows the engineering design of 'classic' sewing machines, and so replacements are available (e.g. from Coles or John Lewis) and similar items for other makes are compatible.

Older Domestic Sewing Machines

We currently have 5 (!!!) domestic sewing machines. We (the sewing machine crew) are in the process of testing them for usability.

• Singer - working? Testing underway
• Jones 300 - problematic!
• Frister Dressmaker - testing underway
• not yet checked
• not yet checked

• 
  Singer
• 
  Machines x4 under table in craft room
• 
  Frister Dressmaker
• 
  Jones 300
• 
  Jones 300 in case

Pledge Drive

See Google group for original discussion.

We set up this pledge drive to buy two second hand industrial sewing machines. One is a lockstitch and one is an overlocker.

Pledge Details

Name	Amount	Paid	Notes
Matt Little	£10	Y	Paid cash when buying equipment
Dominic	£10	Y	Bank transfer (GZ)
Rave	£10	?
David H	£10	Y	Bank transfer. Ref. will be "Pledge - Leeds"
James H	£20	?
Kate	£10	y
Joe	£10	Y	Bank transfer 21/1/13
James F/Michelle	£10	Y	Paid via bank transfer 15/1/13
Ric	£10	Y	Paid via bank transfer 14/1/13
Wendy	£10	Y	Paid via bank transfer 17/1/13
John H	£10	Y	Bank transfer 15/1/13
Andrew A	£20	Y	Donation in Studio box
Charly	£30	?
Gill	£10	Y	Bank transfer (GZ)
Kai Pays	£10	Y	Bank transfer. Ref. will be "Sewing Machine Plg"