I found out something about myself. - Page 4

> > With the conversion of the electric Bernina 1008 to treadle, the
> > treadle only provides the power for moving the needle up and down. The
> > number of stitches, of whatever length, is 3 per full cycle of the
> > treadle, on my machine. Not sure if it is the same on the older
> > Singers and such. The stitch length is governed by the setting on the
> > machine, just as if it was electrified. It can coast to a stop but a
> > quick hand on the hand wheel will stop it in it's tracks. After a bit
> > of use, you develop a feel for the treadle movement and can control
> > most of the sewing with the treadle alone. It is the same on the old
> > Singers and like machines. The difference with my machine and the old
> > Singers, is that I retain all the stitch selections of the electric
> > version of the machine, and I have a free arm.
> Then it appears that you're still plugged in for everything but the
> needle going up & down, or am I misreading that? =A0Which then begs the
> question, what possessed you to make the conversion? =A0Some kind of
> breakdown? =A0Or did you previously have this preference for treadling
> (not that there's anything WRONG with that... =A0I still prefer to draft
> with pencils on vellum on a board rather than a CAD system - it's
> slower, but I just like the feel and control, which I assume is your
> case with treadling.) =A0BTICBW
> Just for the record (and kicks & grins) we don't own a microwave oven,
> and we're very adept at heating/cooking with wood (even though we
> don't resort to it except in case of outages...)

> With the conversion of the electric Bernina 1008 to treadle, the
> treadle only provides the power for moving the needle up and down. The
> number of stitches, of whatever length, is 3 per full cycle of the
> treadle, on my machine. Not sure if it is the same on the older
> Singers and such. The stitch length is governed by the setting on the
> machine, just as if it was electrified. It can coast to a stop but a
> quick hand on the hand wheel will stop it in it's tracks. After a bit
> of use, you develop a feel for the treadle movement and can control
> most of the sewing with the treadle alone. It is the same on the old
> Singers and like machines. The difference with my machine and the old
> Singers, is that I retain all the stitch selections of the electric
> version of the machine, and I have a free arm. You can not sew as fast
> with a treadle as you do with an electric machine, but with any
> familiarity, you can get it going at a fair clip. For me, it is not
> about sewing fast. I have a Janome 1600 straight stitch machine that
> will sew at 1600 stitches per minute if I need to be fast. A treadle,
> is just a type of sewing that appeals to me. Not better or worse, just
> more appealing. I would say, that if you sewed for 4 hours or more on
> a treadle, you would be more tired, than if you had done the same
> sewing on a modern electric. But, it is less stressful as it is slower
> and the exercise is mildly aerobic not muscle straining. Probably
> better for you than just sitting in the chair and making mistakes by
> sewing too fast on the electric.
> John

> I think you know that I converted a Bernina 1008 into a treadle
> powered sewing machine. I haven't really gotten into it to any large
> degree, until now. I am in the middle of the process of quilting
> another of my "use up all the solids" quilts. I heretofore have only
> played around with the treadle for short periods of time as I didn't
> really consider it a serious machine. It was mainly an exercise in
> retro-technology that I had wanted to do for some time. Ok, so I
> decided to devote an entire quilt to this machine and see how I liked
> it. The change to manual, or foot power, required a different group of
> skills to do the things that I did with an electric machine. You do
> the same things but just do them differently. I think I have found a
> new love. This method of sewing is so much more relaxed and yet
> precise that I may never go back to the modern electric machines
> again. I know that is a bit much to say after only doing one quilt.
> But suffice to say, this experience has given me a whole new focus,
> about quilting. You know the whole argument about slow food? Well I am
> here to make a plea for slow quilting. At least as it pertains to
> machine quilting. I am even thinking of converting the other 1008 I
> own into another treadle but with a different cabinet to use it in.
> This has been one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in a
> long time that involved a sewing machine. It does take a few different
> techniques when it comes to machine operation. You have to do some
> things a little differently, in handling the mechanics of sewing. But
> the slower speed gives you a chance to focus on the precision of
> placing the needle in just the right place as you guide the fabric
> through the pressure foot that it produces a wonderfully clean
> stitching line. I know I was prone to sew too fast, sometimes, with
> the electric machines. I was sometimes forced to rip out and do over
> some less than perfect stitching lines. Not so with this older
> technology. You get it right the first time. Being as how I am not
> trying to accomplish any great volume of quilting by any set deadline,
> this type of quilting seems to appeal to my sense of doing something
> right and precise the first time, and enjoying it. We will have to see
> if the bloom comes off the rose as I continue along this path, but for
> now I have discovered a wonderful way to do something I enjoy and that
> is not a bad thing. It places me in a time frame of mind that I think
> of as simpler and maybe more pure, if that is possible. Maybe it is
> just the romantic in me, but it does work. Just thought I would pass
> along my observations. I will post the pictures of the quilt in a
> couple of days when it is done. We now return control of this thought
> to the 21st century.
>
> John

> Howdy!
> John said:
> "Being as how I am not
> trying to accomplish any great volume of quilting by any set deadline,
> this type of quilting seems to appeal to my sense of doing something
> right and precise the first time, and enjoying it."
> Which is why I handquilt. =A0 ;-)
> Ragmop/Sandy - feeling the love ... of quilting
> On 3/30/09 6:52 PM, in article
> caf1aea8-6230-467f-85dd-91ab38b85...@j39g2000yqn.googlegroups.com, "John"
> > I think you know that I converted a Bernina 1008 into a treadle
> > powered sewing machine. I haven't really gotten into it to any large
> > degree, until now. I am in the middle of the process of quilting
> > another of my "use up all the solids" quilts. I heretofore have only
> > played around with the treadle for short periods of time as I didn't
> > really consider it a serious machine. It was mainly an exercise in
> > retro-technology that I had wanted to do for some time. Ok, so I
> > decided to devote an entire quilt to this machine and see how I liked
> > it. The change to manual, or foot power, required a different group of
> > skills to do the things that I did with an electric machine. You do
> > the same things but just do them differently. =A0I think I have found a
> > new love. This method of sewing is so much more relaxed and yet
> > precise that I may never go back to the modern electric machines
> > again. I know that is a bit much to say after only doing one quilt.
> > But suffice to say, this experience has given me a whole new focus,
> > about quilting. You know the whole argument about slow food? Well I am
> > here to make a plea for slow quilting. At least as it pertains to
> > machine quilting. I am even thinking of converting the other 1008 I
> > own into another treadle but with a different cabinet to use it in.
> > This has been one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in a
> > long time that involved a sewing machine. It does take a few different
> > techniques when it comes to machine operation. You have to do some
> > things a little differently, in handling the mechanics of sewing. But
> > the slower speed gives you a chance to focus on the precision of
> > placing the needle in just the right place as you guide the fabric
> > through the pressure foot that it produces a wonderfully clean
> > stitching line. I know I was prone to sew too fast, sometimes, with
> > the electric machines. I was sometimes forced to rip out and do over
> > some less than perfect stitching lines. Not so with this older
> > technology. You get it right the first time. Being as how I am not
> > trying to accomplish any great volume of quilting by any set deadline,
> > this type of quilting seems to appeal to my sense of doing something
> > right and precise the first time, and enjoying it. We will have to see
> > if the bloom comes off the rose as I continue along this path, but for
> > now I have discovered a wonderful way to do something I enjoy and that
> > is not a bad thing. It places me in a time frame of mind that I think
> > of as simpler and maybe more pure, if that is possible. Maybe it is
> > just the romantic in me, but it does work. Just thought I would pass
> > along my observations. I will post the pictures of the quilt in a
> > couple of days when it is done. We now return control of this thought
> > to the 21st century.
> > John

> I think you know that I converted a Bernina 1008 into a treadle
> powered sewing machine. I haven't really gotten into it to any large
> degree, until now. I am in the middle of the process of quilting
> another of my "use up all the solids" quilts. I heretofore have only
> played around with the treadle for short periods of time as I didn't
> really consider it a serious machine. It was mainly an exercise in
> retro-technology that I had wanted to do for some time. Ok, so I
> decided to devote an entire quilt to this machine and see how I liked
> it. The change to manual, or foot power, required a different group of
> skills to do the things that I did with an electric machine. You do
> the same things but just do them differently. =A0I think I have found a
> new love. This method of sewing is so much more relaxed and yet
> precise that I may never go back to the modern electric machines
> again. I know that is a bit much to say after only doing one quilt.
> But suffice to say, this experience has given me a whole new focus,
> about quilting. You know the whole argument about slow food? Well I am
> here to make a plea for slow quilting. At least as it pertains to
> machine quilting. I am even thinking of converting the other 1008 I
> own into another treadle but with a different cabinet to use it in.
> This has been one of the most enjoyable experiences I have had in a
> long time that involved a sewing machine. It does take a few different
> techniques when it comes to machine operation. You have to do some
> things a little differently, in handling the mechanics of sewing. But
> the slower speed gives you a chance to focus on the precision of
> placing the needle in just the right place as you guide the fabric
> through the pressure foot that it produces a wonderfully clean
> stitching line. I know I was prone to sew too fast, sometimes, with
> the electric machines. I was sometimes forced to rip out and do over
> some less than perfect stitching lines. Not so with this older
> technology. You get it right the first time. Being as how I am not
> trying to accomplish any great volume of quilting by any set deadline,
> this type of quilting seems to appeal to my sense of doing something
> right and precise the first time, and enjoying it. We will have to see
> if the bloom comes off the rose as I continue along this path, but for
> now I have discovered a wonderful way to do something I enjoy and that
> is not a bad thing. It places me in a time frame of mind that I think
> of as simpler and maybe more pure, if that is possible. Maybe it is
> just the romantic in me, but it does work. Just thought I would pass
> along my observations. I will post the pictures of the quilt in a
> couple of days when it is done. We now return control of this thought
> to the 21st century.
> John