Are the feed dogs moving? If not, you may have a broken belt. If it's that old, the belt may have dried out.

Did you put the presser foot down? Sometimes I forget, or the presser foot gets loose, and then the feed dogs don't work right.

Some machines have a lever to raise and lower the feed dogs somewhere (if there's an embroidery function of some sort). So see if the feed dogs stick up above the faceplate.

I'm not familiar with this particular machine, but I have 2 things for you to check.

Is there a clutch (a small wheel inside the handwheel) engaged? If there is, turn it counter-clockwise. There may or may not be a click - it depends on the machine.

Also the bobbin winder usually has two positions - it must be pulled away from the bobbin winding position for the machine to stitch.

Those two problems are the most common. Try them first.

Talley Sue and Mary, two of the things you mentioned are possibilities. I did wind a bobbin, and I'm not 100% sure that I shifted it back to the normal position. Also, I can't remember if the feed dogs look high enough. I'll have my DGD check out both things. Thanks!

Another very simple thing that could cause that is in the settings. Did you check the stitch length "thingy?" It might be on zero or whatever number goes nowhere.

Yes, I checked the stitch length as well as the clutch, thread tension, etc. It's too late tonight to call my DGD, but I'll talk to her about it tomorrow.

When was the last time it was cleaned thoroughly and oiled, if needed.....and when was the last time the needle got changed?
My sister was having problems with her old machine and after I cleaned and oiled it and changed the needle, it worked very well. She had NEVER cleaned it or changed the needle.

I was going to say , I'm with Heyjud...but I see you checked that already.

Sorry it wasn't that easy.

This is probably a dumb answer...but did you drop the lever that is behind the needle...I can't remember what it is called...

patti

Yup, I lowered the presser foot. That's something my DGD often forgets to do, but I do it automatically.

Before I brought it to her house I oiled it according to the manual. I don't remember it mentioning any kind of cleaning, but I should look again. I changed the needle, but the "new" needle was old. I'll buy new ones.

Good ideas, guys!

Is there a knob on the top of the head of the machine? If there is such a knob it may be the presser foot tension adjustment make sure it's not pushed all the way in - that would hold fabric in place and keep it from sewing.

The other thing I'd try is to make sure the bobbin thread is coming off the bobbin the right way, some of the older machines were really picky about that lol.

HTH ;0)

I owned a Singer from the early 1970s that sat for some years. When I took it out to use, the feed dogs had completely deteriorated and didn't move the fabric. They were made from some black rubbery material and had to be replaced with new metal ones.

Some machines have a lever that lowers the feed dogs so machine embroidery can be done without interference from them. It's usually in the same compartment where the bobbin case is.

Put your finger under the presser foot (Remove the needle) and see if the pressure is good on it while slowly running the machine. This should tell you if it's a pressure problem or a feed dog problem. Since the machine sat idle for so long, the mechanism that lowers the presser foot may be stuck. The lever may work, but the inside mechanism could be stuck and cause a lack of pressure under the foot. If that's the case, you can usually unstick it manually. Once the stuck part is broken loose, it should work.

Remove the pressure plate and make sure there's not a ball of thread or dirt caught between the feed dogs and the plate. Also, turn the plate over and check the bottom of it. Machine oil and lint can sometimes stick to things. That could distort the plate and cause the feed dogs not to reach the fabric.

Someone else had a good suggestion to check the bar that sticks out of the top of the machine. It looks like a bolt with or without threads and controls the pressure on the presser foot. If it's sticking up, push it back in. If it causes too much pressure, let it back out till the foot pressure is correct.

Once in awhile, when sewing is started, the beginning thread gets caught on something and impedes the movement of the fabric. If there's a burr or something else the thread is catching in, it can usually be sanded or filed off. Linda

Thanks, folks - I may have learned a few things tonight. I was interested that I could follow most of what was said.

It's a poor day that one doesn't learn something!

If you're working on a sleeping bag ...

... don't sew yourselves inside!

ole joyful

P.S. Alisande,

You gave it to your daughter.

Now ... you're giving it to your grand-daughter.

What is this ... the gift that keeps on giving?

Give a magazine ... 12 times a year!

o j

P.P.S. 'Course ... they get outdated rather fast - sewing machines don't.

I fell heir to the one from the ex-'s house when the kids closed it - back after about 37 years.

Recently bought the denim to build a pair of jeans ... don't you *dare* laugh!

o j

P.P.P.S. Anybody got a pattern for jeans?

o j

Try posting these questions on the sewing or quilting forums. Here is the quilting forum http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/quilt/ The sewing forum is below. Sorry, I don't know how to post more than one address. Linda

Here is a link that might be useful: Sewing Forum

On that machine, most likely there is a rocker button on the right side of the machine base that raises and lowers the feed dogs. Snap this back and forth a couple of times, then set it to standard position (feed dogs up). If the dogs do not operate properly, remove the presser/needle foot and observe the action of the feed dogs while manually moving the machine wheel. If the feed dogs are not operating, then something is broken or disconnected.

With long term use, feed dogs do wear and loose their sharpness in which case, replacement is in order. Never operate the machine with the feed dogs bearing directly on the presser foot. Alway have a piec of cloth or substitue between the feed dogs and the presser foot.

If the feed dogs are working, but is slipping, check the pressure of the presser foot when its lever is moved down. If the pressure is low, there may be a pressure adjustment on top of the machine directly above the needle. This may have gotten bumped while the machine was getting oiled and cleaned underneath. Increase the pressure foot pressure and test for proper feeding of the cloth.

Hint: One does not have to use cloth for testing. Two thickness of newspaper or sheets of paper from a magazine works just fine.

Thanks, everyone! Rather than try to do this over the phone, I'm printing out all your suggestions and will bring them to Liz's house later this week (when it's not snowing). I have a feeling one of them will work!

My mom's 1970 Kenmore was PICKY about the middle knob (the one Marlyn mentioned) not getting tighened enough after winding the bobbon. I have to get rather physical with it to keep it tight (it has been know to come loose int he middle of stitching). Ours also had a silver lever that swiveled kleft adn tright to raise and lower the feet. There is also a screw that attaches the pressure foot to the shank. You may want to try taking the foot completely off and then reattaching. It can come loose,e specially if you transported the amchine in a car or something. There is a groove ont he foot that you have to be careful to make sure it fits around the screw and tighten pretty tight. Depending on the age of your DG, she may need help getting it tight enough. I love my mom's old Kenmore- nothing like a solid metal machine but it sure can be temermental!