toxo

Maybe it's me that's doing it wrong but I've never mollycoddled my leather, mind you I've never used really delicate leather. I regularly use a hair dryer in between coats of dye etc. I've put wet moulded stuff in the oven. I even put a big soft lump through the washing machine cos it had some mould on it.

I don't know how many times I've said I'd like to learn this stuff. I use Fireworks MX2004 and I can do a lot of basic stuff but not even a tiny fraction of what it's capable of. Trouble is if I try to go further I get a headache and in six months time I've forgotten it and have to learn it all over again.

You have to keep everything in mind but I don't think that's a factor. My two other machines have enormous pulleys instead of handwheels and the ups work fine. I've noticed that most I've seen are sloping. I think that's just to keep away from the belt but I'll check later. I'm impressed with this motor though, I can start ultra slowly and at any time can go to full speed and back to ultra slowly to finish just on the treadle. I want the np to work because I want to avoid that twitch, that errant stitch that ruins a project. This is still only a hobby for me and I don't get anything like the machine time that some of you guys put in so I want every advantage I can get.

Now I'm wondering if the slope of the needle positioner has any bearing? Will investigate molla. (Baby speak that I probably shouldn't use any more).

There's no better reason for doing anything. He was just proud of you and you have a precious keepsake. Well done.

You're right dikman. I know I answered this on Friday. Don't know where it went. Got it working after a fashion but don't like it. Now having trouble with the needle positioner. The machine is good in that, if I go slow at the beginning and end I can stop it up or down without the np. But if I go quickly there's no consistency. I did get it foot down heel up once but I lost it and don't remember what I did.

Hurry back else I'll only have ya mate to moan at.

And they're easily changed. When I made his big weekender I toyed with the idea of making one end a zipped rip stop bag within a bag for dirty shoes to save putting them in the main bag. Didn't do it though.

I don't always like em. Sometimes I think he's just putting out stuff that's not moving. But I thought this one was a good practical pattern that could have many uses.

I can't believe no-one has come back about this practical pattern for 1.99.

Dieselpunk doing a nice weekender + tutorial for cheap. https://www.leather-patterns.com/product-page/bag-pattern-leather-diy-pdf-download-weekender-bag-video-tutorial-1?fbclid=IwAR2nFVERnW13Xub8xeNztPEsDeRhfez1Qh1s8RJugFxm6LqesKVqkhx2Qww

Makes no sense. Pictures?

Looks good to me. If not quite right just turn those discs.

That one looks way better than mine.

Not the proper way to do it but inside the black cover you'll find two discs, each one has a cut out and the cutouts will be opposite each other, These cutouts are needle up and needle down. You can slacken them enough to turn them by hand to get them where you want. But don't tell anyone I told you.

It's easy. You should have an L shaped rod with a thread on one end. Probably a hole quite close to the handwheel. The threaded part screws in there. It's sole purpose is for the L bit to sit in the slot in the black bit just to stop it turning around. Only by that black bit keeping still can the machine work out where the needle is.

Exciting innit!

I already have done. I have her on WhatsApp. Trouble is 8 hrs difference. I could probably work it out but I doubt I'll be using it. The actual roller is quite small and whichever way it goes together, there's very little sliding going on. More like unscrew and move to another hole. Can see it being set up for one job and left there. @DieselTech Thanks mate but I hope yours is better than this. I hope I'm not missing something and it turns out to be brilliant. Finished messing with the pedals. Just moved the big one as far to the right as possible and the little one as far to the left. Will still take getting used to but better than it was. Just the needle positioner left to do now.

Some great advice here but before all that, does your project warrant edge beveling at all? In the image above, I don't think so, Not thick enough for beveling. A good straight cut, maybe a light sanding, job done. Especially with soft Chrome tan leather.

First demerit - threaded hole missing for the L shaped rod that arrests the needle positioner. Not much of a problem, just annoying. On the plus side there's a QR code on the side of the machine that instantly gives you the instruction manual. The drop down guide has defeated me. If anyone has a pic or anything that makes sense out of this - Please. Just messing with the foot pedals at the moment. Just tweaking really. Gonna take some getting used to, having a pedal instead of a knee pad for the presser foot. The flatbed is good and simple to put on. The arm is a bit chunky compared to some but I guess it has to be to house the massive 28mm bobbins and I can't say I've ever needed the thin one on the Adler 69. I will do a video when it's all done.

welcome Ingrid from the UK. Lots to learn here.

Update! Everything done except the drop down guide which is a nightmare. loadsa strange looking bits and no structions. Not for the main build either. Had to match up all the screw holes. Had a little sew, was good off the bat. Oh and still have the needle positioner to do as well. More later.

You could cut oversize, then glue and turn the long edges. That would add substance, slightly reduce stretch and look better.

It's here. Putting it together as we speak. Haven't found any damage so far. Can't wait to sew something.