Handstitched

After having a good close look , the marks are being left behind from the 'teeth' or 'grooves' on the standard plate not the feed dog as it is smooth. I did adjust the feet pressure and it has helped to some extent. I have contacted Q Stitch in Queensland for some info on different plates as well as info on a 'blanket set' for canvas/ webbing etc. as I did buy the machine with intention of making it multi purpose, for both leather goods and horse rug repairs etc., instead of buying different machines for different applications . But for me to do that, I am just going to have to really knuckle down and teach myself almost everything about this machine, get all the correct bits and pieces for different applications, so I can get the full potential out of the machine( as well as earn its keep).... and no doubt become a machine mechanic at the same time. But I do really appreciate the advice that I've received and theres a good chance I'll be back for more. All the best and thanks, HS

Thank you very much for your advice. I've learnt more in the last few weeks about my machine on this web site than I have since I've owned it for the last 4 months. Thanks again. HS

G'day , I have a machine called a 'Q Stitch Colt', ( a 441 clone) I had it transported over to Western Australia from Queensland Australia, and works just great, and being very new to machine sewing, reading the posts on here has been quite informative as I do intend to make bags with it.Making belts , sheaths etc.( all the 'flat' things ) is quite easy, but I'd like to learn more about making bags ( the more 'challenging' stuff ), especially saddle bags for both horses and bikes. So I'll be watching this particular thread with keen interest. I have put a post on the "How To.." thread, in regards to machine marks on the leather, where someone has given me some really good advice. I'll have to teach myself how to use one of those digital camera gizmos and post some pics of what I have done to get some feedback. I would like to know how to get the stitches a bit closer to the edge , be it bags or belts etc. I am using the 'twin toe' foot, that came standard with the machine? The stitches are approx 5- 7mm from the edge. Apart from me doing lots of practice,is there a particular foot that I need to use ? All the best, HS

G'Day again, Thanks for the great advice. Theres a couple of things that you mentioned that made me think, the leather was slightly damp , as I did wet the gusset part to get it into shape for sewing ,plus I was pretty eager to make my first bag , and the other thing was that I could try to adjust the pressure ,as I think it maybe too great , however I might try to adjust the pressure on both feet as the marks are from the bed , as I was sewing with the foot on the inside of the 'lip' or 'edge' This has made me think again just while I'm here typing ,when I received the machine (in a wooden crate) there was a piece of sewn leather under the foot , it was 20mm thick , I suppose it was put there to demonstrate that it can sew the thickness as advertised as it is a 'saddle making machine', so no doubt the adjustments were for set for that thickness.So I'll go and try to adjust the feet. As for the tensions, I seem to have that just right, ...after much practice. I might try to find some demo dvds on sewing bags etc. Once again thank heaps.

G'Day from Western Australia. After a lot of saving and research on umpteen different machines , I have finally taken the plunge and bought myself an industrial machine.This machine is called a 'Q Stitch Colt' distributed from Queensland ,Australia, very much the same as a Juki 441 , or the 'Artisan 'machines etc.(its almost identical). It's been working great , however I am still learning how use it to it's full potential ,so I do have my "L" plates hanging around my neck , ....or so to speak. One question that I do have is, how do I avoid the marks left behind on the leather by the machines's foot and the bed. I was making a handbag on the weekend (my first one, as I normally use lace) , leaving a bit of a 'lip' or an 'edge' on the gusset to accomodate the width of the foot , the bag looked quite good for a first attempt at a 'machine made bag', but it did leave machine marks on the leather? Can this be avoided or is this just something I'll just have get used to using a machine ? At the moment , I'm using the standard walking foot and needles that came with the machine.The leather that I used was a 3.5-4.0 mm veg tan on the main body of the bag and 2.5-3.0 mm veg tan on the gusset. ( Sorry , I don't know the conversion into ounces). (What a great web site!!!)