Darning Funtion On 29's

[spurdude101]

Well I see in the manual for the 29's it has a seperate tensioner for darning located on the side of the head. why do we need a seperate tensioner for darning? also it seems as though the thread scapes across the sharp side of the head on it's path using this side deal. so confused about all of it. can someone explain how one darns with the darn thing? (pun intended)

[Wizcrafts]

I'll be your Huckleberry...

I have a Singer 29k172 darning patcher. The purpose of the darning system is to allow freehand repairs, without concerning oneself about the pressor foot pulling the material. A true darning patcher has a T-bar on top of the read of the head section. The T-bar can be twisted into or out of alignment with the needlebar, in three stages: not engaged, half engaged and fully engaged.

Picture of T-bar darning attachment:

When the T-bar is turned so that the needlebar hits it, the pressor foot is lifted off the material with the risen needle. The thread tension is not released, because the darning tensioner is not connected to the lifted foot thread release system. This allows you to freely move the work around, while maintaining constant thread tension. The pressor foot drops down long enough to keep the material from puckering as the needle lifts up, but then goes up higher, depending on whether you have set the T-bar to half or full lift. I am able to get consistent 1/2" stitches at full lift and 1/4" on half lift, with minimal assistance to the feeding.

Were it not for the constant tension darning disks, the lifted pressor foot would disengage the top thread tension every time the needle raised.

The darning system is very useful for basting cuffs and hems.

If your patcher doesn't have the T-bar, you will still be able to bast, using the darning tensioners, but must do so more quickly, before the foot drops down on the material. You should be able to get longer stitches than the foot alone gives, but not as long as you would with the T-bar assisted lift.

[spurdude101]

I'll be your Huckleberry...

I have a Singer 29k172 darning patcher. The purpose of the darning system is to allow freehand repairs, without concerning oneself about the pressor foot pulling the material. A true darning patcher has a T-bar on top of the read of the head section. The T-bar can be twisted into or out of alignment with the needlebar, in three stages: not engaged, half engaged and fully engaged.

Picture of T-bar darning attachment:

When the T-bar is turned so that the needlebar hits it, the pressor foot is lifted off the material with the risen needle. The thread tension is not released, because the darning tensioner is not connected to the lifted foot thread release system. This allows you to freely move the work around, while maintaining constant thread tension. The pressor foot drops down long enough to keep the material from puckering as the needle lifts up, but then goes up higher, depending on whether you have set the T-bar to half or full lift. I am able to get consistent 1/2" stitches at full lift and 1/4" on half lift, with minimal assistance to the feeding.

Were it not for the constant tension darning disks, the lifted pressor foot would disengage the top thread tension every time the needle raised.

The darning system is very useful for basting cuffs and hems.

If your patcher doesn't have the T-bar, you will still be able to bast, using the darning tensioners, but must do so more quickly, before the foot drops down on the material. You should be able to get longer stitches than the foot alone gives, but not as long as you would with the T-bar assisted lift.

AH, clear as mud!. thanks, Ok that helps. I get the tension thing now. I don't have the "T". now for a good laugh, what is basting? not like a turkey I'm sure...lol I'll look it up..

[Wizcrafts]

AH, clear as mud!. thanks, Ok that helps. I get the tension thing now. I don't have the "T". now for a good laugh, what is basting? not like a turkey I'm sure...lol I'll look it up..

Basting means setting long stitches that are only meant to temporarily hold a hem, overlayed pieces, or seams in place, until the assembly process is ready for them to be finished with normal stitching. Some projects get stapled, paper-clipped, or pinned together; during construction, trimming, darting and fitting. Basting on a machine replaces pins, paper clips and staples.