I learned in the last week that is is possible to do embroidery and lace work on old vintage / antique Singer Sewing Machines!
You can either disengage the ‘dogs’ (the teeth on the base of the sewing miachine which raise to grip and push the fabric through) or, you can cover them with a plate.
In order to freely move the fabric around, you do not use a presser foot. However, as the fabric will be pulled upwards as the needle returns to the top, the fabric is best held taut with an embroidery hoop.
I found someone on e-bay selling a CD with instructions on embroidery … and I found a ‘hard copy’ book on amazon … but then my money-saving mind went to work, and I found what appears to be the same thing for free on www.archive.org (I love that site 🙂 )
http://ia700204.us.archive.org/9/items/singerinstructio00sing/singerinstructio00sing.pdf
Contents:
Shaded Embroidery ( Flowers )
Art Embroidery
Raised Embroidery
Scallops, Beadstitch. Cording
Venetian Embroidery
Seed Stitch
English or Eyelet Embroidery
Shaded Embroidery on \’elvet or Plush
Gold Thread Embroidery
First Openwork Stitches
Filet, Netting or Open Mesh Embroidery
Hedebo Embroidery
Richelieu Lace
Point Lace
Renaissance Lace
English Point
Duchess Lace
Brussels Lace
Novelty Lace
Point Lace
Cluny Lace
Hemstitching
Mexican Drawn-Work
Mexican Drawn-Work ( Second Part )
Teneriffe Wheels
Velvet Applique
Net Applique