The Kenmore Q-Foot and Q-Needle. Any Q-uestions?

 I couldn't resist the Q humor - but the Q-uestion is this - do the much ballyhooed Q-foot and/or Q-needle live up to the hype?

It seems that every vintage Kenmore owner covets a set of these.  They were intended to sew the super stretchy fabrics that were popular in the 1970s, including Qiana (which is supposedly what the "Q" refers to.)

The foot is hard to explain and I don't know for sure exactly how it works, but this is what it looks on the bottom.  There must be something in the design that reduces drag on the clingy stretch fabric - that is my guess. The needles, I suppose, are equivalent to today's ballpoint needles intended to sew stretch fabrics.  

Q-foot and Q-needle on low shank Kenmore machine

I tried stitching with the Q needle, a regular sewing needle, and a modern stretch needle on this 4-way stretch knit.

Red = standard all purpose needle

Green = modern ballpoint needle

Blue = vintage Q needle

          There is no difference between the various needles using this foot.  

             The stitch quality is identical. 

Even the bobbin sides all have the same good results.

Since I don't sew with this type of fabric very often, I haven't used the Q-foot enough to give it a thorough review.  But from these test samples, it seems to handle this fabric quite nicely. 

Kenmore Mini Kennies Versus Singer Featherweight

...Continued from Kenmore 1050 and 1030

HOW DO THE MINI KENNIES STACK UP TO THE "OTHER" FAMOUS MINI?

Singer 221 Featherweight

The Featherweight is iconic: the cuteness factor is off the charts and it is the most popular sewing machine ever made.  But for practical purposes, it is basically a $500 straight stitch machine with a relatively low power motor.  Its simplicity really shines for applications like piecing quilt patches where all you need is a perfect straight stitch. There is nothing this machine does better than running up those 1/4" seams with precision and fine control. 

As for straight stitch quality, there is little or no difference.  Can you tell which is which? *

The Kenmore Mini Series, however, are full-service machines.  They do everything you need for full garment construction, including seam finishes and buttonholes with no attachments.  Not to mention, the motors have at least double the amps of the Featherweight (0.8 - 1.0 amp versus 0.4 amp.)  The Kenmores are a little bigger, and weigh a bit more, but are literally twice the machine.

Kenmore 158.1050

So, how much heavier IS the 3/4 size Kenmore than a 1/2 size Featherweight?  Let's start by saying the machines alone are 16 lbs vs 11 lbs.  But there is more than just the actual machine weight to consider. 

Here's the Kenmore 158.1050 in its case with the controller and accessories

                                    And here is the Featherweight all packed up and ready to go.

The weight that matters is the "carrying" weight - what the whole kit and kaboodle weighs all packed up and ready to go - and the wooden FW case is heavier than the plastic Kenmore case.  So including machine, controller, accessories and case the grand totals are...

Kenmore 1050 = 20 lbs 14 oz

Singer 221 = 18 lbs 10 oz

The Kennie only weighs 2-1/4 lb more fully loaded.  

But keep in mind that to get the same range of functions on the Featherweight, you'd have to add in an Automatic Zigzagger and Buttonholer.  Those would bring the weight up to about even - no kidding!

I'm not even going to claim there is a "better" machine than a Featherweight - these machines are the Holy Grail of the VSM world and I don't see that changing any time soon.  So the take-away from this is why not have BOTH? And if you do, trying taking that cute little Kennie to your next quilting retreat and see if it doesn't maybe stand out in a sea of Featherweights!  ;)  

*The Featherweight stitches are pink