Chainstitching on Kenmore 158.1774

The feature I'm discussing in this post is chain stitching.  I covered this before on the Singer 600 machines HERE  But now I'm going to compare it with the Kenmore chain stitching system.

Kenmore 158.17741

(Shown here with my recently acquired kitty)

So, while the chain stitching is essentially done the same way on both machines - you remove the bobbin and cover the bobbin case, plus install a special throat plate/throat plate insert - there are a few differences.

First the 603.  As shown in the earlier post, you have three parts to install in order to chain stitch.

1.  Thread guide

2.  Chain stitching throat plate

3.  Bobbin cover

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The Kenmore 1774 (and presumably other 158 Kenmores that chain stitch) only has TWO parts to be installed.  You save maybe 30 seconds because they are also slightly easier to put in place.

1. Chain stitch throat plate insert

2. Bobbin case insert 

The Kenmore is quicker and easier to set up: +1

As for how they sew, there is one BIG difference.  Here is the Singer 603:

Play to the end, and you'll see that with this machine you "chain" right off the fabric just like you do with a serger. 

Compare to the Kenmore which doesn't do that (at least mine doesn't!)

 I think the Singer has better stitch quality (the one with the chain, of course)

                             

And if the chain doesn't seem like a big deal, it really is because chaining off makes it easier to remove the work from the machine without pulling out the stitches.   Chain out as far as you like, then you can easily cut it off.  With the other one, you have to hold on tight to that thread in order to get it out and cut it without pulling out the stitches (ask me how I know!)

Also, the chains themselves come in handy if you want to make chain loops for belt carriers or to tack shoulder pads into place or something like that.

The Singer does better stitching:  +1

I guess you could call it a draw, each one has an advantage so it just depends on what you are doing.  If you want a quick removable basting stitch, the Kenmore is quicker to set up (and otherwise I wouldn't even bother!)  If you are doing extensive chain stitching and need it to be more secure and/or you want the actual chains, then go for the Singer. 

Singer Touch & Sew 600 - It Chain Stitches!

I pulled this ad out of a magazine several years ago, and already had it in my collection!

Well, I have finally ventured into the 600s.  This is a model I've had an eye out for just because it has some unique features.  Like most of the machines I've bought, I never wanted one badly enough to seek it out directly, or pay much for it.  But I found this one, with the cool mid-century cabinet I've been looking for, at a thrift store.   Couldn't pass that up!

Singer Touch & Sew 600e

The table needs a little work, the top is rough, but I love this mid-century look

All the Touch & Sews are not created equal.  The earliest ones, the 600 for sure, have metal gears.  Some of the later 600s "might" have metal gears, and I'm not clear on exactly when the transition to nylon gears was complete but it was somewhere along this line.

If you're not sure, just take a look underneath.  

This is what you're looking for!  (There is also a top gear set, so you can use a screwdriver to remove the top cover and check those if it's easier.)

This early Touch & Sew is similar in many ways to the 401.  It has the same lifting throat plate (in fact they are interchangeable) and it has a similar stitch selection system except with levers rather than a dial.  If you're used to the 401, you'll be comfortable with this machine.  But there are two unique features that made me want to try the Touch & Sew: chainstitching and the wind-in-place bobbin.

    Self-winding bobbin in Touch & Sew

 This is pretty cool, and easy to do.  A caveat:  the bobbin must be empty when you wind it.  It unscrews into two parts so you can easily pop out the old thread rather than do the long, tedious unwind.  On the other hand, you don't have to worry about releasing the clutch on the hand wheel to wind your bobbin, you don't even have to take it out of the machine at all!

Then there is the chain stitching feature which I've been wanting to try. (More on the chainstitching feature HERE.) 

Chain stitching on the Touch & Sew

Will I ever actually USE chain stitching?  I highly doubt it.  But I still wanted to give it a try just to say I can.  I could use it for fitting muslins (which I never even do, BTW!)  Or maybe it would come in handy for costuming when you want temporary fitting seams to accommodate various people.  It would be great for basting except that there are several steps you have to take to set the whole thing up so you'd only bother to do it for a big job.  Anyway, my little video shows how you do all that.