Machine Questions       Frame Questions

Machine Questions:

What kind of thread should I use?

Do we have to adjust the tension?

Frame Questions:

What kind of pipes do we use?

Will the Tin Lizzie 18 work on other frames?

What is this about Leaders?

Machine Answers:

 What Kind of thread should I use?  Thread is very important.  We recomend that you use a King Tut thread for your top thread.  The reason for this is all the work the top thread has to do.  It travels from the top of your machine and all the tension that is required to help get a good stitch.  It also gets pulled up and down by the take up arm.  Then it has to pass into your quilt and then go around the bobbin case to pull the bobbin thread up to your quilt and then the top thread comes back to the top.
You can use smaller thread in the bobbin as it only waits to be pulled into place and then it is done.

You can use many types of thread with your Tin Lizzie 18.  If you are going to use a thin thread on top remember to slow down and make sure that you test first on a pratice piece and get the feel of using the type of thread you want to use.

  Do we have to adjust the tension? Yes!  This is very important to learn how to adjust.  As you change thread, change fabrics, and change other things that effect the stitches.  You will want to know how to adjust your tension.  Your top tension is adjusted by turning the tension knob on the right side of the machine where your top thread passes the tension disc.  Right makes the tension tighter and left will make the tension looser.
The bobbon can be adjusted as well.  You will want to do smaller changes on the bobbin.  To adjust the bobbin tension you will move the larger of the two screws on the tension spring on the side of the bobbin case. 
You want both threads to work together not have one working more than the other.
Take the time to learn how to adjust tension.  As you are working on learning to use the machine also work with tension.Thread is very important.  We recomend that you use a King Tut thread for your top thread.  The reason for this is all the work the top thread has to do.  It travels from the top of your machine and all the tension that is required to help get a good stitch.  It also gets pulled up and down by the take up arm.  Then it has to pass into your quilt and then go around the bobbin case to pull the bobbin thread up to your quilt and then the top thread comes back to the top.You can use smaller thread in the bobbin as it only waits to be pulled into place and then it is done.You can use many types of thread with your Tin Lizzie 18.  If you are going to use a thin thread on top remember to slow down and make sure that you test first on a pratice piece and get the feel of using the type of thread you want oto use.