After years of trying to entice upholsterers to practice their craft on my cars I’ve jumped into the hobby of “auto trimming.” Huge machine delivered yesterday from Pa..-spent rest of day trying to figure out how to thread the needle and do whatever your supposed to do w/bobbin?? This is gonna be a challenge!! Anyone ever sewed anything?
STEVE!
What have you gone and done!?
While it is nice to want to learn a new skill, I hope you can find a real person to teach you rather than relying of Internet information!
Arent there any instructions included with the machine? My mother used to sew a lot, and I would watch in fascination, but I never learned how to load a bobbin or correctly thread a machine.
I can thread a needle..(they sell a small tool for that.)
Didn’t Dick Koch post a comment about a site that teaches you anything you’d want to know- How to do anything.com, or something like that…
roger
actually, Youtube and Monkeysee.com both have tutorials on how to set up your sewing machine!
Good luck! I know there’s much more to it than simply setting up and running a machine.
I’m fool heartedly optimistic i can do this. I’ve got a great handbook, CD, and machine manual. I’m off to buy thread today. No heavy nylon thread or needles in Sidney. I have worked with vinyl making glued on door panels and installing pre made headliners, so its just the sewing part I’ve got to learn. There’s a plethora of websites dealing with the craft so will keep you posted.
This is turning out to be kind of fun. An indoor activity when its zero - degrees out there. I finally got all the supplies I need, figured out how to kind of use the machine, discovered its kind of an art/craft, and am working on door panels with pleats and fancy armrests to cover door solenoids. Less than perfect, but what the heck!!
Go Steve Go!!! 
Take pictures of your work so we can all learn from your developing skills as an seams-mister. (seamstress seemed weird..)
Especially the door panels you are going to make would help me out a lot.
Good luck!
John Q.
A female who sews is a seamstress.
The male equivalent is a seamster.
Nah, just kidding.
I am curious about your mention of door solenoids. What are you “creating”, Steve?
Ditto on the mention of Solenoids?
Roger, you are right as usual on the Seamster. Just could not think of what to call a male person who does this work. 
John Q.
WORK?!!! Manard G. Kerbs from the ‘Dobie Gillis’.show. Bob Denver and Duane Hickman. Anyway I do Know some things about the Singer 111W, as well and the Juki equivalent. if needed. I can Illustrate. The bobbin has a friction slide that should be addressed prior to sewing. and the stich length adjustment is to easy to believe. I will be training Denver 59When we both have the patience. Remember this is a HOBBY. and whatever you can do yourself makes it that much better. 
Thanks Ricky, I agree, I wish I can sew it would be a great side industry for me, that is once I get my arm out of this stupid sling! Three more weeks to go!
John Q.
Some of my so called friends have suggested a guy who sews is a “girlie-boy” let em laugh. From this day hence I’ll demand to be called a “seamster”. Ricky I think my machine is similar to a Singer-its a Consew 226-2. Your right the tension on top and bobbin thread gave me fits. Think I’ve got adjustment figured out. Roger I’m working on a chopped 41 Buick coupe that had been shaved prior to my getting her-so had to install latch solenoids and glass motors as well as glass and tracks. Pictures to follow. Below zero again this morn.
Steve, they may call you “girlie-boy” now till they need some seat covers for their rides.
John Q
John - Sling, that’s not a sling, its a shoulder ball joint refurbishing support/lift.
Dick.
Dick, I wish I had a Zerk fitting in my Rotator Cuff right now! Pump it full of good ol’ Mopar grease! But a new ball joint sounds like a quicker fix!
The Sling comes off on 2-25, Can’t wait! Started PT last week, that will go all year the Doc said, But hopefully I can get going in the garage and get those floors welded in. My 20 year son said he would help so I don’t pull out the screws in my arm or tear the sheet muscle again.
I wish I had your energy right now Dick! (and a second arm to help!) Maybe you can come up and help me out… It only gets cold at night errrr.. and the day too!
I should have Steve come out here with his new sewing contraption and he could have sew’d the sheet muscle together instead of the Doctor! Would have been cheaper… I think..
John Q.
John - Great your shoulder is progressing. Wonderful we can replace these old worn out parts. Kind of got my door panels sewed up and on the car. If you’re going down the road real fast and lookin straight ahead they don’t look bad-10 or l5 footers i suppose, but they were fun and I probably have under two grand in them excluding my labor. Anyone ever tried to form a window garnish molding for a chopped top car? As you can see I had quite a time!! Warmed up to 30 today-Summers commin!
Whoops forgot the picture. Also included the Old Plym patiently wating for me to stop frittering away my time on a lowly Buick and tend to her new power disks and a real fuel tank.
John, I would have stiched you up but I think you want the arm to work. and in reference to the seamstress and seamster ordeal, the first entry to this section of the forum is correct. Automotive people are trimmers. If you want to double the price of your interior job refer to them as seamstresses or upholsterers.
Yikes! Trimmers, seamstress etc. Even in the Automotive world you have to be Politically Correct! Oh well, It’s just like my wife. I use to introduce her as my wife but now she prefers to be called “She, who must be obeyed”
I liked the the title “wife” before…She does introduce me as her “one big mistake”… 
My wife quilts, but she won’t touch automotive seats or door panels. If she did, it probably would look like a quilt interior.
Truley a “One of None” pattern. She won’t let me near the 59 till I am cleared by the doctor..Probably the right move or I be back in for a repair.
So Steve… When you are done with your cars I am next in line for the famed “Storey Interiors”
John Q.