Size needles for tin lizzie 18dls...

[littlemisslinda]

I have always get needle sizes messed up... I know what the manual says but does anyone have any other info for me.. and can someone explain the numbers and letters of the needle model to me.. the manual says it takes A 134RSAN needle (size 18) will be installed on your TinLizzie 18DLS from the factory.. (just copied and pasted)... where should I get them?? and bobbins... are all m class bobbins the same ?? whats the differ between metal and aluminum and paper sided??
I just wanna quilt aready and all the tech stuff is just frustrating me...lol... I bought it from a local store (demo model).. brought it home... did all the set up myself... no husband or anyone else to help me. I really feel like if this is what I love doing then I should know it from the inside out... my brain just kinda does better that way...lol
Thanks so much... I think Im gonna take a stroll over to the gallery to poke around .. there are amazing works of art there... yall are so amazing and talented!!

[Sandy Navas]

Linda, I've been doing some searches and nothing matches EXACTLY - I would definitely contact the store where you bought the unit and ask them for needles - surely they carry the exact ones. There are several sources of quality needles for machine quilting - I buy mine from here: https://www.universalsewing.com/tek9...roz_beckertBut, you really need to know the exact lettering and numbering system for your machine and my searches there didn't match what your manual calls for precisely.

I use these bobbins on my quilting machine: https://www.superiorthreads.com/shop...-style-bobbin/

I've never used the prewound - I prefer to match my bobbin thread with the project I'm working on so color and thread size comes into play.

If you prefer the metal bobbins you may want to go with these: Superior 18034 Large Double Capacity Metal M Size Bobbins 10 Per Pack at AllBrands.com

Question is, what came with your machine? That's what I'd stick with.

[Jean Sewing Machine]

I use Gros-Beckert 134MR needles in my machine, which is a Tin Lissie clone ( Pfaff GrandQuilter 18.8.) I ordered 100 needles in a 10 pack, just found them online, but I can't remember where I ordered them from.

I have a mix of aluminim and steel Type M bobbins, I find no difference between them. I have never used prewound and probably never will. I've gotten them from various places, local dealers, SewingMachinesPlus.

[littlemisslinda]

Thank you so much... I am going in to allbrands today... And possibly over to new Orleans to find what I need.... The owners manual has been been helpful in some areas but not all.... I wanna get the stuff local at first and then find an online source after I have everything straight. The convenience of having it delivered to the house is right up my alley..
And the gallery here always amazes me... So inspiring!!

[Jean Sewing Machine]

Linda, I bought my machine exactly the way you did, from a dealer who was selling a floor model. But he was getting out of thr Pfaff longarm market, so my machine and frame weren't even out of the box. I had demoed his previous models, not a whole lot, but I was pretty sure it would work for me. I set up the frame and machine myself, with some help from forum friends.

I think we have all found that knowing the mechanics of your machine is very important, because little things can cause problems, and can usually be easily fixed by the user, not needing a dealer's intervention. As you say, you just want to quilt, so if you have a problem you want it fixed quickly.

I have a lot of bobbins, I try to get a few more every time I have a extra cash.

[littlemisslinda]

Thank you... Sounds like I'm on the right track then...lol... I found some bobbins.. And I finally found needles... Now I just have to work on my tension issues... I think the thread is key.. Already found out that server thread is not my friend... I bought two different brands of it and one is deff different from the other.. It has its place as far as something cheap to practice with.. But I don't think I'll be using it in a real quilt... Now on to thread research and tension issue research... Thanks so much.. This has been the only place I get any real help... Y'all are so awesome!!

[Jean Sewing Machine]

Thank you... Sounds like I'm on the right track then...lol... I found some bobbins.. And I finally found needles... Now I just have to work on my tension issues... I think the thread is key.. Already found out that server thread is not my friend... I bought two different brands of it and one is deff different from the other.. It has its place as far as something cheap to practice with.. But I don't think I'll be using it in a real quilt... Now on to thread research and tension issue research... Thanks so much.. This has been the only place I get any real help... Y'all are so awesome!!

Server= serger? No, I definitely wouldn't use serger thread! I think you'll have a lot of thread breakage problems with a 2 ply thread. I've had the best results with cotton thread made for a longarm.

Don't forget to lower your presser foot! Looks OK on top, a jumbled mess on the bottom. On one of my first quilts I forgot to lower it, that was not fun to rip out! Lesson learned the hard way!

[Mchelem]

My husqvarna viking store sells the same pack Jean posted (maybe a different brand??). That's what I use in my gammill.

I also love superior's king tut thread. Quilts nicely with very little fuzz (cotton threads tend to be messy).