Meet "Charlie Crab" - My Blind Stitch Machine
 |
This is "Charlie Crab". For some reason, this machine just looks like a crab to me. It could be the low stance or the little "claw like" looper- dunno. Anyhow, this is a portable blind stitch machine. It uses one thread, curved needles and only does one stitch- the blind stitch. But it does it VERY well. In fact, it does a much much better blind stitch than any sewing machine blind hem stitch and much faster than doing a blind stitch by hand. |
 |
You can adjust the bite (how much the needle digs into the fabric), and it has a setting so that it skips stitches. I'm short and so is just about everyone in my family, so a tool like this is great to have. For draperies- OMG!! There is NO way I would blind stitch yards and yards old curtains by hand! |
I do have to special order needles, but they seem to last a long time. They come in a variety of sizes to suit the fabric being sewn and the weight of the thread.
This particular machine was made in the same factory as the Consew (and many other "brands" of blind stitch machines). Don't let the "Liebersew" label fool you. Liebersew is a tailor and dry cleaning supply company, and they just stuck their own badge on this machine. Some identical blind stitch machines are labled as Artisan, Tacony (Tacsew) and others. This particular machine was made in Taiwan, and it quite sturdy.
I purchased this machine second hand, and so there is no table top clamp. I don't miss this one bit. The machine is heavy enough to just stay put on its own accord. Also, the thread stand guide/arm was missing, but I "imagineered" a new one that works perfectly. It was filthy, and dry and came without any manual. So, I cleaned and lubricated it, but it took me a while to find a decent manual for it. You can download a copy of the manual here for free. This bulletin does a great job explaining how to place and remove your work from the machine.
| Recently, Charlie had a little mishap. One of the contact pins on the terminal just snapped off. You can see the broken part in the top photo on the right. So, I had to order a new terminal block. I was a bit worried that I might have forgotten which wire went where on the back of the terminal, when the part arrived, but no need to fret! They conveniently marked the connectors with "M,L, & ML". Easy-peasy! So, Charlie is all back together agian and working great! |
  |
If I keep reading your blog, I am going to get gadget envy. Charlie is very lovely. I'm glad you could repair him.
By golly you are right, he does look like what we here in Florida call a "fiddler crab." He is just darling and I am so happy you were able to repair him. May he hemstitch forever.
Martha in Florida
I would love to buy a blind stitch machine, as our group are all very tall and have a similar problem with hems, and sleeve lengths. It is a little harder to "add" to a length, but I must think creatively. I also like to do my own curtains. Do you have any suggestions as to other mfrs. or models that might be a good bet used?
Gee, I haven't researched them that thouroughly. I'd look for onw made in Taiwan rather than mainland China. Test it first.
Dear Christine,
To set the record straight. We are direct importers of the Liebersew CM-500 portable blindstich and it is not a Consew or a Tacsew. They may have found the same factory in China but we bring in our brand exclusively and sew each machine off before shipping it to our customer. Thanks for the nice info and pics though.