Know how to drop feeddog on singer 3223/3229 - Singer Sewing Machines

Most machines include a "darning" foot, which is the equivalent of a free motion foot. However, there are multiple choices of free motion feet that can be purchased elsewhere which are made of various materials, in different shapes, and also with springs to create bounce--just something to consider, but not necessary.

Your machine should either have the ability to drop the feed dogs, or a cover plate that snaps over the feed dogs to prevent them from contacting the fabric when free motion quilting.

Your manual should have information as to what is included.


Instruction Manuals

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Consult the owner's manual. There should be instructions for how to darn with your machine. It would require either the feature that lowers/raises the feed dogs or a cover plate that attaches over the feed dogs.

If your machine came with the cover plate accessory, and the feed dogs are not rising to feed the fabric, then I suspect the machine has not been cleaned & oiled in quite some time and perhaps the feed dogs have seized. When you run the machine (remove the needle and presser foot), watch if the feed dogs actually drop below the needle plate, move toward the front of the machine, then rise above the needle plate and move toward the back of the machine. This is a repetitive motion that actually pulls the fabric through the machine. If this is not happening with your machine, it needs service.
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Singer Stylist 776 Manual Page 8

you may have to rotate the handwheel two or three rotations after enabling the feeddog selector.

You might want to see if the drop feed control is down. There's a switch (for my Singer machine, you have to take off the removable sewing table/storage, and the switch is behind the machine)...if the drop feed is down, you can't see the "teeth" as I call them which grips the fabric.

Another idea is to back stitch (reverse sewing lever) a couple stitches and then try sewing.

Make sure the foot speed control is hooked up correctly. https://wiki.artisansasylum.com/images/0/0f/Sewing_Machine_--_Singer_3116_--_Manual.pdf This is the manual for your sewing machine model you posted. Good luck.

try these links for a manual to see if they show were the feeddog lever is
http://www.singerco.com/uploads/download/8332a66e46ddc22f7bc62f0139bf8fbd03c55b23.pdf

http://www.singerco.com/uploads/download/152_xl1000_wkbk.pdf

the machine needs to be checked when the feeddogs don't move
but first check to see if the feeddogs are in the up position & if the
feeddogs are up, then the machine needs to be checked

look in your operation manal to show you where the feeddog is
then push the feeddog in the right position
let me know if this solves the problem

Theresa, the key words here were you don't use your machine often. You don't say what type of machine you have but I beleive it needs some oil and not just cleaning.. Remove whatever covers you can around the feeddogs top and below and back. (and any where else) and put some sewing machine oil on any metal parts that move togeather. Plastic parts take grease. Keep exersizing the machine and oiling until the feeddogs move again.
Or maybe your feedogs went in the darning position and have dropped below the needleplate. If your machine has this feature push the button again (or slide the lever) and they will come up.
Hope this helped.
Rick

Its quite possible that the stitch length knob is set on 0 or that you have the feeddogs set on darning which drops them below the plate (if it has this feature). Otherwise the feedogs are gummed up and everything needs a good cleaning and oiling.
Hope this helps.
Rick

Are the feeddogs raised ?

Also remove needleplate & check for lint buildup between the feedog teeth, as there is a lot of lint in quilting, and it will form felt between the feeddogs and needleplate