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.
Mitsubishi spyder convertible manual. The SINGER Stylist™ 7258 sewing machine has 100 stitches including 6 one-step buttonhole styles. Select stitches with the touch of a button. Optimum stitch length & width are preset, adjustable to customize. Built-in needle threader, programmable needle up/down, more. Ten feet included.
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. Oct 30, 2016. The feed dogs must be centered. If the dogs rise too high the material may get stuck and cause problems.
Another problem could be the foot is too high of pressure and must be lowered to allow the fabric to move. The last thing to look for is to check if the feed dogs are above the plate at the same time the needle is above the plate. All of these can cause trouble.
It is also possible to have the plate have an area that causes a snag. Check the plate where the needle goes in the plate and check the edges of the hole. If they are rough then you can likely use a finger nail file to smoothen the edges. These are all very important to check. May 29, 2014. Here's a review for the 834. Although it mentions you cannot raise and lower the feed dogs, you can change the throat plate to cover the feed dogs when you don't want to use them.
I couldn't find any reviews for the 518. I think the higher the number, the newer the machine although I may be wrong about that! I have a Singer Stylist 416. I would look at how easy and expensive it is to get replacement parts for both machines before making your choice. This is a good site for Singer Stylist parts. Why don't you email the guy who runs it and ask him what his preference would be?
Hope this helps, Hazel Aug 28, 2010.