Singer Fashion Mate 362
The Singer Fashion Mate 362 was a pretty basic Zig-Zag sewing machine. Like it’s predecessor the Singer 237 Fashion Mate, the 362 offered preset Zig-Zag widths, but it did add a blind stich setting that was missing on the model 237. The model 362 uses a class 66 bobbin and features a rotary hook.
A look inside
The Fashion Mate 362 is one of those transitional machines that still had a heavy cast iron frame, but it was covered with a plastic shell. This machine does include plastic gears, and other internal parts.
The gears in the photo above came from the model 362 and all three are plastic. The stitch length slider is also plastic. The orange colored gear is pressed or molded onto the timing shaft. You can get a replacement for the orange gear, but the gear that drives the orange gear is molded to the cam that the connecting rod rides on, and I don’t find a replacement for that part. If you do replace a plastic gear, you need to replace all of them since they are all the same age.
Plastic parts in many machines made from the late sixties to early eighties tend to degrade over time, even if the machine has never been used. Despite looking factory-fresh, these parts, especially gears and stitch cams, can split, become loose, or shear off during use.
Tensioner assembly
The main knob with the numbers just pulls straight out and off of the tensioner. The tensioner release bar that the tension release pin pushes against is made of plastic and is a common failure point. The take up spring positioning gear is made of plastic (nylon), and like the one in the photo above is prone to splitting, leading to erratic take up spring rebound and bad stitches.
Thoughts on the Fashion Mate 362
In it’s day this was a budget machine that could get most jobs you needed to do, done.
If you have a Fashion Mate 362 and it’s working well, then you should use it until it starts having problems. If you have one that’s already having issues with the tensioner or the gears, and you’re thinking about fixing it, you can buy complete tensioners and simply swap them out, and you can buy newly manufactures replacement gears.
My understanding is that on some of the 362 machines the top gear is held in place with set screws, but on others the top gear is pressed on. If the top gear is pressed on, then removing and replacing the old gear is quite difficult.
If you’re thinking about buying a Fashion Mate 362, I would pass. You’d be much better off purchasing a Fashion Mate 237 with it’s all metal drive-train and all the 362 features except for blind stitch.
If you aren’t looking for the specific features of the 362, then keep an eye out for any of the older Zig-Zag capable machines. Some really good alternatives include the Singer 401 Slant-O-Matic, Kenmore 158.13180, and the Singer 306 Swing-Needle.
That’s it for now. Don’t forget to check out the article on the Singer Fashion Mate 360 since these two machines share exact of similar parts and assemblies.
Specifications
| Brand | Singer |
| Model | Fashion Mate 362 |
| Manufactured By | Singer |
| Made In | Italy |
| Hook Type | Rotary |
| Bobbin | Class 66 |
| Bobbin Case | Internal |
| Needle System | 15×1 Household |
| Foot Type | Low Shank |
| Construction | Mixed, Cast Iron Frame, Plastic Shell |
| Construction Drivetrain | Mixed, Plastic Gears, Timing Belt |
