AFTER AND BEFORE

The problem with Before and After photos; before you know it after has become before so that it comes time to create after, again.

Such is the way with my shop.  It is a huge mess.  I tried the mantra "Less is More."  I suppose one day I will believe it.  Less stuff means more space.  The key to organization is less stuff.  I spent some time today trying to organize.  I did manage to get the table next to the work bench cleared somewhat.
 

I tired of this chore and set to repairing a coffin top that has been kicking around the shop in pieces.   November in Westford means cool weather and today was rainy and raw.  November. 

I lit a fire in the stove and when the temperature rose to 60 got to it.  I love yellow carpenter's wood glue.  It holds well and sets up quickly but is forgiving for a bit of time.  I needed a weight to hold the top in place and a Singer 27 was just the ticket. You can see the glue seeping out of the joint.  I wiped it off with a damp rag. 

I was able to glue the broken piece back on as well but the fit was lousy.  I will have to rasp the edge and sand it smooth so that nothing gets caught on it.  But at least the top is back together.  Considering it was in about six different pieces, I am not unhappy.  I started this project before the TOGA, back in September. I am the president of the local Procrastinator's club.  We haven't had our first meeting yet.    

First step undertaken in September

I also serviced the 158.1802 that I took in last week.  http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/2013/11/it-doesnt-power-on.html.  I really must take a photo of the machine.  It is lovely.  I have never seen a more perfect smocking stitch ever.  What a privilege to work on such a nice machine.  If I wasn't trying to get organized I would be on the look out for one.

Do you believe that I am not?  HAH !

How do you spell neglect? J U K I

  This serger has been sitting and waiting for me since June.  A. chastised me when she was here for the TOGA.  I felt a bit guilty.  Not enough to drop everything and start using it then, though.  I did think about it every day.  I guess the guilt got to me finally and today I was determined to set it up with "real" thread.  It had been threaded with red, blue, green and yellow to help me learn how to adjust the tension.  Nice combination of thread colors for Halloween.  Not for making fleece hats. 

I think the thing intimidates me. I managed to get some thread tangled up as I re-threaded it.  I tried tying the new thread to the old, but it came un-tied.  I made a better knot and was successful in just sewing the new thread through on the final thread. I was surprised that the knot actually went through the eye of the needle.

Next time I am going to try that with all of the threads.  But one at a time. 

Sergers are not sewing machines.  They do not function at all like sewing machines.  I think that intimidates me.  Once I set it up and played with it, I remembered how much fun it was to use. 

Last December I went nuts buying fleece when I went to NC.  I bought more when I went back in August.  I have a lifetime supply of fleece.  Perhaps that is hyperbole.  Let's just say I have a sufficiency and anything more would be a superfluity. (I must add here that there are members of my family who believe that I have a superfluity of sewing machines.  Ahem.)   Tomorrow I plan to make some fleece hats.  I made a few last winter while in NC.  I have been unhappy with the results.  They don't fit right.

Just before Betsy went home she helped me use the serger to go over the top seam of one of those hats.  By "help" I mean that she stood next to me while I used the JUKI.  She was there for moral support.    The hat fits much more comfortably now.  I think it would feel even better were it to have a true serged seam.  Tomorrow.  The serger will come out Tomorrow. 

Thread Catcher

Who noticed that thread catcher in the previous post?  It is a wonderful tool.  My friend Linda gave it to me.  She also gave me some famous Biscotti. Those are all gone.  Steven ate a few.  I ate most of them.   They were absolutely delicious.

Here is a link to Linda's blog:http://artinsearch.blogspot.com/search/label/threadcatcher  featuring my thread catcher.

I am going to make a few soon.  I am sure that Steven has some old door hinges around. I know I don't have any big beautiful buttons,though.  Now I am on a mission to find some.

BECAUSE I CAN

H. came over today to sew some more. This time I had Zydeco playing on Pandora when she arrived.  I turned it off.   http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/2013/10/brother-cs-6000i.html.  Not, however, before she had a chance to hear what she would be missing.

What a perfect arrangement for me.  Company while I play in the loft, all in the pretense of teaching her to sew.  H. knows how to use her machine.  She just needs guidance, which I provided.  Just the same, I think I was mostly there to provide support and encouragement.

She was having trouble, admittedly, with the fabric feeding poorly.  She would have to fight to keep the fabric straight. I took a look and agreed.  I tried out her machine and it would feed the fabric all screwy.  So I screwed on a different foot.  Fixed.  Her Brother came with one of those snap on feet.  It felt flimsy to me.  I put on  a simple, hinged,  low shank, zz foot.  It worked quite nicely. 

While she sewed, I put the White 130 in the green treadle stand.  At least I tried to.  It didn't really fit.  You can see where the machine has extra stuff under the bed. 

I got out a hack saw (because that is the only small saw I own) and hacked off some of the treadle stand to accommodate the machine's shape.  It was pretty easy to do and I am sure that the other machines will still fit.  I had no qualms about whacking away part of this 100 + year old stand. 

This treadle stand needs more work.  I should shim the machine hinges because they truly don't fit so well.  Maybe I can caulk them.  Steven always says "Putty and paint make the carpenter a saint."  

So, what's my verdict on this machine?  I don't believe that there are any plastic parts.  I looked under the "hood."

I did see something that alarmed me; a part that looks broken.  It works, so I reckon it ain't broke and I am not going to fix it !  The stitch width lever is locked into place by turning the knob to which this piece is attached.  Seems fine.  I am happy and now I have a new favorite machine.  I have not tested the satin stitch.  No satin stitch foot.  Soon.  I promise.

This changes EVERYTHING

Just yesterday I was informed, via a reader, that my new favorite machine has a plastic, and vulnerable, part.  I was surprised.  The machine weighs a veritable TON.  So tonight after work I had to see of which marolsh spoke.  (See yesterday's blog and comments).

There it is, behind the stitch width regulator, a plastic eccentric.  At least I would call it an eccentric. 

It sits just behind the stitch width regulator knob.  It looks to be in good shape.  I will use the machine until it breaks.  It may never break.  But I won't be sacrificing the Singer 237 now, after all. 

Unless, when I set the White 130 up to treadle, I really really really love it.

Or I could treadle the Morse.  But that seems like such a waste.  The motor is a beast.

It is nice to have options, though.  Gosh.  I am disappointed about that Riccar.  But hey, look at all of the choices I have !  And likely there are more buried in my stash somewhere.  Come to think of it there is a very nice Montgomery Ward  back in there.   Gotta have a look tomorrow.

Another Zig ZagTreadle

I have a serious problem.  I am in love with this machine.

 This was one of the first machines I bought when I first became infected with VSMAD.  I got it out today so that I could test it out for Ls.  She needs a zz treadle.  Well, she doesn't NEED one.  She wants one.  But I am not sure she knows that she wants one.  I think that she should have one.  After all, she loves to treadle and has been acquiring antique treadles at an alarming rate.  Alarming, maybe only to her husband.  But, honestly, he doesn't seem THAT alarmed.

Vintage Sewing Machine Acquisition Disorder (VSMAD) is contagious.   It seems that my new friend Ls has caught the bug.  She came to the TOGA on September 23.  At that time she owned three machines. Two Berninas (yes, I am jealous) and one White Rotary.  She is now up to seven machines.  All of them (save the Berninas) are people powered.  She has more than doubled her stable in just over a month.  

We went to a quilt show yesterday in Old Forge.    It was beautiful.  You can check out the show at
http://viewarts.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=122:quilts-unlimited&Itemid=182.

Our friend Ln has two quilts on display.

We met her there.  I learned an awful lot about quilting and about thread.   We had a terrific time.  I am inspired. Oh and I delivered a 237 to Ln. She fell in love with mine at the TOGA.  I had an extra and so now Ln has a 237, too.  For more of her wonderful stuff, check out her blog: http://artinsearch.blogspot.com/


Since I drove, I had Ls as a captive audience.  I suggested that she consider a zig zag that she could pop into one of her stands.  That's when I thought of the Riccar.  So I got it out today.

Nope, she is not getting it.  I love it.  The feed dogs drop, it has a very classy Retro 60s look and it makes a gorgeous stitch. I think its satin stitch is every bit as good as that of the 237. 

I even played with FMQ.  I got better the more I practiced.  It is a very smooth machine.  Like I said, I am in love.

I am willing to let go of the remaining 237.  Though I must admit, it will be a sacrifice.  

"It doesn't power on"

Before we left for California I returned a call to a woman who had left a message on my phone.

"It doesn't power on"  she said about her Kenmore sewing machine.

"Oh.  Well I will be happy to look at it."

"I hardly ever sew anymore.  A friend of mine told me to just buy a new machine.  But for as much as I sew I thought I should at least try to fix this one. "

"Oh, absolutely.  Those vintage Kenmores are fine machines.  You can do what you want but you will not be happy at all with a new machine.  You just won't find the quality in the new machines that you have in that Kenmore."

She dropped it off Tuesday at the clinic.  We live in the country and a bit out of the way.  I don't do it often, but I meet customers at the clinic on lunch hour just to make it a bit more convenient.

"Do they let you do that?" K.  asked when we were making the arrangement.

"Well, I can't imagine it's a problem.  If they ask me to stop, I will."

Wednesday afternoon I set it up on the bench.  A very nice 158.1802.  Sure enough.  No power. No light, no motor. NADA.   Wondering if it was her foot controller I tried one of mine.  Bingo. Motor noise but no light.  Most Kenmores of this era will not work if the light is not switched on.  I wondered if I had switched it on when I had used her power cord.  Switched her back and BINGO motor noise.  OK, light bulb burned out.  Switched out to a new light and everything was good to go.   I called her and left a message.

"Your machine powers on.  The light bulb was out.  If you want me to service it I will."

I hope that I can.  I love those 1802s.  Very, very nice machines.