THE CONE OF SHAME

I gave the dogs haircuts and baths last weekend.  I must have clipped Wrigley a bit close.  He was shaking his head and scratching at his face. One spot kept scabbing over and breaking open.  I tried everything.  It just kept getting worse. 

Finally we had to do it.  We put the collar on him

He did manage to catch a nap

I was sewing today and felt bad for him.  I decided to make a soft collar and see how that would work

 He caught another nap.....

The problem is that this one is too soft.  He can go through the dog door and flip it so that it sits on his shoulders like a shawl.  That won't work.  For now, though, he is wearing it and leaving the hot spot alone.  If worse comes to worse, we can put on the plastic one again.  But he does not like the cone of shame

You tube

I re-wired a 201-2 motor today.  I took a very bad video of it after I was finished.  I re-wired this motor for a friend.  Of course I had to try it out to be sure it would work before I shipped it to her.  It actually works better than the one that is on the machine.  Hmmmm.

It looked like this:

But now it sounds like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjMTchY6Um0&feature=em-upload_owner

If you want to see the finished project:
http://www.sewingmachinemagic.com/machines.html

Vintage Apron

I finished the apron tonight.  It is baggy and doesn't fit all that well.  I never tried on the original so how do I know that it isn't supposed to fit this way?

 Frankly it looks better on the hanger than it does on me.  But I am not entering it in a contest nor am I a model.  It will suffice.

UPDATE.  Linda commented below and included a link.  Sometimes the linkiness of links doesn't transfer when the comment is published.  Here is the link https://www.indygojunction.com/patterns/adult_clothing/aprons/afternoon_tea_apron/

That apron looks a bit dressy, but perhaps when the Queen comes to visit I would wear it.  Hah.  Her Highness declined my most recent invitation so I won't be needing such fanciness. 

Singer 115

(Note the color of thread sitting on the spool pin.) Yesterday I went to Betsy's to sew.  I wanted to take one of my machines.  She has plenty, no worries there.    I just thought it would be fun to play with this darling little, albeit worn, hand crank.  (I had it out to wind a bobbin for the 306.  I had removed its BW to reduce interference with the coil spring belt.  Works great.  Same bobbins.  I am so stinking clever to have thought of that.)

I packed the 115 up and trekked on over to Betsy's for our Sewing on Sundays session.  I wanted to make a vintage apron using an old one Betsy had as a pattern.   I found some nice vintage type fabric in her stash. The pattern calls for bias tape as accent and to finish the edge.  I made the bias tape myself.  True I had to refer to instructions found on the WWW.   Mostly to remind myself how it is done.  (Ahem)  The red check fabric is perfect.

I wound up a bobbin and was all set to go.  I love to wind a bobbin with this type of winder.  It is just so much fun to watch.   

I popped the bobbin in the shuttle and threaded up the machine and tested the stitch.  AWFUL.  The only way to get any kind of stitch at all was to wind the top tension ALL THE WAY DOWN to its tightest setting.  It would skip stitches and generally misbehave. 

The bobbin case seemed to have quite a bit of play when in the shuttle and I wondered if I was missing a part.  Tonight I looked at some photos that I took when I serviced the machine and looked at the machine itself.  Everything looked exactly the same. 

 I threaded the machine with some handy blue thread and popped a bobbin of yellow thread in the bobbin case and VOILA, perfect stitch.  So I put the red thread in again.  AAAKKKKK.  Terrible stitch.  Just to be sure, I tried the blue and yellow combo one more time.Again, it made a very nice stitch but with a wobble or two here and there on the underside. 

Out came the needle and sure enough, rough tip aka BOB (Big Old Burr).

It's late.  I'm tired.  I don't know what it is about red thread and this machine. I am not going to fuss with it anymore right now.   Fortunately I can finish the apron project on the 306K.  It isn't so fussy. (I had to put the motor back on the 306.  That noise from the coil spring belt drove me up the wall).

I am relieved, though.  I was a bit worried that my little 115 was a goner.  WHEW.  It is just so adorable and I love the bobbin winder.

After again

 And so you don't have to scroll back to a previous post:

I spent five hours out there today.  More to be done, admittedly.  Someday.  The dogs need baths and haircuts.  If I am lucky I can get them tended to early this weekend and get back out there. 

Along the way I came across these things:

This was in my staple gun storage case.  I had left it in the garden shed. 

 This Pfaff takes an odd needle and is missing its bobbin case.  I have no idea what size bobbin case to look for.  I am pretty sure this was made before the Berlin Wall came down.

Remember the Pfaff (not this one, but there is a story with this one, too)

 I want to play with this one.  It lives in a home made case.  The case weighs more than the machine, I think

Montgomery Ward

 This is not really part of the shop.  At least it isn't supposed to be.  Steven forbade me to spill over into his section.  Do you think he is trying to tell me something?

Coffin top re-glued

Someone re-wired this motor and light block.  Not me.  I think it will be ok.  I just wish I knew where it belongs.  Sigh.

OH MY

It is always good to spend some time organizing and re-discovering things.  I would love to unload the Pfaff but I can't without the proper parts.  I think that the Montgomery Ward machine is a good one and will suit a beginner.   I have a light weight case for it.  But I hate to dispose of that nice, hefty homemade case.  It is very nicely constructed. 

I also dug out the vintage boom box and a box of cassette tapes.  Tunes to mech by. 

Kenmore 158.1802

I love this machine. I just love it. 

Kenmore 158.1802

   All clean and shiny and ready to go home. 

Odd, but worth it.

 Most domestic sewing machines take the common 15 X 1 (or 130/705 system ) sewing machine needle.  This is quite convenient. The Singer 206, 306 and 319, don't.  You must use a 206X13 needle in those machines. It isn't a huge deal.  The needles are available, though a bit more dear than the 130/705 system.  For that reason I have avoided using my 306K and 319W.

Singer 319W

Singer 306K

The 206 still needs some work, I am ashamed to admit. It has been sitting on the shelf since I returned from Ray White class two years ago. 

Singer 206K

 Tonight, after dinner, but before Downton Abbey,  I thought I would set up a zig zag machine in preparation for inside sewing.   It is much too cold out in the sewing loft now.   I was going to haul the Riccar in from the loft.  Brrrr. I really didn't want to traipse out there to fetch a machine.  Aha, the 319W lives inside.  No, no, no, remember how hard it was to get it out of that base?  Use the 306K!

TA DA

The leather belt that fit the 66 so well was way too tight for the 306. I had to install the coil spring belt . It took me about 5 minutes to do so.  I also took off the bobbin winder.  The belt rubbed against it and the noise drove me nuts.  The belt does rub against the metal lift spring, too, but I buffered that with some tape.  I know, I know, TACKY. 

 Still,  the stitch is worth it. 

Top stitches

Bottom stitches