Exercise

I have been sewing A LOT.  Every Monday I travel to an outreach clinic and there I work with some pretty wonderful women.  Yup.  All women.  I showed off a hand bag I had made and they all want one.  So now I am fulfilling my promise.  I have five of six done.  I used the 237 on Wednesday, yesterday and today.  I struggled with it, I admit.  While it is useful for zig zag, the stitch doesn't hold a candle to the one produced by the 201.  I finally switched back to the 201 tonight after scrutinizing the top stich on the latest bag.  I hated it.  I took it out and re-stitched it with the 201.  Heaven. 

The 237 is quiet.  And STRONG.  The stitch may improve if I switch out the needle plate with one for a straight stitch machine.  I believe the 239 is the straight stitch version.  I can get the needle plate for it and try it on the the 237.  I was using the 1/4 inch quilting foot, which is, in essence, a straight stitch foot.  Except that I messed up and put the foot on while the machine was still set for a narrow zig zag.  Believe it or not there was room on the foot to allow the zz.  Not full width, but still.  I should have tried the straight stitch foot.  Next time.

I think that the coil spring belt was too big for the 237.  The hand wheel kept turning backwards.  I did  not have that difficulty with the 201 with the large spoke wheel.   This created difficulty sewing.  I tore out many thread nests.  The fabric I was using frays readily and I did use the zig zag on the seams.  Interestingly the zig zag was quite lovely but something was just not right about the striaght stitch. I ordered a smaller diameter coil spring belt and a urethane belt from Mc Master Carr today.  I expect that later on this week I will have them.  Look for a post about the differences between the two.  Oh and I guess I will comment on the leather belt too.

All in all I enjoy treadling.  I have a bit of a galloping rhythm.  I am a one footer, but to increase speed I add my left foot.  It isn't really exercise.  But I am moving my legs and I am not as stiff at the end of a day of sewing as I am when I use the electric machine.  That is a plus for a woman in her seventh decade.