A Good Day

My friend Linda is trying to fix a machine for a friend.  She is having trouble setting the needle and believes it is because the thread guide just above the needle is missing.  I looked through my stash the other night and found a drawer labeled needle clamps.  There I found an envelope labeled:

WOOT WOOT ! Finally! Something in this stash that I can actually use ! Included in this envelope was a thread guide.

 So the very first thing I did this morning was send Linda  the screw and the thread guide.  I sent two screws because I don't know which one will fit.  But I did test it out on my machine, a very similar HA-1 Class 15 straight stitch machine.

Oh I do feel good about this.  I hope that they fit and that she can get that machine working.

Sometimes I spin my wheels and get nothing done.  Today was not one of those days.  I did a lot.  After I ran to the PO, I came home and set about organizing the shop. I rinsed the empty tool bin drawers that were  stored in a big cardboard box for months.  They were pretty dirty. Someone I know will be pleased.   I used warm water and Diswasher rinse aid so that they would dry more quickly.  Who knows if they did or not.  I was distracted next by sorting through some more of the South River Stuff. 

What do you suppose this is?  Steven thinks it is some sort of medieval torture device. 

 I culled and sorted and threw away some stuff.  Rusty bobbins, broken bobbin cases, other miscellaneous mysterious stuff.
 
I found this  Singer motor and foot control combo.  I don't really understand this set up.  There seems to be a power cord but there is also a receptacle for a power cord in the motor.  I threw it in the trash and then retrieved it.  Maybe it works.  I wonder if anyone would buy it on eBay? 

 I did some more tidying up and then I walked the dogs.  The trees have overgrown the path a bit so I trimmed some branches while we were up there.  Not much so anyone would care.  Enough so that I won't poke my eye out as Wrigley drags me down the path.

I put the clean bins away next.  That meant moving some of the full bins.  I have a lot of industrial parts.  I found some bobbin cases which I think might fit the 206 etc series.  I found some class 15 bobbin cases too.  I found some hooks.  I found some needle bars I found some antique machine parts and I found these:

The box is hand labeled "Singer 221" and one does look a little different from the other.  I guess I will have to figure that out.  I believe I have the cams for both as well.

 As part of my attempt to clear out stuff in the sewing loft, I pieced some scraps together for a practice quilt for the quilt frame this past week.    I was surprised at how much fabric I had stored in those little, plastic bins! Somehow I managed to create a quilt top 68 X 74.  The only rule I followed: if it was on the cutting table, it went into the quilt top.  I finished piecing it on Friday afternoon and set it up on the frame last evening.  Today I took my first pass.  I am using light colored thread so that I can inspect my stitches and see how I do with my design.  I have been practicing feathers and spirals.  I feel quite comfortable with meandering.  I have to say that I am pleased with the results.  No real need to tweak tension at all.  I managed to make the first pass down the quilt without jamming the needle or breaking thread. 

I may have to change to a darker thread for the border.  The bottom looks pretty good too.  The Sew Control is working fairly well.  One of these days I will set the machine up without it and see how I do.  For now, I will stick with the speed control.  I am not unhappy with it.

I really needed to get busy stitching on a Kenmore 158.1355 that I would like to re-home.  It wasn't working well when B. came to look at it so I worked on it some and got all the stitches working.  I was using it this afternoon when all of a sudden it stopped.  I figured it was a hand wheel issue because the hand wheel just locked up.  I took it to the shop, gave it a good once over, took off the hand wheel and loosened the belt.  It now whines.  That is a simple fix.  It seems to be sewing just fine. 

After supper (the dog's not mine, I had no time for food) I went back to the loft and started another practice quilt piecing project. This time with greens.  Now it is time for knitting and Season One of Cheers.