Dolls

Another cold, spring day.   In February I would have celebrated a high of 24 degrees.  Not today.  I could have warmed up the sewing loft.  Instead, I chose to sew inside.  I need a zig zag for my current project and I wanted to use the Singer 237 in a treadle stand.   I even brought the machine in from the sewing loft.  Then, I realized that I don't have a treadle stand inside.    Hmmm.  I used to have a Singer treadle stand in the house.  In my zeal to divest, I gave it, and the Red Head, away over a year ago.  It's not that I don't have treadles in the house.  They are all too small for the 237. 

Now, I do have a treadle stand that I can bring inside that will house the 237.  I probably will figure out how to do that, some day.  It means that I will have to craft a new top for it and find room, somewhere.  That's the bad news.  The good news:  I won't have to try to sell it. 

Instead, since I needed a zig zag, I got out the 401A.  It lives in the museum.  I would have preferred to use Lila, the 158.511 but it is  V E R Y  H E A V Y.  Steven and I put it away last weekend (it, too, lives in the museum).  Lila is a lavender colored machine and is the quietest motorized machine I have ever used.  It is a high shank, class fifteen, central bobbin, end loader.  I love using it.   SMO.

I hated to ask Steven for his help getting Lila  off the shelf today.  The 401 is much lighter. I opted for it.

It, too, is a smooth and quiet machine.  It isn't as powerful as Lila and I don't get the same thrill when sewing with it.  Just the same, I love it. I learned how to sew using this machine.  Mom would hold me in her lap and I would guide the material as she controlled the motor with the knee lever.  Later on, as a teenager I sewed peasant blouses and altered my jeans (making them skin tight as was the fashion).  I am glad I got it out.  It is a pleasure to use.

I am making a set of Raggedy Ann dolls for a friend's daughters.  M. is Peruvian and she has beautiful, dark skin.  Her hair is black and she has warm, wonderful, brown eyes.  I really didn't want to make pink skinned Raggedy Ann dolls, though that is the traditional doll.  I found some fabric that EXACTLY matches M.s skin tone.  I used brown felt for the eyes and red for the nose and mouth.  I know that is pretty traditional, but it looks ok.  

They will have black hair but very bright dresses and pinafores. I hope I can find some fabric that reflects M.'s Peruvian heritage. 

Oh, I guess that means it is time to go fabric shopping.  What a disappointment.