Prettier (oops, I spaced out stitching the center line)
Friday, June 7, 2013
Tool Kit
I want to outfit each machine with its own set of screw drivers. I have been meaning to do this for some time. I also want to try to figure out what to do with the vinyl samples I picked up at a yard sale last year. I started playing around with them on Wednesday and made a cute little coin purse. It is just the right size for needles, too.
After a morning of trial and error, I finally have a design for the tool kit. I don't want to spend a whole lot of time making these so I wanted to use the samples as they came off the stack. I am happy with it. Now to figure out the most efficient way to produce them in quantity.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Sewing
I am not tidy by nature. I admire folk who keep a clean desk at work, do the dishes every night and make the bed every morning. I could emulate them, but it is easier to admire.
My sewing space is a mess. I have inherited some supplies from Ingrid and I just don't have any place to put the stuff. My cutting table was piled high with so much stuff. It was distressing. Last week I decided that I would just start sewing and use up the stuff on the table. I made a dog bed from some old quilt blocks that I bought for a dollar at the thrift store. I liked the animal fabric (zebras and such) and did not realize that the fabric was already cut up and sewn together as squares. I just threw them together, put in a zipper and called it good.
I found some other squares in the same stash. I decided to make a tote bag with a tabbed zipper. I finished it today, after several permutations on the zipper. I am pleased with the results. I can use it as my carry on when I travel to see Mom for a weekend.
I started it with the 201-2 from 1940 and finished it with the 15-91. I really like that machine. It isn't as elegant as the 201-2. The 15-91 is more like me; strong, peasant stock.
I used it to mend Max's leather jacket. It never protested.
I also emptied out a basket and found a couple of pieces of narrow, but long, batting. What the heck am I saving THAT for? You know. Just in case.
The Kenmore was all set up so I "experimented" with one of the stretch stitches and sewed the two pieces together, edge to edge. It worked great. Now I have one long piece of 6 inch wide batting instead of two long pieces of 3 inch wide batting.
I had fun making stuff with what I had on the table. It was also quite gratifying to finally mend Max's jacket. The other armpit seam is coming apart, too. Guess I will have to fix it. I honestly think that this jacket is too small for him. But he loves it and I love him so I will fix it all up. Then I can get it out of here.
My sewing space is a mess. I have inherited some supplies from Ingrid and I just don't have any place to put the stuff. My cutting table was piled high with so much stuff. It was distressing. Last week I decided that I would just start sewing and use up the stuff on the table. I made a dog bed from some old quilt blocks that I bought for a dollar at the thrift store. I liked the animal fabric (zebras and such) and did not realize that the fabric was already cut up and sewn together as squares. I just threw them together, put in a zipper and called it good.
I found some other squares in the same stash. I decided to make a tote bag with a tabbed zipper. I finished it today, after several permutations on the zipper. I am pleased with the results. I can use it as my carry on when I travel to see Mom for a weekend.
I used it to mend Max's leather jacket. It never protested.
I also emptied out a basket and found a couple of pieces of narrow, but long, batting. What the heck am I saving THAT for? You know. Just in case.
The Kenmore was all set up so I "experimented" with one of the stretch stitches and sewed the two pieces together, edge to edge. It worked great. Now I have one long piece of 6 inch wide batting instead of two long pieces of 3 inch wide batting.
I had fun making stuff with what I had on the table. It was also quite gratifying to finally mend Max's jacket. The other armpit seam is coming apart, too. Guess I will have to fix it. I honestly think that this jacket is too small for him. But he loves it and I love him so I will fix it all up. Then I can get it out of here.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Singer 301 FOR SALE
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| Singer 301 |
We are posting it on the Website soon. Just as soon as I learn how to navigate the Upgrades Weebly made to the web builder.
Check it out for more photos in a day or two.
Benzomatic
I bought a darling little butane torch when I took Ray White's class in November of 2011. I finally got the courage to fire it up. Well, I had to have Steven show me how to light it a few weeks ago. And this from a woman who, just yesterday, cut wires on a foot controller while it was STILL PLUGGED IN.
I am a human enigma.
I had a very tight screw in the race cover of the 15-91. It needed encouragement.
It worked quite well. (Gee I wonder what solvents are in that plastic tray just behind the vice? Someone lock me up!)
I am a human enigma.
I had a very tight screw in the race cover of the 15-91. It needed encouragement.
It worked quite well. (Gee I wonder what solvents are in that plastic tray just behind the vice? Someone lock me up!)
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Where's the Phone?
Yesterday, after I cleaned up one 301 and got it ready to list.
Betsy pulled out the other 301 she brought over. A long bed.
The machines are the same color. I think that the lighting is different in these two shots.
The foot controller had been replaced with a modern one. The new wires were twisted together and covered with electrical tape. Not MY idea of a good job.
I decided to solder on new leads. I also put on a new plug. I was so stinking proud of myself.
It even powered the light on when I tried it last night. The motor wasn't re-attached to the machine last night so I couldn't fully test it. But I was so sure it would work.
Well, today, after I got the 15-91 back together, I tried it out. The light came on, but no juice to the foot controller. I was BUMMED. I was sure the foot controller was at fault. So I cut the wires I had so carefully soldered on the night before
while the foot controller was still plugged in.
Betsy was standing next to me. I couldn't believe I had done that. The power strip was OFF, but the machine was still plugged in. It was the stupidist thing I could have done.
"It's a good thing I know CPR!" she said. "But wait, where's the phone? Aren't I supposed to call 911 FIRST and then start?"
It's just a good thing that the power strip had been turned off. Now I know what kind of idiot the manufacturers are directing those instructions to about unplugging the cord before installing the light switch. ME.
The foot controller had been replaced with a modern one. The new wires were twisted together and covered with electrical tape. Not MY idea of a good job.
Well, today, after I got the 15-91 back together, I tried it out. The light came on, but no juice to the foot controller. I was BUMMED. I was sure the foot controller was at fault. So I cut the wires I had so carefully soldered on the night before
Betsy was standing next to me. I couldn't believe I had done that. The power strip was OFF, but the machine was still plugged in. It was the stupidist thing I could have done.
"It's a good thing I know CPR!" she said. "But wait, where's the phone? Aren't I supposed to call 911 FIRST and then start?"
It's just a good thing that the power strip had been turned off. Now I know what kind of idiot the manufacturers are directing those instructions to about unplugging the cord before installing the light switch. ME.
SINGER 201-2 CENTENNIAL
This is the second Centennial 201-2 I have had. I have a Centennial 221 and a Centennial 128. I wonder if I should keep this Centennial 201? Nope. I have a Centennial 201-3.
Like all of my 201-2s I have re-furbished this machine completely. The motor has new leads as doe the foot controller. (That is why you see a little bit of yellow electrical tape in the photo near the terminal. That is marking the wire for the foot controller.) The brushes have been cleaned or replaced if needed. All of the three sets of gears have been cleaned of the old grease and re-greased and the machine has been cleaned and oiled.
When I look at photos of machines for sale on eBay I often wonder why folk don't at least clean the surface of the machine before they list it? I love looking at a nice, shiny, clean machine.
For more information about this machine visit our website.
http://www.sewingmachinemagic.com/
Early Morning
The sun comes up around 4:45. I hear the robins singing and by 5:30 I can't sleep any longer. I was out in the shop by 0700 with my faithful companions. One would think these dogs were devoted to me. Nope. I keep treats in the shop and they get one every time they arrive. Now, it is not a big treat. But it is a treat and we all know that dogs are pretty much opportunists; and gluttons. This shot of the shop was taken from my window. Because my work bench is so deep I have to go outside to open the window. It is the only way I can reach it.
I really wanted to finish re-wiring the light for the 15-91. Last night I realized that I could install an inline switch and be able to turn the light on and off. All I needed to do was make sure the light works.
It does.
I looked over the whole machine and oiled it next. No Gears on this machine except in the hand wheel and the motor. Elegant mechanics.
I attended to the needle bar, presser bar, take up lever, feed dogs, shuttle and race. It was a full morning. By 9:30 I had to quit. Betsy was coming over and I needed to tidy up. The machine is ready to be re-assembled. I just have to install the inline switch (Betsy bought one for me on her errands) put the motor back on and go for it. The foot controller is rewired courtesy of a brand new cord with controller leads. Easy Peasy.
Saturday mornings, Betsy likes to go to yard sales. At 11:00 she called me.
"What do you know about a 513? Is that the machine someone was looking for?"
"I know nothing about them. I think she was looking for a 518. But what do I know? How much?"
"Twenty bucks, but it has the case and I think that this one might have all metal insides."
"The case might be worth that. Just get it."
By noon, the dogs and I had had enough of tidying up and organizing. I was having lunch when Betsy arrived at 1300.
She carted in four machines: two 301s, the 513 and a Domestic she took in to service.
I took on the 513 while she worked on the Domestic.
"I think the bobbin case is broken.(referring to the 513) I told her I didn't want it for more than five bucks because of that."
"Good Job." Right just what we need another machine to fix. And who was it who said "Let's concentrate on the good machines. The ones we know sell." ????
Anyway, after determining that indeed the bobbin case was broken, I discovered that the slide plate spring is also broken.
Once we cleared away all the lint and debris around the PLASTIC GEARS, we discovered that the shuttle gear has a tooth missing.
"Oh I bet we can replace that. It will be easy"
Right. But we will also have to replace the bobbin case. The gears are cheap (6 bucks from our supplier). I haven't looked up the bobbin case. Still, how fun would it be to replace GEARS? We haven't done that yet. Oh we would feel like big time if we did.
I really wanted to finish re-wiring the light for the 15-91. Last night I realized that I could install an inline switch and be able to turn the light on and off. All I needed to do was make sure the light works.
It does.
I looked over the whole machine and oiled it next. No Gears on this machine except in the hand wheel and the motor. Elegant mechanics.
I attended to the needle bar, presser bar, take up lever, feed dogs, shuttle and race. It was a full morning. By 9:30 I had to quit. Betsy was coming over and I needed to tidy up. The machine is ready to be re-assembled. I just have to install the inline switch (Betsy bought one for me on her errands) put the motor back on and go for it. The foot controller is rewired courtesy of a brand new cord with controller leads. Easy Peasy.
Saturday mornings, Betsy likes to go to yard sales. At 11:00 she called me.
"What do you know about a 513? Is that the machine someone was looking for?"
"I know nothing about them. I think she was looking for a 518. But what do I know? How much?"
"Twenty bucks, but it has the case and I think that this one might have all metal insides."
"The case might be worth that. Just get it."
By noon, the dogs and I had had enough of tidying up and organizing. I was having lunch when Betsy arrived at 1300.
She carted in four machines: two 301s, the 513 and a Domestic she took in to service.
I took on the 513 while she worked on the Domestic.
"I think the bobbin case is broken.(referring to the 513) I told her I didn't want it for more than five bucks because of that."
"Good Job." Right just what we need another machine to fix. And who was it who said "Let's concentrate on the good machines. The ones we know sell." ????
Anyway, after determining that indeed the bobbin case was broken, I discovered that the slide plate spring is also broken.
Right. But we will also have to replace the bobbin case. The gears are cheap (6 bucks from our supplier). I haven't looked up the bobbin case. Still, how fun would it be to replace GEARS? We haven't done that yet. Oh we would feel like big time if we did.
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