Is it a Good One?

We all know that I have TBHITW (The Best Husband In The World).  Well, I know that.  Some of you probably have TBHITW, too.  But hey it's all relative (HAH. Pun intended)

Yesterday Steven and I were planning a day trip so that we could experience some American History.  We live about three hours from Fort Ticonderoga.  Many of you may know of this place.  Steven, being the avid reader that he is, had read all about the Battle of Saratoga and wanted to go see the Fort.  He had also read a biography of Ethan Allen.  What does any of this have to do with sewing machines?

OK.  On the local Craigs List I had been watching a lovely 1948 15-91in a #42 cabinet..  It was sad, really.   A lovely machine that no one wanted .  I didn't really want it, either.  Not at the listed price.  I have two 42 cabinets and two 15-91s.  I don't NEED another.  That is always the story.  Need vs Want.

The price dropped.  I watched for a while.  I don't know how long (I AM in my 7th decade.  Memory becomes less important as time passes).  I emailed the seller a few days ago and made an offer.  It was declined, but in one of the nicest ways anyone could decline an offer. 

"Someone is coming to look at it in a few days..."

I replied  " It never hurts to ask"

Which garnered the reply "True and I may be contacting you in a few days. You never know."

Well, the counter offer came yesterday and I thought about it.  And thought about it and countered for the machine only and the bits in the drawers.  It was accepted.

Last night (here comes the part about TBHITW)  as we were discussing plans for the day trip to Ft Ticonderoga I queried:

"What do you think about driving through R. on the way back?"

"Sure, why, sewing machine?"

"Yes."

"Is it a good one?"

"Yes.  a 15-91."

"Sure."

See?  TBHITW

SINGER 401 OR TAKING THE PLUNGE

The Singer 401 is a wonderful machine.  One of Singer's finest.  The needle bar does have a tendency to get stuck from dried oil and dirt.  This will prevent the needle bar from swinging back and forth to accomplish the zig zag stictch and other variations.

It is very easy to fix.  Heat and oil are your friends here.  And you may need to move the needle bar back and forth manually many times.  If you get tired, do it some more.  A hair dryer works wonders at loosening the old dried oil.  Be sure to apply new oil and use the good stuff; Tri Flow

Singer 15-90

It got too hot in the sewing loft today.  I finished up the tote bag and then the dogs and I headed to the shop.  It was a bit cooler there, but not by much.  I am not complaining.  We need the heat and the sun to dry up the fields.

I want to treadle a Singer Class 15 machine.  I have a lovely Class 15 clone that I could likely pop right in the treadle stand now.  But after sewing with the 15-91 a few weeks ago, I want to see how a Singer 15 treadles.

I understand that the 15-91, with its potted motor, has that extra gear driven gift of power.  I think, however, that the class 15, with its vertical hook, is supposed to be better for FMQ.  I want to see if I can FMQ with a treadle.   I saw a You Tube video about it.  Here are two for you to watch.  I think that top video is on a Singer 31-15.  The bottom one is on a 15-30. 

I did have a hopping foot.  I think it is lost.  I hope it will surface.  But until then I do have some later model darning feet that I can use.

I like this machine.  It's a beauty.

It has an AE serial number which places it at 1936.  The motor is new and the wiring is likely not as old as the machine.  The decals are lovely and the machine bed is not terribly scratched up.  The chrome on the hand wheel needs work.  The spool pins have some surface rust as does the bobbin winder.  Other then that. the machine is in good shape.

I used my new toy to clean up the parts.  Rain gave me an ultra sonic cleaner when I went to visit him a couple of weeks ago.  I think he was quite generous. He showed me how to use it by cleaning a back plate from a 201 (I think).  I was impressed.

It did a decent job on the back plate from this machine as well.  I think I need to use a stronger concentration of soap (Simple Green).  Next time.

The water sure was dirty at the end of the 20 minute cycle.  This photo is at the beginning of the cycle.  At the end, you couldn't see anything through the brown water.  You will just have to trust me on this.  Why take a photo of dirty, brown water?

I rinsed all the parts in denatured alcohol so that they would dry without adding more rust.

I found it interesting that the beehive spring for the tension assembly turned a pretty shade of blue.

It doesn't take rust off.   But it sure does get the parts clean.  I worked on the rest of the machine as these parts were getting buzzed in the cleaner.

Now, tomorrow, I can reassemble the tension, put the hook assembly back together. and try it out.  No motor to service.  Woo Hoo.

Stitches

I have been sewing since I was about eight years old.  I never cared about the stitch quality until I became afflicted with SMAD (Sewing Machine Acquisition Disorder).  It never mattered before.  Now it matters, a lot.

I visited my friend Rain last weekend.  I finally delivered his 223 to him.  I also took along some other parts in a tote bag I had made.  He tried to give it back to me.  I told him he could keep it that I had plenty more at home that I had made.

"What machine did you use?" he said as he scrutinized the stitches.  Only someone who works on machines cares about the stitch quality. 

I admit, though, that when I am at craft shows I look at the stitches on the various for sale sewn items.  I am a stitch snob.

So tonight I was pleased to be sewing on the 201-3 transformed to treadle.  It makes a lovely stitch.  I don't know what is up with that 237.  Maybe it just doesn't make a nice straight stitch.  My 201-3 TTT (transformed To Treadle)  does.

This project is another tote bag.  I loved the bright colors of a linen kitchen towel map of the Caribbean.

 I wanted to preserve as much of the original design as I could.  I thought that I had secured the edge under the seam.  I hadn't.  I tried Steam a Seam but it wouldn't hold.  So I gave in and used the Kenmore.  I know it is an electric machine.  I know that my vow was to only treadle until the TOGA.  I failed.  So shoot me.

I like this stitch in this application  I think it will hold the edges together well and will bear up as this bag is used. 

The handles come next.  I was thinking of using that bright yellow.  I would rather use more green.  Just don't have it.  I might have some blue.....

I've done harder things

I was looking at this photo of the back of my sewing loft tonight.  The trash shed has got to go and Steven has been working on that project in his spare time.  Or, as he jokes, "While I'm resting."   Those two elm trees provide wonderful, cooling shade for the loft.  The lilac in the front of the building provides shade there.  These elms, though, are crucial in heat management.

"Honey, I have a question."

"Yes?"

"It's just a question.  I was just wondering."

"Wondering what?"

"When you take down the trash shed, will you need to take down the two elms, too?"

"I'm hoping not."

"But how will you get that corrugated metal down"  (Readers, you may not be able to see it in this photo but the metal roofing has been quite distorted by the larger elm tree).

"I can do it.  I've done harder things."

It has been my dream to have a deck out the back of the loft.  The sliding glass door can open out onto such a structure and with a railing surrounding it, I could just keep that door opened and the dogs could go right out and down a set of stairs to their pen. 

But you know what they say about cobblers. kids and shoes, right?  

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. 

Singer 101 and a Surprise

A reader emailed me about his 101.  He did a beautiful job restoring and repainting it.
Now I want to do this.  It is just gorgeous

Singer 101 Photo by John Tewksberry

Singer 101  Photo by John Tewksberry

Singer 101 photo by John Tewksberry

But this is my favorite

Singer 500A  Photo by John Tewksberry