Out of Chaos...

...Hopefully will come Order.

Now that the chaos of the holidays is over, all the gifts completed, and decorations put away - it is time to get a handle on my craft / rehab room. I really need to get everything organized, thinned out and put in its proper place. In its current state, it is nearly impossible to do anything creative, especially when you know that the mess which surrounds you certainly won't miraculously disappear.

So my first step is to start organizing all of my spare sewing machine parts, and start listing them on the Facebook Vintage Sewing Machine group, eBay, Etsy or Bonanza. Until I had them spread out across the floor, and started bagging, tagging and putting them in a spreadsheet - I had no idea I had that many extra parts. Hopefully they'll be useful for someone else's VSM restoration, and I can make a penny or two.

I've passed by this mess for a week now; it's driving me nuts.
Time to get in gear and get organized!

I have everything to re-build that Singer Featherweight, except
for the motor. I think I'll let someone else have that pleasure.

As soon as that task is completed, I have another 15-91 that I was gifted that I want to start work on. Based on the serial number, it's a pre-WWII machine, with the nice decorative face plate. I may keep this one as well, especially after free-motion quilting on my Centennial 15-91 for the holidays; I really enjoyed it and it was painless. There is also a 201-2 that either needs to be restored or parted out. It is missing a few parts that I don't have on hand, but the paint and finish on it are so nice, it would feel almost sacrilegious to part her out.

I also have a list of projects I need to finish and that I want to start. I found a vintage pattern for Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls that I'm dying to try out. There is the Bachelor Quilt that needs quilting. I put it away over a year ago, because I wasn't happy with it. I unfurled it today, and decided it wasn't as bad as I thought. There's a bedspread quilt that needs to be quilted. And I have a few shirt patterns that I want to try out for Michel and myself. There is certainly enough to keep my busy; I just don't want to start feeling overwhelmed and walk away from all of them.

'Til next time, here's to a Happy and Healthy New Year to all of you!

An Old "New" Favorite?

A while back, I mentioned that I found a 1950 Singer 201-2 while Michel and I were out "junking". The machine was locked up, but the price tag was right and of course, she followed me home. (Michel is a HUGE enabler, but that is an entire post in and of itself.) This is what she looked like, as found:

1950 Singer 201-2 with a Western Electric wood case.

This 201-2 was just sitting in a Western Electric wooden case, as the hinge pins do not align properly. She sat in my sewing, craft, rehab, catch-all room for a few weeks before I finally made the time to dig into her innards and get her stitching. I spent all day this past Saturday and most of Sunday soaking her in oil, removing parts, cleaning, and freeing up this locked up gem. When I was about 80% finished, with only the motor left to tackle, I decided to make a few test stitches from just turning her over by hand. WOW! Three words: smooth, straight, sweet! Those test stitches were enough of a motivation to service her built-in motor and produce some real stitches.

Servicing the motor was a lot easier than I had anticipated. The motor wires were still in great condition, with no dry flaking insulation, as is typical with a 50+ year old machine. The motor leads were still very pliable and supple, which made servicing the motor much easier and faster. Also, I skipped servicing the metal foot controller for now, and swiped a bakelite controller from one of my Featherweights. Once the motor service was completed, I mounted the 201-2 into the wood base I had obtained from eBay. The base is a custom made 'reproduction' of the Singer-style bentwood case bases. It suits this machine well.

All cleaned, serviced and ready to sew!
And I really love the new walnut base.

And here she is stitching. I apologize beforehand for the video quality; one-handed videography is not my forte.

I will start piecing my next quilt on her this week. If she performs like her sister, my 201K, I believe this 201-2 could become my new favorite machine. And if so, I think I may name her "Margaret", after my favorite aunt - my mom's youngest sister. I'll keep you updated. Until then, happy sewing!

One Month Down

It has been a month since my last post, and it's been a month on my new job. I am really enjoying the job, the new industry and my new co-workers. A friend reminded me that all things happen for a reason, and to enjoy this next chapter of my life. He has a good out-look, and my out-look remains positive. With that said, the only draw back has been the longer commute to work, which results in less time at home with my family. It is taking some adjustment, but I am making the most of the time we do have together.

On the project front, I finished the restoration of the 1948 Singer 15-91. This machine is incredibly FAST and powerful! If I ever have a sewing machine related accident, this machine will be the one to cause it. (I hope I didn't just jinx myself.) I used the 15-91 to quilt the "Kissing Fish" project and the machine performed great. I did need to adjust the bobbin tension for the cotton thread, as it was a bit too tight - a fact I discovered halfway through the quilting. But I was able to 'pick' the trouble areas and even out the stitches, without having to remove them.

1948 Singer 15-91
This is one sweet, POWERFUL, great stitching machine!

As for the "Kissing Fish"...here is the finished quilt. The points on the individual 8" blocks came out well. Putting all the blocks together...not so well. I definitely need more practice on half-square triangles and 1/4" seams. Practice makes perfect...eventually.

Overall, I'm very please with the "Kissing Fish".

Most of the points aligned properly;some, not so much.

Next project - the 1950 Singer 201-2. I'm looking forward to that restoration. I have a lot of expectations for that machine - it needs to sew as well as my 201k and with the speed and power of my 15-91. I hope it lives up to the hype I've read about.

Until next time, cheers!