I've hit a slow down in my pursuit of Antique Sewing Machines. Since I finished fixing the Bowman, I have nothing else to work on. I surfed my local Craigs List and found lots of antique treadles but nothing that was inspiring. Only one was in bad shape and they wanted way to much money for it.
As a result, I was forced to do some sewing today. A project has been brewing int he back of my mind for sometime now. Take a sweatshirt...cut off the neck band and bottom band. Then cut it down the center. Pick a nice cotton and make quilt binding from it. Sew it to the raw edges to make a decorative edge to a sweater jacket. Add a pocket featuring one of my digitized embroidery designs (yes, I'm a digitizer). Perhaps add some designs around the neck and front edges and you have a fun fall sweater.
With this plan in mind, I went to Target to pick up a sweatshirt, but they were not in for the fall season yet, so I picked up a mens size at Walmart. I started my project and have attached the cotton edging so far. I have finished the pocket design and will attach the pocket tomorrow. I chose the antique sewing machine design I just finished. I think it will look quite good. After I am done, I will post a picture on this site and on my personal webpage at http://mysite.verizon.net/restui4l/ I have many lovely things displayed on my personal page as well as embroidery designs for sale!
Well, got to go hunt for a new "old" machine to work on. I would love to get my hands on a pawfoot handcrank. Good luck finding one for a reasonable amount of money.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
My Bowman Troubles
I thought I was all done with my restoration of the Bowman (pic at bottom of page). Boy was I sorely mistaken.
I had been anxiouly anticipating the arrival of a full set of feet and accessories for the machine, generously given to me by Katie...owner of the White Research Project website, when they arrived only yesterday. I tore open the package and set about attaching the foot I was missing. I had everything in place and began to sew...only to find that the feed dogs were not moving in an eliptical manner as they should. Nothing was happening.
After hours of inspection and many tears, I bullied my husband into taking a look. It took him all of five minutes to show me that a small wire spring had come loose and it was responsible for creating the forward and backward motion of the feed dogs. I almost laughed out loud. After all that work my husband comes along and fixes it in 5 minutes!! It's good to have a handy husband.
Now it works quite well. If I could only get my hands on an dirty and needy hand crank model from the 1800's I would be all ready to start working on it!
Kel
I had been anxiouly anticipating the arrival of a full set of feet and accessories for the machine, generously given to me by Katie...owner of the White Research Project website, when they arrived only yesterday. I tore open the package and set about attaching the foot I was missing. I had everything in place and began to sew...only to find that the feed dogs were not moving in an eliptical manner as they should. Nothing was happening.
After hours of inspection and many tears, I bullied my husband into taking a look. It took him all of five minutes to show me that a small wire spring had come loose and it was responsible for creating the forward and backward motion of the feed dogs. I almost laughed out loud. After all that work my husband comes along and fixes it in 5 minutes!! It's good to have a handy husband.
Now it works quite well. If I could only get my hands on an dirty and needy hand crank model from the 1800's I would be all ready to start working on it!
Kel
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
The Little Details of Passion
Like most great love affairs, the passion starts with the fist look. The first glance is important. Did the other party catch your eye right away, or did it take a good long second look to capture your attention? Oh sure, there are those "pretty ones" that already look great on the outside, but then I guarantee someone else tidied them up long before you came along. What's the fun in falling in love and not having any work to do? I say look for the dingy ones. Don't pass up a fine machine just because it's dingy.
Machines, like men, sometimes need a makeover, but often have a wonderful mechanism just waiting for the right touch to make it purr. So there you are at the big flea market, local yard sales, or just cruising Craigs List, and you see it. It's ugly and covered in rust, but it's sturdy and looks like a real fixer upper. You push your way through the throngs of people ( or just click on the link) and there it is...right in front of you. You walk around it, observe all of it's flaws. Did you look at the wear on the decals first? Or was it the rust on the head plates that got your attention? You tentitively reach out to give the hand wheel a tug, only to discover that it moves smoothly! That's a plus.
Then you look at the price tag and pass out. After a kindly old gentleman revives you with a few firm pats to the cheeks and a splash of water, you prepare yourself to haggle. No way you are paying more than $40 for this rusted (but loveable) hunk of junk. You stretch your arms, crack your knuckles and approach the vendor. You haggle and haggle over the price and finally, he agrees to a price of $35. You reach into your oversized handbag with the mola you lovingly machine embroiderd on the front, and pull out your money and a clean cloth. Grabbing the neck of the rusty beast you hoist it up like your are carrying a baby and beat your way back through the crouds for your car. You start off nonchallantly and begin picking up speed until you are almost trotting to your car...all of this in case the vendor changes his mind and tries to renegotiate the price. You make it to the car, load your prize, and head for home. It has been a successful shopping trip and you are both exhausted and exhilerated at the same time. The rest of the month will be full of oiling, wiping, evaporusting, and more oiling.
You go home and take a nap. Dreams of passionate love for your new machine prevade your dreams. Your love affair with antique sewing machines continues.
Machines, like men, sometimes need a makeover, but often have a wonderful mechanism just waiting for the right touch to make it purr. So there you are at the big flea market, local yard sales, or just cruising Craigs List, and you see it. It's ugly and covered in rust, but it's sturdy and looks like a real fixer upper. You push your way through the throngs of people ( or just click on the link) and there it is...right in front of you. You walk around it, observe all of it's flaws. Did you look at the wear on the decals first? Or was it the rust on the head plates that got your attention? You tentitively reach out to give the hand wheel a tug, only to discover that it moves smoothly! That's a plus.
Then you look at the price tag and pass out. After a kindly old gentleman revives you with a few firm pats to the cheeks and a splash of water, you prepare yourself to haggle. No way you are paying more than $40 for this rusted (but loveable) hunk of junk. You stretch your arms, crack your knuckles and approach the vendor. You haggle and haggle over the price and finally, he agrees to a price of $35. You reach into your oversized handbag with the mola you lovingly machine embroiderd on the front, and pull out your money and a clean cloth. Grabbing the neck of the rusty beast you hoist it up like your are carrying a baby and beat your way back through the crouds for your car. You start off nonchallantly and begin picking up speed until you are almost trotting to your car...all of this in case the vendor changes his mind and tries to renegotiate the price. You make it to the car, load your prize, and head for home. It has been a successful shopping trip and you are both exhausted and exhilerated at the same time. The rest of the month will be full of oiling, wiping, evaporusting, and more oiling.
You go home and take a nap. Dreams of passionate love for your new machine prevade your dreams. Your love affair with antique sewing machines continues.
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