Not as good as new

So you know how I was excited that my machine was fixed the other day? Turns out it's not :( I'm going to have to call up the shop tomorrow and find out what to do now.

However, mostly due to the generosity of other members of my quilting guild, at my SASD today I finished the quilting on my concentric hexagons quilt and stitched the binding down on the front. Only the hand stitching on the back left to go, hurrah! So a huge thanks must go to Annabel and Bek for their generosity.

As good as new

I've got my machine back, hurrah! I traded shifts at work yesterday so I could get to the shop before it closed and pickup my machine. And this evening I've tried it out, and I'm pleased to report that it seems as good as new. As well a service to clean it out and fix the timing, it apparently needed a new bobbin holder unit.

I didn't want to launch straight in with anything too difficult on the machine (like FMQ), so I have cut out and started stitching what I'm hoping will be a "wearable" muslin of a Jasmine blouse. I'm using some black and white gingham that I traded with my friend Laura, and plan to have a plain black collar. I had traced off the pattern for version 2 the other week (a size 8 above the waist, tapering to a 10 at the hips) so I just needed to cut out the pieces.

So far I have the front and back pieces stitched together, and a quick try on tells me that the size seems to be about right; it seems to be the right size across the bust and hips. It's a bit hard to check the fit without the collar and sleeves though.

I'm glad to have my machine back, that's for sure! Expect more progress soon.

In for a service

Quite frustratingly, I haven't got much to show at the moment. I had big plans for this week and next. The boy is on holiday and I was planning to make good use of my spare time by spending some quality time with my sewing machine. 

Sadly, while I was quilting my hexagon quilt last week my machine started running strangely and it became hard to turn the wheel. I decided that it probably wasn't a good idea to keep going while it wasn't behaving so started looking in to taking it in for a service. I took it in on Saturday, and am hopefully going to pick it up tomorrow after work. Apparently something within the bobbin mechanism had worn out and needed replacing. I'm hoping that it will be as good as new when I get it home though.

I have got some sewing done, however, as we had a "crafternoon" on the weekend, and I had a sewing date last night, but unfortunately I'm not quite in the position to share pics of things yet. I have finished my Vogue 2902 dress but need to wait until mid next week until I have the matching belt to show you photos. 

I've made some very good progress on my Beignet, which I've been sewing along with Claire, and should hopefully finish that soon too (although I do still need buttons). So bear with me during this unscheduled break, I will hopefully have some finished things to share with you soon!

Beautiful Bernina

Last year my gran got a new sewing machine, and while visiting her I've had a chance to have a go on it. She has a Bernina Aurora 440QE, which is lovely to stitch on, and even has a stitch regulator for free motion quilting.

I've been having a go on it, and have made something:

Sadly I can't show you anymore of what I've made as it's going to be a gift. I'll show you the rest of it once the recipient has recieved it.

(Pretty Much) as Good as New.

On Monday I went on a little trip to Clegs to purchase some sewing machine oil. You'll be pleased to hear that after a thorough cleaning and a few drops of oil in (hopefully) the right spots, my machine is up and running again and sounding nice and smooth!

Sadly no progress to report other than that as I've been busy with other things, but I hope to have finished all the HSTs at least by the end of next weekend.

Antique Machines

I recently discovered that you can date old Singer machines by their serial number on the Singer website, so while I was in Perth, with help from my dad, I dug out the old Singer sewing machines I have inherited to take a look at them and to date them.

I inherited two sewing machines from my Gran, which she in turn had inherited from her grandmother and her great-grandmother. Before we moved to Australia my Gran kindly passed them on to me... and they've been sat in a box ever since (for the last 8 years).

The information I got from my Gran about them is as follows. Both the machines originally belonged to my great-great-Grandmother Louisa Horton. She used them in the 1880-1890's because she was a dressmaker before she was married and would go to peoples houses and stay for a few days at a time to do their sewing. My gran informs me that she made quilts and clothes for herself and her children and never used a pattern in her life. When she died my great-Grandmother "Gran B" inherited the machines. Gran B apparently always preferred the older of the two machines.

The first machine out of a box was the oldest, with a very battered case:

Looking at the plaque with the serial numbers we found two 7 digit numbers. We weren't sure which is the serial number but one dates at 1887 (7858031) and the other at 1875 (1994291), however speaking to my Gran about the dates and where they are from it must be from 1875.

The other machine is slightly newer, being dated as 1891 (10310970). This one no longer has a case.

They both have a bobbin mechanism that I've never used so I don't know how to thread the machines so I've been unable to have a go and see how functional they still are, but I have a memory of using one of these machines as a child at my gran's house.

The third old machine I have was gifted to me by an ex-housemate's mum. I believe she was clearing stuff out and didn't want it anymore and knowing that I sew offered it to me... and I of course said yes straight away. More than that I don't know the history of the machine, but this one is much newer, dating in at 1929 (Y6956953). I also discovered from the site that it was manufacturered in Clydebank, Scotland.

My dad made a comment that other people collect nice small and light things. I made him feel better by telling him about how many sewing machines some other people have and that four machines (these three and the Janome I use everyday) really is hardly any at all!

One gal's trash...

Well you know what they say, one gal's trash is another gal's treasure!

I was walking to the lactic factory yesterday afternoon, enjoying the brief winter sunshine, and spotted the following in someones "hard rubbish":


That's right, my very own toy sewing machine! Switching it on revealed that it seemed to work (the light came on at least) and it even had it's own little reel of thread!

So, today I had a bit of a play to see if it worked...

I made a guess at how to thread it, and threaded it up with some red thread (for visibility). Which in itself was HARD! The needle was SO hard to thread!!! I also couldn't work out how it was going to work, as it has no bobbin!!! I pondered it for a few short moments and then decided to carry on so I could find out.

The batteries in it are a bit drained so when I push the little peddle it makes a bit of an effort but only gets half way through a stitch (and I don't happen to have any of the enormous size D batteries it requires lying around the house) so I moved it along by hand with the wheel-y thing on the right hand side (which I feel I should know the real name for, but I do not).

A few minutes later I had my very own little line of stitching:
Which can be made without a bobbin because it makes little loops with the thread on each stitch:
(something useful to know as you have to pull the last stitch to the back or it all come undone with the smallest little tug!)

Lastly I tried sewing a seam with the machine... there were a few missed stitches, but the biggest problem was how loose the stitches are, meaning the seam is a bit miserable to be honest!


And now I'm done playing and have no idea what to do with my new treasure other than let it be yet another thing cluttering up our house! Cute as it is, and I'm sure there's a better home for it out there somewhere. So, if anyone local has a better use for it please give me a shout, as I'd love to find it a happy (and more appropriate) home.