Month: January 2024

Hello?

On By CarynIn Wildlife
Photo description: Night vision photo of a deer’s eyes looking into the trail cam.

This is another gem from the recent trail cam collection; a deer peeking into the camera with what I interpret as curiosity. Mostly I get pictures of legs and tails, so this was startling.

Piecing

On By CarynIn Craft

I bought a grab bag of scraps from the local quilt store because it had fabric that matched what I have in my stash. I set it on the sewing table of the Singer model 66 and later decided to try sewing some squares together. I haven’t pressed the seams yet, but I love the way the machine works. It is the advice from The Treadle Lady to take these old machines on a “Sunday drive”. Using them weekly encourages proper regular maintenance, and keeps everything moving.

Photo description: Four squares of red fabric sewn together on the surface of a Singer model 66.

Pardon me, as I skip frame

On By CarynIn photography, Wildlife

I took in my SD card from the trail cam and uploaded it on the computer. There were 50 pictures, mostly of deer parts, but with two adjacent pictures that made a nearly whole deer. It made me laugh.

Photo description: screen shot of two frames in my photo app, where the head of the deer is in the left frame, the body is in the right frame, and the neck lines up.

Tinier stitches

On By CarynIn Craft, repair

I thought the Singer model 66 was set at the tiniest stitch, so I’ve been gradually turning the stitch length knob, pictured below and marked with an arrow, to the left. This knob on both my machines was quite difficult to turn and needed extra sewing machine oil, and a wrench with the jaws wrapped in leather, so as not to damage the knob.

Photo description: Balance wheel side of a Singer model 66 sewing machine, with an arrow pointing to a large silver round knob which controls the stitch length.

My assumption was wrong. Turning the knob to the left makes the stitches even tinier!

Photo description: Light colored fabric with concentric rectangular stitches. The outer stitches were done after turning the knob to the left. The inner stitches were after turning the knob almost all the way right.

So now it makes sense that I have seen these knobs all the way screwed in, the longest stitch works well for sewing the most common fabrics. There wouldn’t have been much call for changing the stitch length, so more time for the knob threads to seize up.

I also figured out a way to “reverse” stitch on the treadle machine that absolutely does not have a reverse capability: I turn the fabric around. I sew a few stitches, bury the needle, lift the pressure foot, turn the fabric 180 degrees, lower the pressure foot, sew a few stitches back to the beginning, then turn again and continue with my seam. Here is a video. These stitches are so small I probably don’t need the extra reinforcement, but it makes me feel better.

Chicken ball

On By CarynIn chickens

It has been cold here, very cold for Texas even in January, cold enough to get a reluctant nod from the north. Although they still scoff that we shut down for a little snow. Tropical problems. The chickens also think it is cold, and turn from sleek ground raptors to fluffy balls of stillness.

Photo description: Chicken on the roost with her feathers so puffed up she is spherical.

Brr.