SMO

On By CarynIn Tools

If you start following treadle sewing machine groups, you’ll see frequent use of the acronym SMO, which stands for Sewing Machine Oil. This lubricant is vital, especially for older machines. Of course Singer recommends using Singer SMO, but I find the applicator to be clunky, so I took the advice of several treadle machine bloggers and purchased squeeze bottles with a stainless steel tube to facilitate precise oil placement.

Photo description: 2 ounce plastic squeeze bottle with 1.5” stainless applicator, filled with Singer Machine Oil

I purchased my bottles on Amazon, and it was a little tricky because the name is awkward: plastic squeeze bottle with stainless applicator. Accurate, but hard to search without all the words. Any how, I found them, filled one with SMO, and love how much easier it is to apply the oil without overshooting. I did worry about light getting through the bottle and degrading my oil, but after researching, it is better to be able to see the oil to check for changes (darker, cloudy). I might still keep the bottle in the dark, because some things are deeply ingrained.

Three ways

On By CarynIn Craft, Life Hack

I recently learned another method for securing the start and end of a seam on a treadle sewing machine with no reverse. With this method, you make a few stitches, lift the foot, move the material to the beginning, and stitch over the first stitches.

Photo description: sewing machine foot moved back to the beginning of a seam after a few stitches
Photo description: seam sewn on a Singer model 66 treadle machine using the lift and restitch method to secure the start of the seam

This trick joins my bag with two other methods. There is the turn-the-whole-fabric way, where you turn the fabric 180 degrees around the needle in the down position, put the foot down, sew a few stitches, then plant the needle, lift the foot and turn the fabric back to the original position, lower the foot and keep sewing. Also there is the tiny stitch method, where the stitch length is set to near zero to start and end a seam, but lengthened in the middle. All three methods work well to make it harder for the stitches to pull out.

On more modern machines there is a reverse button that allows the sewing machine to stitch backwards. Treadling an antique machine backwards will at best break the thread, or worse, make a tangled mess of your bobbin.

Return of the hook

On By CarynIn Craft

I finally did reunite a metal hook to my favorite drop spindle. I’m currently spinning Ramie combed top from Hearthside fibers. Ramie is a thornless member of the nettle family, and the fibers harvested from the stems are long, strong, and fine.

Photo description: lock of Ramie showing the long fine fibers, held in my hand, asphalt road in the background

I allowed myself to spin fine with this fiber, since on my last fiber I spun thick. I did not try to spin as fine as I could, that will be a later challenge, but just to spin a nice comfortable single.

Photo description: single spun Ramie fiber on a drop spindle, asphalt road in the background

I remembered to grab a cup hook and screw it into the top of the spindle, eventually. It really does make a difference in the spin of the spindle, because the arch of the hook allows the spindle to hang closer to its center of gravity, giving a smoother longer rotation.

Photo description: drop spindle with no hook, hanging from yarn secured with a half hitch, showing the point of suspension at the side of the shaft
Photo description: drop spindle with a hook, with the yarn secured by wrapping a couple times around the hook, showing the point of suspension centered on the shaft

It also helps that I am spinning clockwise again, which does not unscrew the hook. I will have to think on a way to add a hook that is secured without a screw or just glue, that can spin either way with ease.

Throwback Thursday: Egyptian Coil Bracelet

On By CarynIn Craft, throwback

Here is a throwback to May 2008 of a work in wire that looks more complicated than it is.

Photo description: Egyptian coil bracelet made from 22 gauge silver wire with handmade toggle clasp

I enjoy items that are made my connecting identical elements to form something new. The Egyptian coil bracelet is made up of lengths of wire spiraled in opposite directions from the ends and folded in the middle. Each link connects through the center fold loop; the spacing between links depends on the length of the loop.

Although I like the look of the bracelet, the darn thing catches on everything. The thin gauge wire is easier to coil into a tight spiral, but when it catches on a thread or pocket, the wire pulls open. It is a good linkage study, though I recommend using 20 gauge wire or thicker.

Fiber Study: Banana

On By CarynIn Craft

I assembled my banana fiber study page with yarn made from the stems of banana plants and purchased as combed top from Hearthside fibers.

Photo description: counterclockwise from top left: card from Hearthside fibers that reads “Banana top, Developed in New Guinea, about 8,000 BC, made from stem waste”, unspun fiber, knit swatch, woven swatch, crocheted swatch, sprang swatch, two ply yarn, and single ply yarn

Bananas are believed to have been first cultivated in New Guinea around 8,000 years ago and used for both fruit and fiber. The staple length of the combed top is long, about 8 inches, and the fiber is strong.

Photo description: banana combed top next to a ruler showing around an eight inch length

The fiber was pleasant to spin. I did challenge myself to spin thicker than my default spin, which resulted in more thickness variation, and also subsequently less length. I used up all my two ply yarn in my swatches, and had to piece together bits for my bobbin on the page because I forgot to set aside some at the beginning.

Photo description: same fiber page with the swatches flipped up to show the hand written descriptions

I made unadorned swatches to show the texture in the yarn that was also a result of the variations in thickness. My sprang swatch blocked well and has a lovely horizontal stretch.

Photo description: sprang swatch held expanded with my fingers to show the interlinking between the strands

I would absolutely spin banana fiber again, but I think next time, I would spin thin.