Tag: sewing

Beginning cleaning

On By CarynIn Craft, repair

My husband and I removed the sewing machine head from the base (there were two small set screws that were not seized) of my Singer model 27-3 sewing machine so I could start the cleaning process.

Photo Description: Antique, worn, and dirty sewing machine head on cardboard on a work table.

I’m following the advice in the book “Treadle Sewing Machines: Clean and Use an Iron Lady” by Donna Kohler. I have also found digital scans of the owners manual and an adjusters manual for a 127-128, which I’m told by YouTube is close enough to my 27. I’m photo documenting as much as I can along the way. I’m also not in a rush, this is going to take some time, so the machine has a dedicated table in the craft room and I’ll post about interesting observations along the way.

My first discovery was that the previous user of the machine didn’t remove old thread on the bobbins before winding on new thread, which blows my mind. I see how it would save time in the short term, not unwinding, but it reduces the amount of space for new thread, so the bobbin has to be wound more often. An interesting choice for certain. Some of the bobbins had four different colors of thread.

Photo description: Long bobbin wrapped with green thread over blue thread.

To give you an idea of the level of grime I’m dealing with, past the spider webs and mud-dauber nests, below is a photo of the underside of the needle plate. To remove the needle plate I needed to add PB Blaster and let it sit for about five minutes, then the screw backed out smoothly. Underneath was a build up of lint, oil, and dirt.

Photo description: Round area around the feed dogs where the needle plate was removed, with brown dried oil stains and a thick build up of lint.

There are YouTube videos of machines in worse states. I know this one was well used, and I want to keep as much of the patina as I can. The black finish flakes off when it is touched, so I need to be very careful not to remove what decoration is left. This will definitely be an ongoing project, and I’ll post about interesting things as I find them.

Mending

On By CarynIn Craft
Photo description: Partially repaired ripped inside pocket of worn Levi’s jeans with white thread woven through the fabric to secure on left side, and the needle inserted halfway.

My husband’s Levi’s jeans had a front pocket failure: the inside pocket fabric ripped where it was worn from use. The jeans themselves are still in good condition, so to mend the pocket I wove thread across the rip to strengthen the weak fabric as well as to close the hole. Using a whip stitch wouldn’t last long because the edges of the fabric are worn and are more likely to rip again. By weaving across the opening, the new thread extends into sound fabric, and it should hold longer.

When the time is right

On By CarynIn Craft, repair

I have recently moved my craft supplies into a new space. I did have everything in one side of a master closet with a small work bench. I’m not sure how I fit it all in that space, as it now fills a regular bedroom. No pictures yet, I’m still sorting and evaluating, but I have setup three folding tables, and decided I had room for a fourth. Before I could go buy another folding table, I spot a working treadle sewing machine for sale for $50. Hm. I’ve actually wanted one of these for a long time, but either didn’t have the car space, or the floor space, or the money (restored sewing machines can be pricey). But at that moment I had the space, and I had the cash. I bought it and my husband helped me fetch it. There is a reason it was reasonably priced. It was stored in a feed room in a barn. Yup. But the wheel turns. The owner bought it from the original owner a few years back (I’ll let you do the math here in a moment), but didn’t get around to using it. It had a bag of parts that went with it, and I’m still counting the wasp nests that hitched a ride. It is living in the garage until I can do a basic clean.

Treadle sewing machine that has seen much use and neglect

I found the serial number and looked it up. This machine is a model 27 and on May 1, 1907, 70,000 machines were allotted. So it is 116 years old and I am the third owner. Hm. It definitely needs some TLC and oil. My plan is not to restore it to new, I rather like patina and that it shows its age, but I will remove the rust, stabilize what I can, and see if I can get it functioning well. This should keep me occupied as the kids head off to school. Oh, and I’ll post updates of course.

Beginning collection of wasp nests

Litter box privacy

On By CarynIn Cats, Craft

We’ve moved Sophie the cat into a new room with her human. To provide her all she needs, without having to deal with the kitten, she has a litter box as well as food, water, and a climbing tree. The litter box was a little too open for her though, so my eldest suggested we make a box to go over it to give her some privacy.

PVC frame for the litter box cover, with Thor the kitten inside

We started by taking measurements, then making a PVC frame. We already had the 1/2” PVC pipe and the socket tees, so it was just a matter of cutting to size. Thor the kitten was particularly found of sitting inside the “box” even if it was only an outline. We purchased 2 yards of household fabric, which is thicker than calico fabric or quilting fabric. To keep the cover in place, I made button tabs that wrap around the bottom pipe.

Button tab attached to the bottom of the cover

To make the opening, I cut an “X” into the corners of a rectangle, folded back the flaps and sewed double fold seam binding around the edges of the hole.

Cover with opening and Thor peeking through

To test the fit and hold, I put Thor on the top. He thought the hammock was so comfy he settled down for an hour nap. While he was cuddled up, Izzy the cat and Missy the dog also explored the new object.

Thor on the box, Izzy in the box, Missy looking into the box
Litter box privacy cover installed

We had to remove Thor from the top of the box to install it in the final location. My eldest reported the next morning that the offering was appreciated; Sophie went in to do her business. Success.

Black out curtain

On By CarynIn Craft, Life Hack

We have blackout curtains in all the bedrooms, but my youngest has high anxiety about fireworks and thunderstorms. She doesn’t wear her hearing aids at night, so usually can’t hear but the loudest rumble, but she can see the light flash around the blackout curtains, even without her glasses. I wedged a cardboard box in the window as a temporary fix, but we needed a better long-term solution. I knew that blackout fabric was something purchasable, but I didn’t know that Velcro had the rest of the solution. Velcro produces a household product that has one side of their hook and loop with a strong adhesive, and the other side without glue for sewing, perfect for attaching blackout fabric to a window.

Soft side of the velcro sewn to blackout fabric
Cutting down the hard side of the Velcro to fit the window frame
Adhesive velcro installed on the window frame
Sheet of blackout fabric installed in the window with the ecru side in, white side out

Velcro didn’t mess around with this product. It is one of the strongest hook and loops I’ve encountered. Our customer service person cutting the Velcro put it together before cutting. Next time, I will ask for the two parts to be cut separately. So sticky. My window frame is a half-inch, and the Velcro was 3/4”, so I had to cut the hard side down to fit. There is still some light that creeps through, but paired with the hanging curtain, it is dark as pitch in the room. Except for the light coming from the closet, which also has a window. I have another curtain to sew.