I received an email today that I just have to talk about. It’s not the particular email, but the type of email I get fairly regularly.
From time to time, I sell a fully serviced vintage sewing machine on the local buy and sell. Every time I post one of these machines, I will mention that I’m selling the machine for less than the price of a tune-up. Continue reading Vintage machines – What’s a servicing worth?
You may have noticed in the previous post about tension that we didn’t even test sew the machine.
Yet. We will test sew it, but not just yet. You see what I’m trying to do is get the machine to a point where it’s in the ballpark first, then the rest is just small tweaks. The goal is to help you rule out the big problems, the ones that require repair, or in drastic situations, possibly a trip to the sewing machine spa.
Consider this statement:
Tension too tight on the top can also be tension too loose on the bottom. Top Tension too tight does not automatically mean bottom tension is too loose.Tension too loose on the top can also be tension too tight on the bottom. Top Tension too loose does not automatically mean bottom tension is too tight. Continue reading Bobbin’ Along – bobbin tension
A few weeks ago, I attended the Festival of Quilts in Edmonton. The quilts were breathtaking. For a newbie like me, possibly a little intimidating too. I know I should be inspired by them and I think I was to a large degree but there was definitely a note of intimidation there too. I must keep reminding myself that I’m new to this. I can count the time I’ve been quilting in months, not years.
While I was there, I took advantage of the fact that there were vendors there I wouldn’t normally see, and snooped like crazy. I am really proud of myself, I managed to make it out of there for less than $60, with two books and a handful of business cards for companies I may have to be in touch with. Continue reading You’re the Inspiration – Seeing it in everything
Possibly the most common reason a machine ends up on my bench is for tension. Usually bird’s nests. The thing is easily 80% of the time, there’s nothing really wrong with the machine that a repair person needs to look at it. Sometimes it’s basic maintenance, sometimes it’s because someone told you at some point “DON’T YOU TOUCH THAT! EVER!”
I’m sure that the people who’ve said that meant well, but today I’m going to show you how to manage that dial properly and what to do when it’s not proper. Continue reading Fragile Tension – Tension does not have to equal stress (Updated with a video)
I had a lady contact me about a few machines she wanted to sell.
I wasn’t interested in all of them, but 2 piqued my interest, the Singer 185J, because I knew someone who wanted it, and the Pfaff 362, because I thought it would be interesting to play with. Continue reading “Machine works and is in good condition”… really?
As I mentioned in a previous post, I intend to do a comparison between several threads to decide which I like the best for piecing and quilting. I currently have 6 of the threads that I reviewed from a cost point of view, plus one spare (Sulky) that my rep at SMS asked me about, and I’m considering picking up the last 2, just for the heck of it.
Tomorrow, I’m headed out to get a couple of rulers (they’re on sale for 70% off at the local fabric shop – who can pass that up? As an added bonus, they sell one of the two threads I’m missing for this test) and some topstitch needles so I will pop into the quilt shop at the same time and grab the MasterPiece. Over the next several weeks, I hope to review each thread, by making a set project that will require piecing, as well as quilting.
I’m thinking of using this Continue reading testing threads
I had a 301 brought to me last month. I was told that it didn’t run. That’s all I’d been told. Strangely when I plugged it in, it ran just fine. I told the owner I’d tune it up and get it back to them.
I did a basic clean up on it, then I started oiling. I started at the top the way I always do. I worked my way to the faceplate and cleaned and oiled in there. Then I turned the machine on its back and got ready to clean and oil the bottom of the machine.
As I rocked it on its back, I heard the sound of “pieces” moving around with the inertia I’d created.
Huh?
I love learning! One of the things I’ve realised about quilting and sewing in general is that you can never learn all of it. I spent a day a couple of weeks ago just watching videos from the Superior thread company (all of the videos posted on youtube)
I learned so many things that will do nothing but improve the quality of my sewing and quilting. I really want to get my hands on some of that Superior thread too! I would love to feel and see the differences for myself, but my supplier doesn’t carry it (yet) so I’ll have to spend some time looking for some to sample.
I read this in an “old” Serger book this week again. I read it probably about a year or so ago, and needed the information today. I thought it was a good enough tip to warrant publishing here to help everyone out.
From ABCs of Serging by Tammy Young and Lori Bottom:
A comment in the book, made by Sue Green-Baker Continue reading Mack the Knife – testing your serger knives
The longer I work on vintage machines, the more I find parts that I need that are no longer available. Sometimes I can get lucky and find something that works. Sometimes we have to “make” them. I thought that this blog is a great place to keep track of successful and even unsuccessful substitutions.
Successful substitutions will help people keep the machines running. Unsuccessful substitutions will at least save you guys some money, by not trying the same thing I did. 😀 Continue reading Because a change would do you good – Substitution parts
