I like making things: Some more progress on the treadle machine cabinet

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Some more progress on the treadle machine cabinet

Yesterday I got the metal support pieces in place. The theory of one strip of metal went by the way because of the apparatus to raise the machine that is also attached to the back of the frame. On the plus side, the two pieces of metal that my husband cut to attach the clamps on to when I glued it were the perfect size to use. I marked where the holes needed to go and he drilled them out on the drill press for me. That was a not so strenuous job that he could do without getting out of breath. I had to round the back of them on the grinder so the frame would go down properly and in true clumsy fashion I ground my finger too. I then attached them to the frame and bolted in the brackets in that hold the machine in the frame.

Today I cut the veneer and ironed it on and my husband tried out some stain to see how close we could get it to match the existing wood.

Tomorrow I have to trim the veneer and shape it round around the curved corners then start on the staining. I think it will take several coats to get it close.

After the stain has dried for a day or two I will put the varnish (seal) on it. I have a couple of spots to touch up also with stain then I will give the cabinet a good clean and polish and oil the treadle mechanism then I should be able to try it out.

That might not be until the middle of next week though as Sunday we have to go to Columbia so we can be at the VA for 7.30am Monday morning. We will stay Monday night too because we have an appointment on Tuesday morning there too plus they may keep him overnight on Monday after they do the cardiac cath.

I also tried to scalp myself today. I thought I would blow off the cabinet and metal frame to get any loose dust of it. Instead of doing the proper thing and turning on the air compressor I picked up the leaf blower and turned it on to blow the cabinet off with. Well, I hadn't tied back my hair and it got sucked into the air intake on the blower. Pretty scary and it pulled out some of my hair. Nothing too drastic thankfully!

2 comments:

Carol- Beads and BirdsFebruary 24, 2017 at 9:56 AM
OMGosh. One of our channels has an ad for a program I don't watch. It shows a woman who gets her long hair caught in the paper shredder. Your last paragraph reminded me of that commercial. Just so you know, I am not laughing. But it also reminds me of when my daughter was little and I was cleaning corners of the carpet with the wand extension for the vacuum. She stuck the wand to her forehead. She had a Hickey on her forehead for WEEKS! We called it her third eye. LOL. THAT was a funny memory.

Keeping you and Jet in my prayers that all goes well at the VA.
xx, Carol
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As in the words of Thumper: If you can't say 'nuffin nice don't say 'nuffin at all.

Glad you stopped by

I started this blog in 2011: Ever since my Mum taught me to knit at the age of about six or seven I have made things. Back then it was doll clothes. I was also inspired by Mrs Levitt an elderly lady who had a sewing room in a conservatory type room on the back of her house. I would sit and watch her in awe as she sewed.

When I was a child living in England the school system was such that you started at 5 years, did two years in Infant School, then four years in Primary School then five to seven years in Secondary School, depending on whether you chose to stay on after fifth form to get qualifications to go to University. I can't remember much of the Infant school other than making the standard square doily thingy from fabric that had holes in it so you could embroider patterns into it. A bit like the modern day cross stitch fabric but with bigger holes and spaces to make it easy for small hands to use. I also remember with great joy getting a toy sewing machine one Christmas which sewed only chain stitch but I did make doll clothes on it and that was before I started Primary school. I do have very vivid recollections of Primary school and having sewing and knitting lessons. In Primary school I knitted gloves and made a dress from scratch hand sewing it all.

Secondary school continued on with sewing by which time I had progressed to using full sized sewing machines and was making more intricate skirts and dresses. My parents bought me a proper sewing machine when I was thirteen. I used that same machine right up until I emigrated to Canada at age forty six years.

I have always had a fascination for sewing machines and knitting machines. I bought my first knitting machine at around age twenty one from an ad in a newspaper for twelve pounds. I had absolutely no idea what one was just that I wanted one. I trundled on the bus to the address in the advert and handed over my twelve pounds having absolutely no idea what I had really bought. Fortunately it came with a manual. It was an aged Knitmaster, very basic and I loved it. I wore it out. Next was a Brother push button one which I didn't keep because it was at a time in my life when things were difficult. Later on in my life, around forty, when things were better I bought a brand new Brother punchard machine with a ribber attachment. I loved it and made many things. Life took a different turn, I moved countries twice and along the way, regrettably I sold it.

Now, through the universe's blessing I now have another machine. It is a vintage one because they stopped making them early 90's but works perfectly and I love it. So I decided to make this blog to document my knitting progress and include sewing projects.

In 2013: we embarked on a new hobby, leather-work. My husband got started with it and it drew me in. It is something we can do together. We have a workshop so have plenty of room to work. We added another workbench for me to work on in 2013. We already had one but we were tripping over each other both trying to work at it. We only make things we want to make. It is strictly a hobby. We made some things for our good neighbours who help us out a lot. I am also working on Christmas presents. So this blog now incorporates the leather-work. Knitting and sewing will always be my first love though.

Fast forward to 2023 and now age almost 75 years. I have seven sewing machines, four knitting machines, several ribber attachments and a garter carriage for one of the machines. I am blessed beyond words, but I know that I have more than enough machines to keep me going in my lifetime so I don’t think I will be adding to my collection any time soon……….unless a nice embroidery machine manifests itself very cheaply.

I am a Brit living in the USA, sometimes I spell like a Brit and sometimes like an American. Sometimes I use slang and even make grammatical errors. I blog for the pleasure of it and to record my endeavours in the event that my memory fades, as I am sure it will with more age. I will be able to look back and remind myself of the things I have made along the way. So please forgive my mistakes when reading about my life making things here in the hinterlands and I hope you get as much enjoyment from my blog as I do from reading the blogs I follow.

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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Some more progress on the treadle machine cabinet

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