The cleaning and oiling of the sewing machine head is done

I have spent the last few days cleaning the machine.  It has been quite the job but very satisfying when it was done.  I was hoping to make it like brand new again but that was an impossible dream, after all it is approx 100 years old.  This model was made between 1910 and 1920.  Some of the metal is pitted and some of the paintwork has chips out of it.

I found the best polish was the wadding type, in the UK it was known as Duraglit, here it is called Never Dull.  I also bought a bag of soft rags which were such a big help and they left no lint.

I couldn't get the throat plate off despite oiling the screw many times but I was able to dig out a boat load of compressed lint from around the jaggety things that move the fabric along (whose name eludes me right now!)  Feed dogs! I remembered 10 minutes later.

                       Here are some before pictures:-

And some after ones:-

In the process of doing this the household became quite chaotic.  I did it inside so that I wasn't abandoning my husband for hours on end while he is poorly.  I did do a bit of tidying up this afternoon.

 Next I have to work on the cabinet so it will have to go to the workshop for that,

The belt I ordered for it came today and I am itching to try it but I want to repair the cabinet first. 

I had a mental block on how to seat the shuttle into the machine but after watching a couple of you tube videos I found out how to do it.  Another example off 'it's simple when you know how'! 

We have a hospital trip coming up Wednesday so won't get anything done that day.

I am the world's worst photographer so please excuse the poor quality of the pictures.

Upwards and onwards!

Restoring the treadle sewing machine is underway

I am going to try and document the restoration of this treadle machine and cabinet. Hopefully I will update regularly.

We traveled on Wednesday to the house in Kansas City to meet them at 5pm.  We set out early which was just as well as we were held up for some time because of an accident.  Always hate to see those. There were police cars, ambulances and fire trucks all with sirens going so it was pretty bad.  We arrived dead on 5pm.

There was some difficulty opening it up which was a bit unnerving but the guy got it open and the machine all seemed to be intact, even the shuttle and a bobbin were still in it.  The wheel turned and the spindle went up and down. The back lever raised and lowered the foot. The belt was broken which was expected from the pictures. The treadle peddle turned the treadle wheel.  From these observations I was hopeful that I could get it running.

I paid the man the $75 and he lifted into our van for us and tethered it down with seat belts and some bungy cords.  We drove home in the dark which I don't like but it was worth it.

We were totally exhausted by the time we got back home so I just left it in the back of the van until yesterday morning,

We unloaded it and got it into the house. I had the same difficulty with getting it open. I finally managed it and had chance to look it all over.

I printed up the manual which I found online and found out how to take the machine off the base. (Amazing how easy things are when you know how!)

The problem with it opening was a piece of metal on the inside which it slides up when the top is opened. It had come loose at the bottom so was above the level of the piece of the frame that goes over it so was getting caught preventing the lid to open.  There is a chain that is attached to the lid and to the mechanism underneath that raises and lowers the machine. It is really quite clever how it works.

I secured it down with a screw and it works without the machine in it, the test will be when I put the machine back in it.  But first it has to be cleaned and oiled.

I think that this had been a problem for some time because the back of the frame where the machine sits was cracked as I suspect people had strained to get it open.

We discussed how to remedy this as the frame was weakened by the crack and we decided that a piece of metal underneath with two holes in for the hinges that connect the machine to the frame to go through should remedy it.  Also I will glue the wood to strengthen it too.  I was looking underneath this morning to see what size of metal we would need and it looks like someone had tried to fix it before as there is a small strip of metal attached with screws which span the crack.  This has stopped the frame from actually breaking completely but I believe our plan will be even better.

The piece of metal with the indentation is the repair that someone had done previously.  The other piece of metal is where the raising mechanism is attached so has to remain intact.

The top of the lid needs sanding right down and re-staining and sealing and a few other places need some work but I don't think I will have to rub it all down which is a blessing.

I found some excellent links on the internet and some great videos on how to clean and oil these old machines. I need to get some metal cleaner and polish.  The metal is pretty dull and underneath the rods have dried gungy oil on them so that all needs to be cleaned off.  How on earth did we manage before the internet?..............but we did.

I really need to get it out into the shop to work on it but that means I would be out there for hours at a time and my poor husband and the dogs would be neglected as I really immerse myself into doing this type of thing.

The bobbin winder works and I will give it a good cleaning

I am bidding on a spare shuttle on ebay and have ordered a new belt.  I will also order some new bobbins.

To say I am excited is an understatement.  I am so happy, happy happy!

A bit of excitement yesterday and today and maybe this will get my mojo going again!

This is at least about thinking about making things.  I have been looking forever for a hand crank or treadle sewing machine.  I know, I know, I already have three electric machines (well four actually if you take into account the one stashed away in the workshop) but I want a machine I can use if (heaven forbid) we lose power on a long term basis.

There seems to be quite the demand for those and prices have been more than I am able to pay or they are in such a bad condition that it would cost an awful lot to restore them.

So yesterday, I abandoned my searches on ebay and Shopgoodwill and turned to Craig's list.  There were a lot off machines for sale both hand crank and treadle and most in the $200 or more range.  But nestling within them all was one for $75.  It wasn't a Singer which is what I had been looking for. The brand name is Franklin.

First of all I had to see if it was still for sale as it had been listed 15 days previously so I sent of a reply email to them.  Within a short time I got a reply that it was indeed still for sale.

It is located in Kansas City about 115 miles away. So that is doable.

The seller didn't know if it was working, it was his mother's who had passed away and the family didn't need the machine.

So I set into action to research about the machine.

Where would we be without google eh?

Franklin was the model name of the machine that Sears Roebuck sold.  It was made about 1911.

The "Franklin", manufactured by the Domestic Sewing Machine Company of Buffalo, NY, was introduced in 1911. An almost exact copy of the Singer Model 27/127, it uses the same shuttle,bobbin, needle.

That means Singer parts will fit and are available.  Woopee!!!!!

I even found a copy of the original manual and operating instructions online and downloaded it.

I expect it will need a good cleaning and oiling and the cabinet needs some TLC but I am pretty good at restoring old furniture.  For sure it will need a new belt and maybe a shuttle and bobbins.

We are going to see it and buy it this afternoon, we are meeting the sellers at their home at 5pm.

I am so excited I can't keep still.

 

Absolutely nothing, zilch or nada!

My making things mojo has gone into hibernation.  There are some mitigating circumstances but can't blame it all on those.

My husband is not very well at all.  We spent three days last week in the hospital after he was life flighted from one ER to another on a stroke protocol.  Luckily, it wasn't a stroke.....well it might have been but the neuro doctors and the cardio ones couldn't agree so we took the better option of 'it wan't a stroke'

But what is it then?  He has these episodes at night where his body shakes quite violently then subsides but sometimes they roll one after another.  He has many things going on healthwise, neurological, cardio and diabetes.  But they don't know what is causing the episodes which are pretty scary for both of us.

So with all that going on I have not felt like making anything.  I have slowed down on the reading too, I think I was using it as an escape mechanism.

The dogs are doing great, Boris has perked up with our daily walks now that the weather is better and Maggie just likes any excuse to run around like a loonie.  The walking is good for me too.  We are blessed to have the land to walk on and the dogs can run free. One day we will have to up and sell but we are hanging on as long as we can.

My husband is keeping himself busy on his computer.  He is trying to get it to run better and use a different operating system.  This has been thwart with problems but it is keeping his brain active even if his body is not doing so well.

I watched all of the Superbowl on Sunday night, he gave up halfway as his team was leading by a lot. I was hoping for my team to have a come back and they did and won, it was a very exciting second half.

But no knitting or sewing or leatherwork happening.  Hoping for some inspiration soon.........

I got this gift for Christmas and it's like I have to live up to it!

A day without reading is like.....just kidding. I have no idea

In recent years we have spent Christmas day with our neighbours.  They always have a big family gathering at their place and we get invited along.  It is always so much fun. Last year, sadly, our good friend Keith died leaving Cynthia a widow. They still had the family gathering and it was a little sad with Keith not being there but as he loved Christmas so much the family carried on with the tradition and we all had a good time. The two daughter's made these mugs and gave one to me and one to Cynthia as we are both avid readers.  Since I got it though it is like I have become totally obsessed with reading.  (I am a bit of an all or nothing type person!) Anyway, this past week common sense prevailed and after reading the last three books of a 16 part series and a 1200+ page trilogy I have not started another book..........yet!

I did make a waist slip for myself yesterday.  I had purchased some thin black silky fabric a while ago to do this and yesterday I got up to my sewing room and made it.  Just a plain slip and very simple to make.  I french-seamed the sides, hemmed the top and bottom and ran elastic through the top.  Quick and easy and fully functional.  

Getting the itch to go out to the workshop and do some leatherwork.  The really cold weather has gone for the time being so maybe this coming week.

On the down side, my husband isn't doing too well right now.  I will be writing about that in my other blog.

Click here for other blog

Yea, back to the land of the living!

We made a trip to NJ on the 26th to visit with family for a week.  Well, they had all had an attack of the stomach heebie jeebies and guess who caught it?  Not the one with the compromised immune system, which is a good thing, but I came down with it with a vengeance.  We had to delay our flight home by a day and then it was touch and go, but I made it without any expulsions, thank goodness.

So I have been feeling a bit sorry for myself but today I feel good for which I am thankful.

Before we left I started on a hand knitted stocking cap for myself, it's a bit thicker than my other ones and it is pretty darned cold here right now.

I finished it last night and have been using when taking the dogs out and it is nice and warm around my ears.

You might wonder why I am wearing a summer dress when it is so cold but my husband feels the cold so badly that we have to crank up the heat for him so I wear summer clothes and he wears three layers and we can co habit nicely that way.

We only put up a little Christmas tree this year as the space where our usual one went got taken up with a big screen TV.  It was a cute tree though and I had all my hand made ornaments on it.

So upwards and onwards and looking forward the the rest of 2017 and I hope it will be a great year for everyone.

A very Merry Christmas

Tis Christmas Eve, afternoon, and as old as I am I still get excited about Christmas.

I want to wish everyone who reads my blog a Very Merry Christmas.

I am not the most prolific poster of entries but I check in on my blog list every single day and read all the new posts.  I love reading them, my blogger friends are a big part of my life and I am grateful to be able to have a look into their lives.

Keep blogging my friends!

Just in time for the freeze the Love blanket is finished

A long time in the making but it is finally done and on the bed.  It has turned really cold here so a timely finish.  It's not like we don't have plenty of bedding but it's nice to be able to use this blanket finally.

I couldn't have made it much longer as the corners would drag on the floor if I did.  I am sure it will stretch out a bit anyway.

If there was a next time I would make it in 4 sections then join it up as it really was too big to work on at the end.

Will need a new sitting down and watching TV project now.

Going to concentrate on Christmas next. Last year when I got my Sizzix machine I was fully intending to make all my Christmas cards this year but that fell by the wayside.  I usually am more productive in the summer months but this year we got caught up with the camper to blind conversion which took all summer.  I did make a fair amount of Christmas tree ornaments though so I did do some Christmas stuff throughout the year and of course the blingy pink stocking!  It arrived in England and my daughter loves it and it is hanging up on her fireplace waiting for Santa to come and fill it.

Maybe next year for the cards............

The Pink blingy stocking is done!

I finished the Christmas  stocking for my daughter, I will be mailing it off next week for her along with three felt Christmas tree decorations I made for my grandkids.  They are all grown and working now but I thought they would still like them, they can keep them as a keepsake of their Nanna.

I am pleased with how the stocking turned out, I hope it is what she had in mind.

I don't have any immediate plans to make anything else except maybe some leatherwork now that my leather workbench is clear again after the camper renovation.

Slowly getting back into the swing

We finished doing the camper to hunting blind renovation just over a week ago.  It was an almost four month full time project and with that and the usual household chores I didn't get much crafting done.

For the first week afterwards I was sort of numb!  I didn't do much at all, I was quite physically and emotionally drained.

This week however I am eager to get going again.

I have started on my daughter's Christmas stocking.  She made a request for a large bright pink one covered in bling a couple of years ago and this year I decided to get on and make one.  She is 45 lol but she has really never asked me to make her anything before so I am more than happy to do it.  I found a free pattern on Craftsy and downloaded it and bought some hot pink fleece and some white for the cuff.  I have a carton of bling I can dig through to sew on the outside and bought some bling on a roll to put around the cuff.  I also bought some little sparkly ornaments which I will add if needed.  I had some hot pink dotty fabric for the lining so pink she asked for and pink she will get!

I did also make another couple of felt Christmas tree ornaments last week, something I can do in the evenings when sitting down.

So in the words of Arnie......I'm back!  Although I really never went away just got so invested in the renovation thing and we were under pressure to get it done ready for hunting season this year.

Check out my other blog if you are interested in reading about the camper.

from one day to the next one

Using my crafting skills

I haven't been posting much lately as I have been busy on a project outside with my husband.  If you read my other blog you know we acquired an old camper which we thought would be an easy job to convert to a hunting blind for my husband.........wrong!!!!

I have realised though that it is really just like doing crafts but on a bigger scale.  Making windows, repairing the outer shell, replacing timbers, foam insulating, laying floors etc. all involves measuring and cutting out and covering up.  So I have enjoyed doing some of the things myself and helping out on others.

The worst part was gutting it, it was horrible!!!  There were mice nests in the ceiling and walls and mud dobber nests everywhere and the furniture and fixtures were old and dirty and smelly. Yuk!

But we are getting there now.  The outside, we hope, is all repaired and the windows are all made and in. We think we have all the leaks fixed around the windows, that has been quite the challenge. The inside is getting insulated and covered.  The stands and tables have all been made and are in.  The window props were all made from recycled steel we had. My husband is a wood man not a metal one but he has fashioned these things wonderfully.  Also he has done all the camouflaging of the outside. He still has to finish it but it is well on the way.

We are still a long way from being fully finished but there is an end in sight now.  We are taking a break for a few days though as he has just plain worn himself out. He is 72 in a couple of weeks and has a chronic auto immune disease that attacks his muscles and nerves and this project has got the better of him.

I haven't been taking pictures regrettably so there aren't any to put up but will take some when it is all done.

We had to stop one day last week and go to the doctors as I had a bad attack of dizziness and nausea, turns out I had an inner ear infection.  Antibiotics were prescribed and I am OK now.  Had other routine tests done too and all is good but I have to say that prepping for  a colonoscopy is not fun! The procedure is done under general anesthetic so you have no idea what is going on but the prep is 'orrible!

Hopefully it won't be as long between posts next time.

Still not much going on in my crafting world but........

Another couple of weeks of hardly any crafting. We have had hospital and doctor's appointments to attend and hot weather to contend with. This summer has been long and very hot and I have been feeling pretty yuk lately, not to mention fighting a raging infection for which I now have antibiotics. The humidity has really aggravated the arthritis and some days I am so stiff and sore.

Enough of the excuses.

On the brighter side I did receive a beautiful gift from my blogger friend Kim. She is the lady making 60 gifts to send to people to celebrate her 60th year.  I am poaching her pictures of what she sent me and what I sent her as I forgot to take pictures.  Her work is amazing and very intricate. My work is less delicate I'm afraid.

I sent her some of my leather-work (a key ring, a wristband and a bookmark) and a Christmas tree ornament and some doilies my mother in law crocheted. The bookmark wasn't my best work but I really hate to waste things so I blinged it up to distract from the imperfections in the patterning.

She made this gorgeous bracelet and sent some fabric, embroidery thread and a little needle felting kit.  I had never heard of needle felting so was not sure what I was supposed to do to turn the stuff that resembled candy floss into a cute little penguin.

Swarovski Crystal Bracelet

The instructions were included so I set about transforming it by poking it over and over with a barbed needle that was included. Thankfully they also provided a foam board so I could put it behind it and avoid poking myself although I did get poked a few times.

Once in the swing it was great fun and very therapeutic for this old lady feeling sorry for herself.

Here is a photo our daughter in law recently sent of our youngest grand daughter wearing one of the dresses I made earlier this year. She is growing so fast.

The doctor upped my medication to help with the arthritis, prescribed antibiotics and renewed the blood pressure meds.  I am beginning to feel better thankfully and I think there will only be one more week of temperatures in the high 80's to contend with so life should get better hereon in.

Hopefully my next post will be more positive.

Well what can I say, sometimes other things take precedence!

I have done a little crafting in as much as the granny square blanket is growing and I finished a couple of other things for a belated birthday gift.  Cannot disclose details as the recipient hasn't opened the package yet, she has been away from home babysitting her grandson.  Besides, I forgot to take photos before I mailed them off. Duh!

This lady has undertaken to do 60 random acts of kindness (gifts) and send them out to celebrate her 60th year.  I have to applaud her as I know I couldn't make that commitment. Her work is exquisite and her gifts are beautiful.

My time has been taken up with an outside project which is taking a lot longer than we envisioned, hence the lack of craftwork.

Can't see a lot getting done in the crafting world in the next few weeks either sadly!

An update on the crochet granny square blanket and some more silky drawers

Despite our dog Boris's recent "Geez Mum it's been nearly a year since you started it" comment on his blog, progress is slowly being made on the granny square blanket. He's a cheeky one that Boris!

This blanket is going to be the winter top cover on our king sized bed so it is super huge. The top is all made and I am working on the skirt part that hangs over the sides.  It is taking a lot of rounds.  I am on the ninth one and have used 4 x 7oz hanks of yarn already.  I need some more so will pick it up next time I am in town.  I expect I will have to buy at least 6 more. This is our 'love' blanket so it is sort of special. I haven't been able to match the yellow yet, I really want to finish the edge with it. Hopefully I will be able to find something close.  It is the centre colour on all the granny squares so I think it will finish it nicely with the edge being the same colour.

It is still very hot here so I decided to have a rummage through my fabric stash and make another pair of shorts, aka silky drawers in our house.  (What can I say? my hubby likes them lol).  I would never wear them out in public but for around the house they are very cool and comfy.  I learned from the other pair I made that the pockets needed to be lower and more in the front so I did that with this pair.

My birthday present of the new chair actually arrived on my birthday which was a lovely surprise as it wasn't supposed to.  It is great.  So comfortable and the height control hydraulics work effortlessly. I am very happy with it.  I didn't put the arms on as I need it to tuck under my desk when not in use or it would be in the way.

So a pretty productive craft week for me.  I read other blogs and the writers seem to be able to accomplish much more than me but that's OK, I am happy that I can do what I do.

Not much crafting at all but a lot of other stuff!

So, these past weeks have been better, I haven't done much crafting at all but we have been busy doing other things which you can read about in my other blog if you are interested. Just click on the sentence below and it will take you there.

Doing things out in the workshop and outside

I did sit and make a gingerbread Christmas ornament one day. I don't think he looks too handsome though.  I haven't quite found the solution for the faces yet.

My husband bought me some nice new gel pens for experimenting with the leather colouring.

Also, it is my birthday next week and he has bought me a new leather swivel chair for my sewing room.  It hasn't arrived yet but I am excited to be getting it.  One of the problems I was having is that my chair up there was too low.  This one goes higher and is really strong so the hydraulics shouldn't go out on it like it did my other one.  It wouldn't raise up so I had 4 pillows on it to make myself higher and then I was wobbly on it.

Yay, Happy Birthday to me!

Experimenting with more leather colouring

After making the belt the idea of colouring some of our leatherwork became appealing.

I have made a keyring for my daughter as she has an affinity with dragonflies and coloured it.  I will be mailing it off this week for her to try out and see how the colours stand up to everyday use.

Not done anything else this week in the way of making things, I am in another bit of a craft funk!

Hopefully I will get out of it soon.

The dresses were too big but that's OK cos she'll grow into them, the finished belt and a patchwork pillow made entirely by my 8 year old grand daughter.

The visit with the family was wonderful.  The house was very large and accommodated us all perfectly.  The dresses I made for our littlest grand daughter are too big but will fit her when she is two. (Not really surprising as I made size 2 lol).  Sometimes babies wear a bigger size but she is not a big baby.  She is gorgeous and a joy.  She is so happy and would say 'hi Nanna' and wave at me and I would wave back, so adorable.

Our daughter in law loved the belt.  We had to get a buckle when we were there at the Tandy store which was about 12 miles away. 2" buckles are not plentiful but we found a really nice Al Stohlman one for it there.  I took tools to finish it off and it was a good job I took my individual hole punches as the prong on the belt was quite large and there were not any holes big enough on my rotary hole punch.  The belt is as wide as the belt loops which is what she wanted and still a little stiff even though we conditioned it over and over so I suspect that it will take a bit of time to break in.

They requested that I take a sewing machine with us as our elder grand daughter who is nearly nine wanted to do a project.  She is really getting into sewing and made an absolutely beautiful dress for herself at sewing camp.  She really is a great little dressmaker/machinist and I am sure in time she will far surpass me with her projects.

She wanted to try some patchwork quilting.  I had some pre cut squares and cut some more the same size for her.  She decided what she wanted to make, chose the squares to use, laid it out how she wanted it and sewed it all together. I just had to show her how to use the machine and tell her what she needed to do.  She did perfect 1/4" seams and they all matched when she sewed them together. She is a perfectionist and likes to do good work.  She made this little pillow for her baby sister.

Afterwards, she and I watched Grease together so a double bonus.

She has plans to make her some stuffed toys in the future for her little sister and I am sure they will be amazing too.

If I had brains I would be dangerous!

I just did a big post for this blog about a leather belt we have made this week then thought I had lost it.  I was distraught as I am battling time today as we are off for a few days tomorrow and needed to get all packed ready.

Common sense prevailed and I checked my other blog and I had posted it on there. Not knowing how to move the post here is the link.

A full week of working went into this belt

I made me some silky drawers!

Not wanting to sound profane but the shorts I made are quite silky and the line from a song out of the movie Grease keeps running through my mind when I see them.

"Take your filthy paws of my silky drawers, would you try that crap with Annette?"

(Grease was and still is a favourite movie of mine and I have watched it many, many times and know all the words to the songs.  Haven't watched it recently though).

I rummaged through my stash of inherited fabrics and found what I made the shorts from. It would not have been any fabric I would have chosen myself but hey, it was just sitting there so there was nothing to lose.

When I first cut them out two of the pieces had holes in them.  Not sure how, don't think it could have been moths because it is a polyester fabric and I don't think moths like it plus the container was airtight, anyway I had enough to cut out replacement pieces. I added a couple of patch pockets so I could carry my phone and keys in them.  I just kind of cobbled them together, unlike the sun dresses and shorts I had just made which I tried to do as professionally as possible.

There is quite a lot more of different fabrics too so I can run up some loose skirts and more shorts for the summer but not for a couple of weeks.  We are getting ready to meet up with family next weekend to spend a week with them.

Meanwhile, still working on the granny square blanket which has now been named 'the love blanket' because if and when anything happens to either of us the other will have the blanket to snuggle under and keep warm.

The sun dresses and shorts ( the baby ones anyway) are all done!

I just finished making them today, I am happy how they have turned out.

I think they will be very versatile.  The sun dresses can be worn with or without the shorts and with or without a little t shirt underneath and the shorts can be worn with just a little t shirt too.

Now I just hope they fit!

And still a lot of work in progress!

I have been working on the sundresses....a lot!  I have realised it takes me so much longer to do anything these days than it did even 10 years ago.

I have always been a plodder but I could do a lot of plodding in a day once upon a time. I could go from one plod to the next. But these days I have to rest in between and some days I am just not up for much plodding at all.

So, one sundress is all but done and the other is close behind. Then I will have the bloomers to make but I might just leave them as shorts as I have no idea how chunky our grand daughter's legs are.  I will make them as shorts and consult with my daughter in law when we see them in a couple of weeks.

I didn't document making them this time which is just as well as I made a couple of boo boos along the way but all is good now.  I wouldn't use this pattern again, the flounce has not been that easy to do.  I thought it would be a quick simple make but that hasn't been the case.

The blanket is coming along, it takes forever to do a round on it now as it is so big but it is simple going and I can do it in the evenings.

I have so many other things I want to make.  I desperately need some loose baggy shorts for round the house.  I have two pairs of shop bought ones that I have worn for about 8 years but they are falling apart.  I will use them as a guide to make some more as they are nice and loose and baggy, perfect for the very hot weather we are having right now. I wouldn't wear them out in public but for round the homestead here they are great.

So pictures later this week, hopefully, on the grandbaby's sundresses and shorts.