Black box mystery

      A while back, I hinted when I bought the magical bookcase there was a black box on the floor next to it. This was the box.

A lot of you know what this is.
I can recognize it across a football field.

     I did polish it up with black shoe polish and polished the hinges before I took the photo, but still, it is pretty remarkable. You can imagine my excited anticipation when I was opening the lid. What would I find and in what condition?
    Inside was a very lovely Singer 221- the Featherweight. All the attachments. I have fixed and cleaned many of these machines for people (Sew much fun!), so I can figure out the condition pretty quickly. I came back to the store with a cord and footcontroller from one of my machines to put it through the paces before I bought it to make sure it ran well. It even had the keys for the case!!
     The Featherweight is a kind of cult sewing machine. On the positive side, it sews an absolutely perfect straight stitch due to the fine machining and rotary bobbin. It is lightweight and very simple to operate. It is a tough machine- not finicky or tempermental. They are so easily fixable and parts are easy to come by. On the downside, it has a tiny motor and is not fast, although perfect for piecing that requires slow precision like curves or paper piecing. Its light bulb must be replaced by an LED so you don't burn your wrist while sewing. Some people do not realize they can't yank the threads at the end and so bury a broken thread piece in the precision hook mechanism and blame the machine. It is so darn cute and a workhorse, what else would have lasted so many years?

     And there you have over a 70 year old machine that works like the day it was made, creating quilts and piecing memories. When I examined it, I saw it needed new cords as the flat aluminum wiring cords it had are dangerous. I ordered from the magnificent Singer-Featherweight shop, changed the cords, changed the bulb, cleaned and polished the paint and we are ready to roll with precision piecing! Black box mystery solved!

Spa Day for a 69 year old

     No, it is not me. I am not 69. It is a Singer Featherweight that I was asked to clean and make sing. I love cleaning and adjusting vintage machines. The craftsmanship and attention to detail on these machines are awe inspiring. The straight stitch on these are superior to any new one. The Singer Featherweight, the 221, is slightly underpowered compared to my 301 or 15, but it sews fantastic. I just gaze at the stitching sometimes in wonder. Any bells and whistles new machines have hold nothing to the quality of the straight stitching of the vintage. To me, it is all about the stitch. I could care less about thread cutters (I have snips), knee lifts, or automatic threaders- as a quilter is all about the stitch quality. Because of this I crave to fix and clean vintage ones to restore the glory to machines that truly revolutionized women's lives in the home. I get referrals to clean and give the spa treatment frequently and especially love restoring the 221s.
     This 221 has mold and moisture issues. The cord had to be tossed. It was so gross, I ran it out to the trash with no time for a photo. The machine had mold on the bed and inside. I was able to clean it all out and it ran like a champ. Perfect stitching.

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Befores

After

Spa Time

     No, not for me, for a sister in law of a quilting friend. Actually for her Featherweight she recently purchased. It was kind of grungy, not well cared for. Alarming was the white smoke that came out of the motor when I ran it. Yikes. I took the motor apart (thanks to Elizabeth for her great tutorial) after I found a bit small enough to get the set screw off the pulley. There was so much carbon residue in there that it looked like someone dumped a pencil sharpener in there. The one carbon brush was stuck in the tube which is why I attempted to take the motor apart. I am not usually brave enough to do that. I swabbed all the dust out, scraped it out of the grooves in the commutator, got it back together (miracle), and when it ran, it was incredibly fast for a 221!! 
     It got a new belt and an LED light bulb. It took copious elbow grease to clean the gears, polish the metal and paint. Also lots of rags.  Also cleaned the case. It looked entirely different than the beginning. I emailed the before and after photos to Carol, so I hope she likes it. 
     I get this great satisfaction to bringing an old, excellently manufactured machine back to use and looks. It sews marvelously. Ahh.

Dirty before

Oxidized, rough finish paint, partially disassembled 

Gunky gears, yuck

All pretty now! 

Look how much light that LED gives!

Clean and greased gears

Ready to sew!

Clean 221 = More fabric!

     One thing I do, that I love to do, is clean old sewing machines. Someone referred a woman to me who was given a Featherweight, Singer 221. It was in fantastic shape, but dirty and unused with a very bad cord and connections. I ordered a new belt, new power cord, a LED light bulb (people burn themselves on the 221 bulb), some Tri-flow oil and used a lot of cotton rags, wooden picks, TR3 polish, etc and the machine looks awesome. Runs wonderfully. It had all the attachments and a case that just needed cleaning. Can you believe I was so enamored that I forgot to take a photo of the gleaming machine when I was done and now it is back to its owner? Errr!

Before cleaning 

Cord and plug issues- all replaced!

    One reason, besides loving to gawk and clean machines, I do this, is to help me continue to make comfort quilts for people undergoing treatments or serious medical issues. I use fabric, batting, thread, bags, books and blank cards to make them a reality. I make them lap size, labels printed by Spoonflower, put them in a tote bag with a book on hope and a hand made card. I rely a lot on donations. Someone recently gave me 25 awesome new totes that have a logo on from a company that no longer exists that I easily cover up with patchwork pockets. I was able to buy a humongous roll of batting at wholesale price, and receive fabric scraps and larger pieces from people who hear what I do. Vicki and Gwen sent me beautiful fat quarters.
   When I give the cleaned machine back, people sometimes give me a check so I can buy more books, thread, fabric (especially backings) or postage. Sometimes they give fabric. This has helped the process keep moving forward. 
     I am so grateful to all who have helped me!
     I continue to cut scraps into set sizes, look for patterns that are simple but beautiful, and try to master my longarm. I don't keep making the same quilt pattern as I am a nutcase artist and hate production work. I hope you enjoying seeing the quilts made on my blog. I amazed at the power a quilt makes in someone's life. I constantly see it happen. If for no reason than that, I quilt. But I also quilt because I have to or my head would blow off.
    Today's Featherweight owner gave me luscious big pieces of fabric, even a whole layer cake that I can use for a veteran quilt. Thanksgiving even earlier!

More fabric to make more!! 

Back to sewing

    Last week was our annual family vacation in the ADK, around Old Forge, NY. We have been going there for a week for about 20 years. Now, my kids are grown and married but still come. My grandkids, 3 and 5, came with all my husband's siblings and their families. We canoe, hike, eat, shop, and get real tired. Internet and cell phone coverage are rather spotty. I could keep up with email and reading blogs, but that is about all. 

Part of family paddling the Moose River

My all time favorite- the water lily.
Very small and sparse this year.

   I took my Featherweight and cut bags of projects to sew and put together. Two projects were all done except for borders when I got home. Some other chain piece projects had progress made on them also.

This one was made from blocks given to me.
I added sashings and border.

An exploding square quilt, black and white with kid's prints. Yellow polka dot border to make it big enough.

Surprise presents!

   This year, I received two surprise gifts. One was from quilter that i correspond with online whom I have never met, but enjoyed friendship with her. She sent me a pincushion that is just super and practical and fun!

Just Adorable!!!!

     The second present, a total shock, even though he supports my sewing machine, um, habit, was totally unbelievable by my husband. He pulled this off with no help or hint. He had bought me a Martelli mat that I had to wait for till Christmas, but this was not in a Martelli mat box!

This is not yet polished or serviced. I did it this afternoon, but did not photo it yet. After fixing others, I have my own!!

Pretty amazing shape!!!

Catching Up

I am not sure why I find it so hard to download my photos and keep up the blog. I certainly am working on things. I admire those who keep daily blogs- just can't seem to work and blog.
  I have cleaned a friend's 301 that sat for 40 years and had issues with the tension, but finally got there. Another friend from my quilt guild gave me a Featherweight that her neighbor was going to pitch but remembered she sewed and offered it to her. In the case and everything. Very dirty. Just love bringing those beauties back to life. It is not just that vintage machines are old, but they still do a better job at sewing in their marvelous precision machined way. Every time I clean one I'm in awe at the machining, fit and finish. And the sewing quality, wow.

BEFORE

DIRTY CASE

DIRTY MOTOR

DUST CAKES

POLISHED

ALL SHINY

CLEAN CASE

READY TO GO HOME

    A new comfort quilt is ready for quilting. I used scraps that I beg from people to make the crumb blocks. All of them were sewed on my vintage Singer treadle. The rest of the quilt was sewed on my 301. I will quilt it on one of my 301s.

 

   

  One of my former students just had a baby, so I used an Eric Carle panel and made up a quilt with kid fabrics. I have to quilt it now. 

BACK PIECED

   Also, my Painted Leaf panel that I made in Rochester at a Pat Pauly class bothered me. One piece just screamed out. When I found out what was involved in ripping, I was intrepid. However, Wanda, from Exuberant Color, said to try and paint it. I did paint it with Jacquard dyna-flow paints and it worked. Now I have to figure out a border and backing, but no ripping! You can compare it with one earlier, it is the 4th yellow big piece from the bottom.