Today I revisited my Singer 66 treadle.
I haven't treadled in a while and I thought I might use it to make my gingham shirt. It's such fun to use and stitches so beautifully. My 66 dates from 1920 and uses back-clamping feet. I own quite a few, fortunately (more than I actually use).
The only downside to the treadle is that you have to stitch a sample to see what stitch length it's set for -- there's no lever to read, but rather just an unmarked dial. Other than that, it's very straightforward.
I also spent time with some of my other machines. I've been sewing a lot on my Kenmore 158.141 lately, but today I dusted off my Singer 15-91 and played with it, replaced the light bulb on my Singer 201 and played with it too. I also hung out with my dear Bernina 930. I love them all and they all stitch beautifully; each has its own unique feel.
I got a late start today, but I did finally get my gingham shirt project off the ground. I was all set to treadle the left front button placket (where the buttonholes go) when I got cold feet and decided to use my 15-91 instead. I was too tired to pump.
As you can see, I decided against the princess seam version. I'll save that for either a solid fabric or something less geometric.
And that's it.
In ditching news, nothing yet, but there's still time! I also have a host of things to post on eBay this weekend.
Happy Friday, everybody!
Your sewing machines are lovely! Thanks for sharing! I agree about the princess seams and gingham... Could be a little too much for the eyes!
ReplyDeleteHow is it treadle sewing gingham? Does it make your head spin? I was machine quilting some black fabric with white circle dots today and I had to keep stopping and look away.
ReplyDeleteThe gingham shirt is going to be gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, a moment of collection reflection.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the prince/ss seams. You have such lovely machines! And those feet! Ditch, ditch, ditch (I'm looking at you, Patti Playpal) but you really need those lovely sewing machines.
ReplyDeleteI love to see again your 66 treadle! So beautiful and it looks brings some feeling of confort, I think. I have also a lovely treadle from the 30's and I sew all kinds of projects with it, but like you, I need to be in the mood for to treadle. It is not from Singer, but surprisinly it has yet stitch lengh lever and back stitch option!
ReplyDeleteI will keep an eye on your gingham shirt. I am about to start to sew a shirt for my hubby. The first and only one I sew was inspired by your sew-along. It his favorite shirt.
My machine:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/deapontoepronto/7226819784/
Oh gosh! That treadle machine could be my Grandma's. I still have it, though I never use it to sew. The second machine is what my Mom had, the one I learned to sew on. I'm almost homesick!
ReplyDeleteBecause of a quilt show a few weeks ago, I got the sewing bug again. This lead to looking at sewing blogs. Obviously, I ended up here! I use my treadle and hand cranks, along with my 222K, but I really do need a newer machine with a free arm. Could you blog a bit about using the 930? And, keep up the decluttering, sewing, and blogging - good for the sewl!
ReplyDeleteBack in the day, I left California (dishwasher, in-floor radiant heat, on-demand hot water) to do back-to-the-land in British Columbia. No electricity or running water, so I sewed kids' clothes, hubbie's work shirts in wool coating (it's C-O-L-D up there!), Halloween costumes, etc. on a gorgeous old Singer treadle. I still have it, and it's incredibly soothing to work the treadle. Once it starts, momentum keeps it going. I don't use it as much as I should, but when I do, I'm taken back to snow-in days in the bush.
ReplyDeleteFor your sewing machines, I think you need to go vertical. Perhaps a bookcase? Love the ditching!!
ReplyDeleteI use my treadles all the time. As a matter of fact, I put a modern Janome machine head 712T in the one cabinet. I like it . It does buttonholes and basic utility stitches. I put my computerized machine away. I just got tired of it beeping at me.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the collective noun for sewing machines? Can't be a hum, because the treadles don't.
ReplyDeleteThe shirt looks lovely - I like the use of the bias for the yoke. Will break up the gingham quite nicely.
A tangle of sewing machines perhaps?
Delete