Home Again + TWO New Sewing Machines!

Friends, you can exhale -- I'm back!

We had a lovely time in Provincetown, MA, where we ate lobster, swam, read, and just relaxed. 

We heard octogenarian songbird Marilyn Maye perform and she was terrific --AND we sat three rows behind -- no joke -- Bob Mackie!

If you follow me on Instagram, you've likely seen enough chihuahua photos to last a lifetime, but it was fun posting there in real time.  I'm very sold on Instagram!

Now, onto the BIG news: I have TWO new (to me) sewing machines in my life.  Well, one isn't quite in my life yet since it won't be delivered till Wednesday, but it is very close.  It's an Elna Grasshopper I won last week on eBay and this time I'm hoping for a smooth transaction, unlike my last Elna drama.  Perhaps some of my longtime readers are wondering if I hadn't already owned an Elna Grasshopper.  The answer is, yes, but in a fit of overzealous decluttering a few years ago, I sold it.  It's one of the few sewing machines that I've wanted to replace -- actually, the only one. 

Meanwhile, today at the flea market I stumbled upon this:



No, I didn't buy the stuffed hen in the basket, but just minutes later I saw this:



Now you know that I love those black Singer 15's -- they're great machines.  This one, it seems, is a 15-30.  It probably originally came with a larger spoked handwheel for treadling, and I'm guessing the owner had it replaced with a smaller wheel and had the machine wired into its current wooden case (in excellent condition, complete with functioning lock and key) that operates with a knee lever.  This was likely done many, many decades ago (1940's?), judging by the condition of much of the wiring.



The seller was asking $50 which certainly seemed fair, but I was on the fence.  When 20 minutes later he said I could have it for $25, I was sold, or rather it was, to me.  I rolled it home (with the aid of a handcart) after lunch and inspected my purchase more closely.  The machine turned freely and the decals (called Tiffany) looked beautiful, if a bit grimy.  According to the serial number, the machine was produced April, 1910.  It's my oldest machine.




 





I've already rewired the main cord.  The motor (an Amsco, not a Singer) runs quietly; the knee lever works well.  The machine's missing its belt so I'll have to pick one up this week.  Otherwise, it's complete: bobbin case, bobbin, even a spool of thread.

Best of all, it sews a lovely, balanced stitch (I turned the wheel by hand).



Nice addition to the family, no?

In other news, I've signed up for a patternmaking class at FIT that will meet on Wednesday nights from now untll December.  I'm very happy to be returning to school to broaden my skills.

In closing, I hope the summer has wound down well for all of you.  I'm excited about what's next.

Have a great day, everybody!

(Marilyn sang this song at our show last week and blew us all away.)