Kinetic Energy

My Aunt Karen found this kit in a quilt store in Deer Lodge, Montana.  It's called "Kinetic Energy" and is a modified log cabin.  This one is in batiks and is in my favorite color, blue.  This pattern finishes a quilt that is 60" x 68" and takes about 270 strips of varying widths.  It took me 3 days to come up with a spreadsheet listing all the widths that would sew together 29 strata no less that 8.5 inches wide.  Drove me nuts!  But I think it turned out pretty well.

I had to take down my quilt frame to make room for the Christmas tree.  But as soon as the holidays were over, that frame went back up and I was happily quilting away when this happened:

I must have tried to sew through a really thick intersection that bent the needle.  It popped the little plastic stabilizer out of the presser foot and I quilted it into the quilt, not once, but twice!!!  So off to Ed, the repair guy.  He laughed and told me that was probably why this particular foot is no longer available.  There is another one that has a metal stabilizer. 

Now I need to hurry up and finish this quilt.  My friend, Colleen, is waiting for it!

1934 Singer 15-91 (I think)

A friend of mine called a couple of weeks ago saying, "you remember me telling you about an old sewing machine we had in storage?  Well, it's yours, if you want it."  So this is what came home with me yesterday.  As near is I can figure out, she's a 1934 Singer 15-91.

She needs a really good cleaning and there's a fair amount of rust where it should be shiny and silver.  And all of the electrical needs to be replaced.  But the cabinet is in beautiful shape.

But she's pretty.

My husband, bless his heart, just rolled his eyes and didn't say a word when he helped me unload her.

Janome 1600p

After struggling for a week, I broke down and took the Janome to the shop.  This is the machine that sits on my quilt frame and I'm right in the middle of a quilt!  Seems there was a valid reason for my frustration.  There was a burr on the needle hook which did a fabulous job shredding my thread every 10 inches or so!  Ed said it was probably caused by a broken needle (I don't remember having a broken needle, or even a bent one!)  No matter!  But he also couldn't see an obvious cause for my tension issues, so it's time for a tune-up.  He's promised to fix it good as new.  Whew!

Janome 1600p

After struggling for a week, I broke down and took the Janome to the shop.  This is the machine that sits on my quilt frame and I'm right in the middle of a quilt!  Seems there was a valid reason for my frustration.  There was a burr on the needle hook which did a fabulous job shredding my thread every 10 inches or so!  Ed said it was probably caused by a broken needle (I don't remember having a broken needle, or even a bent one!)  No matter!  But he also couldn't see an obvious cause for my tension issues, so it's time for a tune-up.  He's promised to fix it good as new.  Whew!

New Featherweight

Insanity struck last Sunday.  I had been toying with the idea of getting beat-up Featherweight with the intention of eventually getting it restored and repainted.  So I watched eBay for months and would always chicken out at the last minute.  It's trying to find a balance between "want" versus "need" and I surely didn't "need" another sewing machine.  Then I saw an ad on the local Craigslist that was posted a month ago.  It hadn't sold yet and it lived only a couple of miles from me (so no astronomical shipping charges to pay!)

This machine is a 1946 vintage and was owned by a former professional ballerina, currently in a nursing home at age 95.  There's quite a bit of wear and tear on the bed, but she runs beautifully (especially after I removed the monster fuzzball under the throatplate!).

I knew, on my way over to see it, that I wouldn't be able to refuse and, of course, it was going home with me!  Some things are just meant to be.

New Featherweight

Insanity struck last Sunday.  I had been toying with the idea of getting beat-up Featherweight with the intention of eventually getting it restored and repainted.  So I watched eBay for months and would always chicken out at the last minute.  It's trying to find a balance between "want" versus "need" and I surely didn't "need" another sewing machine.  Then I saw an ad on the local Craigslist that was posted a month ago.  It hadn't sold yet and it lived only a couple of miles from me (so no astronomical shipping charges to pay!)

This machine is a 1946 vintage and was owned by a former professional ballerina, currently in a nursing home at age 95.  There's quite a bit of wear and tear on the bed, but she runs beautifully (especially after I removed the monster fuzzball under the throatplate!).

I knew, on my way over to see it, that I wouldn't be able to refuse and, of course, it was going home with me!  Some things are just meant to be.

Singer 15-88

This little gem came home with me Tuesday.  It belonged to my boss' mother and they needed to find a new home for it.  And they thought of me!  As far as I can tell, it's a Singer 15-88 built March 8, 1956.  It may have originally been a treadle machine later converted with an electric motor.  She looks to be in beautiful condition, but needs a deep cleaning.

The cabinet is a total writeoff, however, due to termites.  There was no saving it (my husband wouldn't even let me bring it in the house!)  I really liked that middle tilt-out drawer, tho.

If I can get her cleaned up and see how she runs, I may have Scott eventually build a base enclosure for it and get a foot pedal.

Tuesday was my lucky day, wasn't it?

Singer 15-88

This little gem came home with me Tuesday.  It belonged to my boss' mother and they needed to find a new home for it.  And they thought of me!  As far as I can tell, it's a Singer 15-88 built March 8, 1956.  It may have originally been a treadle machine later converted with an electric motor.  She looks to be in beautiful condition, but needs a deep cleaning.

The cabinet is a total writeoff, however, due to termites.  There was no saving it (my husband wouldn't even let me bring it in the house!)  I really liked that middle tilt-out drawer, tho.

If I can get her cleaned up and see how she runs, I may have Scott eventually build a base enclosure for it and get a foot pedal.

Tuesday was my lucky day, wasn't it?

Featherweight 221

Look what came to live with me yesterday! She’s a little Singer Featherweight 221-1 born October 28, 1947.

I bought her off eBay and she was shipped out of California. I brought her home, cleaned her up and oiled her. She runs like a champ, nice and quiet. I’ll have to take her in for a tune-up as there was a receipt in the carrying case for service in November 1968 for $7.50!

My husband, bless his pea-pickin’ heart, just rolled his eyes and said “cute.”


Of course, I got on the phone with Aunt Karen to laugh and compare notes. Now we’ve got to name her. Any ideas?

Featherweight 221

Look what came to live with me yesterday! She’s a little Singer Featherweight 221-1 born October 28, 1947.

I bought her off eBay and she was shipped out of California. I brought her home, cleaned her up and oiled her. She runs like a champ, nice and quiet. I’ll have to take her in for a tune-up as there was a receipt in the carrying case for service in November 1968 for $7.50!

My husband, bless his pea-pickin’ heart, just rolled his eyes and said “cute.”


Of course, I got on the phone with Aunt Karen to laugh and compare notes. Now we’ve got to name her. Any ideas?