Chenille Maker

At the last River Rats TOGA I attended a session on how to make your own chenille. That's a bit of a misnomer since chenille is a type of fabric with many different looks and surfaces from rows of dots or bumps to intricate designs that cover the surface. What we learned about was how to make your own rows of fluffy fabrics using a chenille cutter. For Christmas I asked for the Olfa Chenille cutter since it was recommended but it was pricey, definitely a splurge. With time on my side and the cutter in my hand, I followed directions and layered three flannel fabrics on top of a piece of mid-weight  upholstery fabric. Rows of stitches were marked at half inch intervals with chalk and stitched:

Sample stitched and start of cutting layers

Then the fun began with using the cutter to cut the top three layers and leaving the bottom layer intact. It didn't look like much until I washed and dried it:

Washed and dried sample!

It turned out fairly thick so now I ask myself "What are you going to use this with/on?" and I haven't a clue. A whole quilt with these chenille squares sewn together? Back of a quilt? Hot mitts? I think I'm going to have fun finding out. In the meantime, I bought two sewing machines that have solved a few problems I had and one I didn't even know I had! First up is a Singer 31-15, an industrial machine without a table or motor:

Singer 31-15 head only

I've had one of these before and it didn't impress me so I gave it a servo motor and sold it. At the time I was enamored with a Singer 78 walking foot machine, ended up with a Bernina 217, and told myself I would consider another industrial if I could treadle it. Now I have a great machine but no industrial treadle base so what's up with that?

It came very, very dirty and you can see that it's been well used but it cleaned up  and would almost spin on its own so I brought it downstairs to wait for that treadle base...someday. Just for fun, I took measurements and found out it would fit in the Bernina 217 table. Although they are very heavy machines I only had to lift out the Bernina and put it back against the wall and the Singer only had to rest of the four corner supports. I gingerly attached the belt, turned on the servo motor and carefully depressed the foot control: it stitched! The feed dogs also broke the needle plate so the years of dirty build-up had provided a buffer for a poorly fitted plate. That was okay since parts are very cheap: I bought a new set of feed dogs, needle plate, and slide plate for only $13. Such a deal! I already have various feet, extra bobbin cases and bobbins, needles, etc. so we will be all set when they arrive. I'm going to have fun with this one, seeing how it might do some tasks better than the Bernina 217 or not as well but it's nice to have choices.

Along with the Singer 31-15 I picked up a New Home SX-2122 that was missing a few parts but basically just needed to be cleaned up and run. It was missing the front storage compartment so I looked it up at SewingPartsOnline.com and found out it was also used with other models. Cross-referencing my database I found out I had one of the models listed, a $10 find at the Textile Center Garage Sale last spring. There were multiple problems with it so I stashed it away on my parts graveyard  shelf. The storage container fit just fine and then I noticed the electrical socket was in great shape on the broken machine. I had a New Home MyExcel 15S with a broken socket so I switched out the parts and now have 2 sewing machines ready to sew and that parts machine is officially off the parts shelf. I have a guy who takes them for metal scrap so it waits for his pick up time. Success!

New Home "Computer" model SX-2122

Now I'm headed to a weeks vacation with family for a much needed rest and relaxation. Maybe we will spy some sewing machines? At least we plan to visit a few quilt shops!