A Prize Inside

 Remember the boxes of Cracker Jacks, a peanut and caramel corn mix in a box "with a prize inside"? Despite the trivial nature of the prize, I always got sucked into their advertising in the hope of finding something special. Nowadays I prefer a better quality caramel corn than Cracker Jacks but I continue to be thrilled when there is some kind of a hidden prize. Today I have to share with you a New Home sewing machine with a hidden prize inside.

The New Home Travel Mate was up for auction but didn't come with a foot control. Sometimes that is no problem, just an added expense, but if the parts are unique you can get into trouble. If you can't find it you end up with a real boat anchor! I stuck my neck out and hoped I could get one but while checking out parts I was skeptical the right one was being advertised to fit this model. But I got the bid, picked it up, and dashed home:

What's inside? How does this come off?

I couldn't figure out how to get the plexiglass cover off! It sorta pries off with small slots in the front and back. It needed a bit of cleaning but first I wanted to see what all was in the storage compartment in front. It had a nice set of snap on presser feet and extra needles, always welcome, but when you take the compartment off so you can sew free arm, there was a surprise:

Storage compartment pulls off to reveal more storage

Oh, be still my beating heart: there was the foot control, all snug in the compartment!

Foot control hidden away (is this a secret?)

I pulled it out and checked the plug end to find it was very unique

Three pin plug foot control

I did suspect, since it was promoted as a portable travel sewing machine, it might have attachments or foot controls built into a sliding out drawer under the machine or somewhere else and this time I was right. How cool was that?

A sewing machine is nothing if it cannot sew but it does sew very nicely. On the front of the machine it boasts "Micro Computer" and it does sound and run like an electronic sewing machine. It has the typical variety of stitches and even a needle threader. All it is missing is a needle up/down feature but does have a speed control lever as a little extra feature. Zigzag stitches are given in three levels so no dial for incremental increase in width but I can live with that, too.

Selection of stitches, speed control, and what's under the top lid

It is a really nice portable sewing machine! My risk paid off this time but I know it could have easily gone the other way and I would have to buy that 3-pin foot control for $40. Still not a bad deal but one I now don't have to deal with. 

As the fall decorations are getting boxed up and we head into Christmas, I better get hustling here or we will not get anything ready beyond the outside lights. A Christmas newsletter needs to be written, presents are only about a third purchased, and here I am writing to you about my latest sewing machine. Yes, this is the land of the sewing machine obsessed but I know I'm in good company!

New Home Travel Mate CE2200

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!

Education and Great Finds

Last post I extolled upon the features of using various sewing machines for free motion quilting. At the end of the day I have to admit, a bit shame faced, that I had the most success with a plastic Singer sewing machine. I can be harsh on those newer models but when you can set the machine to sew at a steady speed without any effort on your part, then you are free to move the fabric around and not have to pace your foot to your hands. That's right, I also play no musical instruments for probably that same reason but I digress. Here's the banner I made with First Quilters last year, now finally finished:

Sew Blessed banner/table runner size

and with free motion half heart pattern, shown from the back to see it easier:

Half hearts free motion quilting

Which machine? Singer Futura XL400, the same one I've been using for machine embroidery! It's possible I won't be able to sell this one since I've had so much fun with it and it is so easy to use. Now that I have discovered this free motion feature, well, I'll have to think real hard about it.

Another nice find this week was a New Home MyExcel 15S, a model I've bought and sold, loving their ease of use, nice quality, good for beginners and more experienced sewers. This one is also nice but had sat unused for a long time and I have to get everything limbered up again. No problem! Until I found out I couldn't get the stretch stitches to consistently stay limbered up. They keep going back to their stuck state and that means they only sew in reverse. I've done all of the usual cleaning, oiling, repeat, heat from a hair blower, repeat daily, getting better but not there yet. In the meantime I've felt the need to confine the many sergers that I've gotten ready for sale by making zippered bags for them. The first bag turned out way too big so I had to use it for a sewing machine instead:

X-Large size is extra large!

Next up, I made the large size with the same blue fabric and print lining since I have a bolt of the solid blue fabric. It needed firmer fabric so I used iron-on interfacing to give it more body plus the lining adds firmness to the bag. Once I figured out a good size I started a production line of bags for sergers:

Zippered bags with sergers and supplies inside

That's right, four bags in all with gray vinyl bases, nylon webbing for handles, and a storage pocket on each side. Zipped up they contain the accessories, manual, and power cords. It also cleaned up my space and helps to keep the machines dust free, too. While I was sewing these up, I used my Bernina serger but also needed a regular sewing machine so I used what was handy: the New Home MyExcel 15S. I handled the vinyl just fine, was easy to use, and the proof is in the product, don't you think? It still stitches backwards when using the stretch stitches but a little heat from the hair dryer does the trick.

While up north on Saturday, my dear husband and I were stretching our legs by stopping at the Goodwill in Alexandria, MN. I say "dear" because while I found a Singer Tiny Serger, he found a table. Table? Yes, a clear acrylic table like the Sew Steady type. Here it is, cleaned up and sitting with:

New Home MyExcel 15S with acrylic extension table

the New Home MyExcel 15S. The table is imprinted Janome but they bought out New Home so are one in the same now. It's not a perfect fit but not too bad either. The price? $7. What about that Tiny Serger? It actually does work:

Singer Tiny Serger TS380+

for overcast edges but the biggest downfall is the inability to cut as it sews: no blades. It's only meant as an edger. It actually works but there just are no adjustments for stitch length or width. Here's a funny feature: there is a light but only for threading because once you plug in the foot control the light goes out! This has limited usefulness but it was fun for awhile.

There you have it, my recent adventures in buying, restoring, and reselling vintage sewing machines and what to sew with them. New up: chenille cutter and what I made with one.

Good and Bad Coming in 3's

It's been too long since I posted and I fear all of my readers have left me but here's a refresh and getting back into the saddle again. Sewing machines have been coming in the door like an avalanche! We had a record snow year for us in Minnesota and it appears it has brought out the "clean-it-out" bug in many. It all started with a Singer 301.

Betsy responded to my ad and said they were tired of their crappy new Singer breaking down every time they wanted to use it. As it turns out, they were going over to Grandma's house to use her Singer 301 so why not just get one of their own? That sounded like a good idea to me, too, but when she came and saw all of my other machines she asked if I would be interested in a few more. After photos were sent they came a week later with these gems:

Singer 1507

The Singer 1507 is not one of my favorites but I think all that was wrong was using the wrong bobbin. This is a frequent error and I'm ready to suggest when you get a new sewing machine to check the bobbins and if they are a different type mark them in some way and keep them separate from the others. I have bobbins with pink nail polish dots on them: maybe that was one woman's marking system?

Singer 6110

This Singer 6110 seemed to be okay, at first, but it had not been used in so long that some of the functions were no longer working. I could not get the dial to move to engage the stretch stitches. Even after giving it a nice oiling and cleaning out it didn't budge. The old trick of walking away worked: by the next day I could get the knob to move into the stretch stitch zone and all worked well again. As it turns out, this is a pretty decent sewing machine. I even made a zippered bag since it did not have a built in carrying handle:

Singer carrying bag with vinyl bottom and zippered top

And now to the cabinet model, a Singer 66 in a compact cabinet.

Singer 66 with no decals, c1910

This was originally a treadle machine since it has a spoked hand wheel but the treadle mechanism had been stripped out and the whole thing was painted a ghastly green. The exterior was stripped and I think the wood veneer was  removed but I'm hoping I can clean it up when it gets warmer. The sewing machine itself might be a bit plain but she is running again and shows much promise.

Love those compact cabinets

Inside painted green: pretty dingy!

As if that wasn't enough, I answered an ad for three Pfaff 1222's. Who would have three of the same model? Someone with a drapery business who needs the even feed of the Pfaff IDT system, that's who. She did not want all of the bells and whistles of a newer Pfaff and these old ones kept breaking down. In my optimism I took all three and hope to be able to fix the wandering straight stitch and other signs of worn down mechanisms.

If course, I have been working on repairs, too. Natalie had her machine back again and we determined it was fine, it just needed to have the bobbin race and ring removed and set back in place. I had another machine come in for what was suspected a shot motor. Nope, the motor was good but there were other adjustments and cleaning that took place to get it running good again. Her New Home sewing machine had been a gift from her mother-in-law years ago and it had sentimental value so it was worthwhile to have it running "extra fine" again.

There were more, such as a Kenmore 385-1764180 that was in great condition, and a Bernina 730 in a cabinet that came without any feet from an estate sale. Neither were free but were affordable and great models to have. It's getting crowded again so I better get selling so we have room to walk!

Christmas Vacation

As always, I have big plans for days off and rarely get even half of it done but this time I have very good reason: grandchildren! Finding out parents had to work and kids were going to stay with others we piped up and said "Can we have them for a few days?" It turned out to be only one but we sure had a good time. Sarina, who has been working on her sewing with a new-to-her sewing machine, wanted to make up a few Barbie doll clothes and I wanted to make her some more leggings. Here's what we came up with:

Barbies with new dress, top, and skirt

I think the Barbie clothes were her sister's request but she made the beach bag on Barbies arm in the photo and had fun with serging the edges on the skirts. They were free patterns found online and were so wonderfully easy. Next up was using the minky fabric to make something and here's what we came up with:

New soft throw showing off all three fabrics

I had a big square of red bubble minky fabric and suggested we back it with flannel for stability. There were two pieces of heart printed fabric that just fit onto the back when sewn together so we could use up the largest portion of the soft fleece. She loved it and posed for the above photo with her newest teddy bear, also made of minky.

From our last sewing date we had picked out fabric for leggings and now I had the chance to get them all sewn up, especially since she hadn't brought enough clothes for a whole week away from home. I made up a pair several sizes smaller for another granddaughter but here's Sarina in her new pair:

Sarina in her new citrus print leggings

I had some pink solid for a shirt and she suggested I make the front or sleeves in the print so I made it up but she doesn't have it on in the photo (maybe under the hoodie?). We were using my Bernina 1100 serger and a Kenmore 385-1665510 serger but she really needs a speed control lever on a serger so it doesn't get away from her or one that just doesn't go too fast.

In the meantime I had a couple drive over from Wisconsin to pick up a treadle, the New Home in a compact cabinet:

New Home treadle, possibly before cleaning?

I also answered an ad for a Bernina 830 that was wanted by a nice old lady. I can say that because I'm an old lady: we are both old ladies at this point. She was frustrated by her very complex Pfaff and just wanted a good reliable sewing machine to make clothing, not quilting, and wanted it to work every time. As I've heard before "I want to be in charge, not the machine." A classic Bernina was her goal so I checked mine out, sent photos, and now she is ready to go!

Bernina Record 830

I'll leave you with a photo of my Snowman Pizza made for one part of the family Christmas gathering:

Snowman pizza: satisfying three different tastes

Margie's New Home

So many of the sewing machines I come upon have a long history that I will never know but my find today is an exception. Marge and I go to church together but actually met in the grocery store parking lot. I was walking from my car when I heard "Hey, hey! Don't you go to my church in Fridley?" and I turned to find an older woman half in and half out of her car. Sure enough, it was Marge and we talked long enough to figure out we only lived a mile apart. One event lead to another and I started picking her up on Sunday morning so we both would have someone to ride and sit with. Over the past decade she has become a widow, I got married, we met each other's families and have shared our personal histories along with countless rides to church together. Turning 80 in August was the tipping point for Marge as she ended up in the hospital and is now moving to an assisted living facility.Sweet as always, she wanted me to have her sewing machine so I went to pick it up last weekend:

New Home 560 in cabinet after cleaning

Not only was it a very nice New Home model 560, it came fully equipped with a full set of cams for decorative stitches, original accessories in their tin box, and a paper manual to teach you how to use this machine. Score! The cabinet turned out to be a four drawer model and was in decent shape, too. I brought it all home and got to work, cleaning, oiling, and tuning up. It hadn't seen oil in decades and the pristine oil can testified to the lack of oil supply but that is easy to remedy. There are no nicks or dings on the machine and it runs terrific. Although it is all metal and very heavy, the desk it comes in supports it and makes for a very nice sewing station. The top surface had scratches but no water stains or anything that would require serious refinishing. Out comes Howard's Restore-A-Finish in Maple/Pine for a great restoration:

Cabinet after restoration

This was a perfect application of this kind of product. It is a combination of chemicals that will soften the surface finish and you simple move it around to fill in scratches and weaker spots. After it dries you can give it a coat of wax to preserve the finish and it is ready for new life. Here's a sample of the stitches with cams:

New Home 560 sample stitches

I can't wait to see who gets this lovely sewing machine in a great cabinet/desk for a new life with a New Home. Marge would be proud.

New Home 560

This weekend is the River Rats TOGA, an event I have gone to the past two years and where I met Sally, a very creative quilter and seller of vintage sewing machines, too. It's always a fun time with demonstrations for treadle and hand cranked sewing machines, items to show, some to sell or buy, and the fabulous raffle that raises money to put all of this together. I have several sewing machines to donate to the raffle, some fabric, and I'm still looking for other items of interest. My first year I stayed with Sally in her motor home and we even got my husband to join us. Little did we know that was going to bring our husbands together for fishing and hunting trips over the next two years. They are now moving to a warmer and more hospitable climate in their retirement but we are having one last hurrah on Saturday with just the women. I'll let you know about my great finds when I get back: I always have high hopes!

Eight in Spades

It's been another grand weekend with rain and raining sewing machines. We planning a day at the Minnesota State Fair on Friday but rain and thunderstorms helped us change our minds. Instead, we traveled over the border to Wisconsin to visit friends who are moving to Tennessee and she had sewing machines she was not going to take. I was lured by the offer of some-are-free so we took the Jeep and headed over.

Despite the rain we had a great time together, the men deep into discussions about hunting and fishing while we discussed their new home and new adventures. Between the basement workshop and the "barn" I took home eight sewing machines and no tables or desks.

Loaded up!

Although I have a million other things to do, I couldn't resist seeing what I had and what still needed to be done. There was a Singer 237 with parts in a bag so it was put at the back of the workbench. The Singer 327K kept slipping so it was next to the back. A Davis vertical feed was frozen up with parts in a bag and it is now on the floor of the garage, a place of shame but also in the garage, at the top of the list is a Brother Super Select-O-Matic, favorite of mine, in two tone:

Brother Super Select-O-Matic (HZ3B3 Model 100)

This was the big find of the day but it wasn't free and that was just fine. Isn't she a beauty? She will get a future post with comparisons to other Brother models of this Select-O-Matic fame. Next up are the four that need some work and clean up but all are doing quite well.

The Elgin is actually a Japanese model JA-38, a great machine I have seen with other names. It was dry inside and very dirty but that's not hard to rectify. It got a new motor and a used motor block set for the power cords and foot control with only one trip to the hardware store for a new long screw. Don't ask, it works.

Elgin (JA-38)

Stitches fine, sounds good, a nice smooth operation and is cosmetically perfect. Good find for someone who wants straight and zigzag and doesn't mind a heavy machine!

The next cutie is a New Home that is not heavy and includes just the basics of straight, zigzag, 4 step buttonhole, blind hem, elastic zigzag, and two stretch stitches. Nothing wrong with this one except a big clean up and a new motor block/foot control. Because of the cute factor and lack of heft, I put it in one of the Brother mod carrying cases so it looks cute in storage, too.

New Home 1300

New Home 1300 in carrying case

Then there is a 3/4 sized National S-40, a vibrating shuttle model that has oh so many differences. Note that large round plate?

National S-40 3/4 sized sewing machine

No real purpose, just for design intrigue! Then there are the double tires on the rotary wheel, both replaced, and the bobbin winding spring. I couldn't figure out how the bobbin winder worked since it didn't line up with the hand wheel  but it did line up with the wheel in the back. Then I remembered finding a large spring formed into a circle and put two and two together to see how it worked:

National S-40 bobbin winding mechanism

I still don't have it stitching but that's due to the wrong needle, misthreading, and/or tension but I will work that out yet. The case is in excellent shape and the original cords are soft, strong, and pliable. Now, if I could only find a manual.

And, finally, there is a Signature URR-56X271, a nice machine that is turning over but I haven't tested out the stitching capability just yet. It is extremely heavy so think it will go out to a table in the garage since this is clearly not a portable sewing machine. It came with a box of attachments, cams, and a print manual so that one hit the jackpot. UPDATE: It got a new motor and a re-tread on the motor block, using one that was missing the foot control that was among the mix of items in this haul. It does stitch nicely and the cams work just fine, too.

Signature URR-56X271

As you can tell, I'm super excited to be working on these machines, it was so nice to get to pick the ones I want instead of having them appear on my doorstep. My friend was more than generous and she still had more that I wouldn't take but we agreed that she would strip them down and bring over the bases for me to send to my metal recycler. By this time next week I should have a bunch more that I can now move along. Sorry, folks, but not all of them get saved but at least they are not ending up in a landfill. Most of them were on my parts shelf for several years and didn't have much to save left so to let them go was the humane thing to do. Yes, they are a bit like my pets: beloved and with us just for awhile.

Old and New Again

We are going to get to the New Home MC 7500 in this post but I have a very happy update regarding the last post about the White Vibrating Shuttle. Katie Farmer and I sent emails and photos back and forth to get down to the exact model I had as well as the components of the tension mechanism. The serial number that was on the back slide plate was not an original for that particular machine, probably on loan from another model, but Katie deduced it was a White VS-IV due to the photo I sent. It pays to consult an expert! Once she found out which model, she could find one of her own and see what parts were in the tension unit:

White VS-IV with tension assembly on side

This was perfect because those parts looked familiar: I found them in one of the drawers earlier but didn't know what they were for. I keep everything so I found them on a workbench, put them back in order as per the photo and Katie's instructions, and with only a little tweaking she sews! I even tried out a hemmer foot with great success so now I'm more than satisfied with this lovely treadle. Just to think that I already had the parts but didn't know what they even were makes me shake my head. A very big thanks to Katie Farmer who is a delight to work with and is a true expert with White sewing machines.

And now onto the much more modern New Home Memory Craft 7500 sewing machine. Sometimes New Home are labeled Janome but this one is a NH, an early computer model that I was skeptical about. I have other early computerized models and there certainly can be problems so it was a risk to bid and win this baby:

New Home Memory Craft 7500

She came clean as a whistle with the exception for the hard plastic cover but it cleaned up great with TR3 car polish.

Hard case with manual

The machine itself came with nearly all of its attachments in a top storage compartment

All those feet!

with extras in the removable front box.

Storage compartment removes for free arm sewing

 The manual was a free download and I needed to consult it while I put her through her paces. This is one very nice sewing machine and received good reviews on Pattern Review.com (It's not just for patterns but other items related to sewing, too). Besides the wide variety of stitches, including block and script letters, upper and lower case, there are some nice features to make sewing easier: needle up/down, lock stitch, programing and memory features. Really, as nice as the computer enhancements are, it's things like needle up/down as well as the lock stitch for beginning and ending your stitches that win me over.

I made up some bentwood case straps on it and found it made a nice stitch with a fine end result.

Straps under construction

 This is one nice machine. Here's a sampling of the quality of the stitches:

Sample stitches

This is going to make someone a very happy sewer; it is not a beginners machine but a great step-up for someone ready to take their sewing to the next level and to have a machine capable of increased skills.

Cabinets, Again

What a fun sewing weekend I had, full of machines, sewing, interesting conversations, and even a freebee at the end. It all started with the outdoor furniture that needed to come down from the garage attic but, as usual, there were sewing machines in the way. Correction: there was a snow thrower in the wrong part of the garage so first it needed to be moved. There is space for it way at the back, at least during the off season, so that gives me hope for storage if not actual convenience when it needs to be used.

With that big baby out of the way I could see what was left: a whole lot of cabinets and all with machines in or on them. Before they got too tightly packed I took some photos so they are now ready to list for sale, at lease two of the treadles are now ready to go. The Davis in the stunning cabinet is going to be difficult to let go of since it has the vertical feed foot, very cool machine in a fantastic cabinet:

Parlor cabinet for Davis Vertical Feed

Davis vertical feed in treadle cabinet

Then comes the New Home treadle, with near perfect decals and a joy to treadle. I will be sorry to see it go, too:

New Home Vibrating Shuttle

New Home cabinet, a plain model but in excellent condition

Taking a look at the black metal box with accessories, it could use a little cleaning up so I took metal polish to them and the results were worth the effort:

Classic accessories for vibrating shuttle machine but now so shiny!

Some of this movement was made possible by the sale of a Necchi Mira in a compact cabinet. It held a near permanent spot in my kitchen:

Compact cabinet for Necchi Mira

Necchi Mira with Wonder Wheel

but it sold and not-to-let-a-spot-grow-cold a Brother in a similar cabinet moved from the garage into the kitchen:

Compact cabinet for Brother Sewing Machine

Brother (no model number)

There is a downfall to the Brother cabinet: it's missing the chair cushion. It is not just a matter of buying foam (already did that) but to construct a whole base for the seat and that's going to take getting out the saw and....well, my Power Tool for Women class last fall didn't prepare me enough to use my own power tools, just those in class. I have hopes of getting it out soon and finishing up this project but I'm so fond of that Brother model that I don't mind having it around a bit anyway. Cool cabinet, isn't it?

While I was home on Saturday I found an ad for a free sewing machine. No model number, no photo, but nearby. Turns out, even though I was second in line, the first person said it wasn't heavy duty enough for her sewing and took a pass on it. I buzzed on over but didn't have the Jeep so I knew I was going to have to take the head out of the small table. Without the proper tools, only have two screwdrivers with me, I ended up taking out eight screws in order to remove the hinges. But I got it all home, cleaned up and oiled, found a set of power cords and foot control that was missing, and away she went:

Elna 65C

She was very dirty but sound inside. The owner said he was actually going to toss the machine and burn the cabinet up in his backyard but just took the chance someone would want it. I sent him a text when it was all cleaned up with a stitch sample and he was amazed and glad it went to a good home. I'm happy, too, because it would be a shame to put something as fine as an Elna into a landfill. Another win-win for sewing machine nuts; if you are reading this, maybe you should join us, too? You would be in good company, very good company!