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.