Singer Restored Plus a Garage Sale

As promised, this is a post about a family sewing machine that no one wanted. Isn't that just sad? Of course not many are as rabid about sewing machines as this mavin here but I guess I should be happy. A Singer 201 came up on FB Marketplace for an excellent price so I messaged the seller and we arranged a day and time for pickup. The name was the same as my son-in-laws and the location was where his father grew up so I just had to ask if there was any connection. Sure enough, small world and all, it was his aunt and we figured it was his grandfather's sewing machine. Now we were a bit excited but it was nearly an hour north of us so I needed to recruit my husband in this adventure. He suggested we pick up the sewing machine and then keep driving north to pick up our travel trailer from his friends property where it has been stored since November. Sounded like a win-win to me so off we went. The sewing machine was in a small downtown office so we drove around trying to find the shop number but finally connected and got it loaded. It seemed just dirty from neglect and long term storage but it was a 201, one of my favorites. We headed on up to get the trailer, got it all hooked up, and then drove home in pouring rain. Our first trip on the road and it was terrible! We got home feeling a bit shaky but now we know how to drive with a trailer in this kind of weather.

Here's our retirement travel trailer, all 16 feet of her.

Once we got home and I got around to fixing up what we brought home, the sewing machine was in excellent shape but the cabinet was pretty ugly. A water ring on the right side of the top was about the worst but I know this type of cabinet can be cleaned up. I took it all apart, drawers and their frames, top lid, and then just the simple framework. It all got stripped down, sanded, stained, and 3 coats of satin polyurethane. It looks great:

Singer 201-2

Classic table for a Singer

Singer 201-2 in her refinished cabinet/table

I got back in touch with the family to show them how nice it looks now. They congratulated me on doing a good job but there was no interest in owning it again. It was sitting in the garage when David came over to purchase a Singer 99 in a cute bentwood case. He's a quilter and needed to have a smaller machine than his full size Singer 66 to take to classes. While we were talking I happened to open the table where the 201 was housed and he was admiring it when I asked if he wanted to hear how it sounded. Of course he was interested so I plugged it in and he was a goner. He called the next day and said he wanted the 201. No problem, it's now his. I'm so happy this is going to a good home with someone who loves to sew, quilting mainly, and knows a good sewing machine when he finds one.

The Textile Center had to cancel their annual garage sale last spring but were not going down without a contingency plan. Once a month, starting in July, they took donations and sold tickets to their limited sale. I donated a few weeks ago, registering for a time slot, staying in my car, and following their rules. Last weekend was the sale date so I bought a $5 ticket for 9 am, was allowed 45 minutes to shop and 15 minutes to check-out. Everything was in labeled categories with an Oval Room table for extra special items, priced sewing machines, and a bag sale at the back. I spent most of my time with the bag sale where I put all the fabric I wanted in to bag, plus patterns, all for $10. Along with a bag of yarn and a knee lift lever for an unknown sewing machine, I was all set. Here's what I came home with:

Clothing patterns for me

Patterns for granddaughters

Fun knits for leggings and tops

Quilting cotton

Fabulous knits

Cotton yarn for towels

It was definitely worth my time but I don't think I will go again, leaving time slots open for others. They really had a great plan and I hope it works out well for others, too. Next up: Virtual River Rats TOGA and the quilt blocks I made for the block exchange. Let's just say my skills were sorely challenged.