Playing Catch-Up

It has been a wild winter that didn't seem to exist for me because all of a sudden we are into spring. This should be much cause for rejoicing but I find myself lethargic and in the need of motivation. This blog is a source of motivation: what will I write about next? Nothing to write about? Make something happen! But I have just come home from another week away, this time at a conference for my real job, and coupled with my extended stay in Florida to care for my mom, there has been precious little time for my sewing machine adventures. Besides, my biggest fan, my mom, is no longer here to cheer me on and I realize that has taken a bit of the shine from my writing endeavors. But you are my fans and I thank you for all your kind words and encouragement to keep going, even when it feels like some of the light has gone out.

Even while I'm gone, sewing machines are being sold: Loretta came last night to get the second Elna 1010 for a sewing class that is offered for a special education class she works with. There are two sewing machines and one is used just to learn to stitch straight on paper. Their second sewing machine was used to actually make a bag but it was unreliable so she came for the Elna 1010, a great sewing machine for this purpose.

Elna 1010

There are a couple appointments over the weekend to take a look at the beginner sewing machines (yes, you have to come to my house to actually try them out, not just exchange machine and money in a parking lot) and a Singer 201-2 that has already been paid for but needs to be picked up. Checking my Craigslist ads I see I only have two active ads so I better get going and list some more before spring is really upon us and no one wants to stay indoors and sew. I can't blame them.

Next up will be Joyce's sewing machine, a nice Kenmore 158-12121. It's a very basic but sturdy sewing machine but does tend to look pretty plain:

Kenmore 158-1212

and then there's sewing machines from long ago that have been overlooked, such as an Elna Super:

Elna SU (she's super)

and a Damascus Electric that has a very prolonged set of repairs (over two years?):

Damascus Electric

and Elgin Rotary in a table:

Elgin Rotary

a blue Sewmor that is way heavier than she should be (but what a gal!):

Sewmor

and that weird Western Electric that I don't like personally:

Western Electric

and one I really like, a Brother 4001 that can be used without a knee or foot control:

Brother 4001

And, finally, a classic Singer 15-91 in an excellent table:

Singer 15-91

I have photos for most of them, just need to spend the time writing up all of the particulars. Just going over my database and looking for sewing machines to post has been motivating for me. So I thank you, my readers, for getting me out of my doldrums and back on the saddle again, so-to-speak. Time's a wasting!

All Boxed In

In search of a wooded box to hold the Singer 99 hand crank, I answered a Craigslist ad for a garage sale.

Above is a photo with a tiny shot of a Western Electric that I was hoping had the smaller base that a Singer 99 needs. The Singer 99 is the little sister to a Singer 66 and the only smaller box I had was a nice bentwood case that I was using for my own 99. This could be a long search. Much to my delight, they answered my email and said it was not sold and I could come early on Saturday morning before I got into work. Here it is in the back of my car:

Not only was it running well, it was clean and in good physical condition. What were the chances? Did they have the top for it? Of course! The motor is a bit odd, having to swing it away to put the top of the case back on:

Hard to see in this photo (sorry!) but it is hinged onto the back of the sewing machine and moves forward onto the center of the harp (bed of the sewing machine).

From the top down, you can see there is a motor pulley that comes into contact with the hand wheel to make everything move. It looks very worn but it seemed to work fine.

Just my luck. I find the right box, the right price ($10), and I don't have the heart to take it out of the case just to use the case for the 99 hand crank. I'm not fond of the vibrating shuttle system this one sports so that might encourage me to set it aside while I recover the wood box for the 99 but when will I find another small sewing machine case for this one?

Just as I was driving down the street to see this sewing machine I remembered having come here in the winter to look at a Necchi Julia. Back then it was -5 degrees and I was standing in a garage looking at the Julia. By the time we agreed on it, only 5-10 minutes, my toes were very numb. Today was a beautiful spring day so I hardly recognized the house but it was the same family! I reminded them that I was the one who came out in the cold to buy their Necchi but they had shorter memories than mine or I'm not as memorable as I think I am. Oh well, this time I got a real bargain, leveling the 12 times the price I paid last time on that bitter cold day.