Hunter Star

Progress, 4 out of 42 squares are done.

Working on the Hunter Star pattern. This is just one block.

Mr. Two Spools

Meet Mr. Two Spools! I purchased him from a cowboy (and I'm not kidding, DH was there as witness). I stated that Ms. Graybar led to this machine. Well, when I picked up free Ms. Graybar, the lady told me that a Graybar is just a National. After returning home and studying her, I researched National sewing machines. During my research, I came across a quilter's blog on her National/ Western Electric Two Spool machine that she uses. I realized that the decals on her machine I had recently seen on a machine that was listed on CL. So, of course I called the poster to see if the machine was still available since I was fascinated with the use of two spools, one in a can/bobbin. A lady answered and stated that she had posted for her cowboy friend (a cowboy?!). Next day, DH and I take a drive to the wild west of California...and here is my dusty cowboy, Mr. Two Spools.






He'll be real handsome after his mineral bath.

Bashful!

Another free one from the lady who was giving away machines. This one sit under the cutting mat table. I'm using the free treadle as my cutting table. One day I will take the machine out to display with the others. And yes, the Free Machine was free.

The collection continues...

Ms. Graybar, I picked her up free from a lady who was cleaning out her garage (a garage full of vintage machines and treadles). Ms. Graybar isn't going to sew unless I get the electrical cords fixed, which ain't gonna happen. So, she sits on a shelf looking pretty since I love her art deco decals- heck she was free. AND she led me to Mr. Two Spools.

My free pruchase-Singer 9W1

Look what I found inside the machine while cleaning it and figuring out why the machine's hand-wheel wouldn't turn, four drill bits!

Took the dilapidated cabinet off the free treadle and put on this free cabinet top that I sanded and finished with tung oil. My 201 now sits in this treadle.

I found the missing plate on the ground while taking apart the dilapidated cabinet.

The forlorn Singer 9W1 with the Celtic Knot decals.

Cool design in the front drawer.

Water and weather damage to top, but the treadle area is in excellent condition and she treadles smoothly.





The threading area-just missing a part or two.

Japanese Kites

Finished quilt top. I picked up this fabric when living in Japan and recently discovered it in a pile of linen that I have. I decided that it would make a cute baby quilt.

Fabric on the back of quilt.


Working on a baby quilt for some future child. This is the top.

New addition!

I went into a thrift store and came out with this forlorn lady. I picked her up with a White sewing machine buttonholer for $26. I hope to sell the buttonholer to recoup some of the money spent for this lady.

This lady is going to the spa for a long overdue makeover. I plan to turn her into my hand-crank machine. She was manufactured in Kilbowie, Scotland, 1914. So, Thistle Marie has a sister!

Dem Bones Whirlygiggle

Finally finish the Halloween quilt. Top was pieced on the Janome (back in February) and quilted on both the Singer 201 (straight stitch) and Singer 15-90 (free-motion).

I went with a scary free motion quilting look instead of the cutesy quilting pattern look. I added a little spider in some of the webs to match my decorative signature stitch.


Back side. Bryan says it is like two quilts and that the spider web quilting goes with the spiders on the back.

Changes to sewing room

A rotation of machines has occurred in such a short period of time. While looking for attachment parts for my machines, I came across the Cadillac of vintage Singer machines (201K), a wonderful wooden box, and yes parts too.

Thistle Marie got moved and this 15-90 (from the $10 purchase) now sits in her spot to do the work. I wasn't planning on using the 15-90 as a treadle; but after much reading and researching, I have decided that I want to use this machine as a treadle too. I took the handle off the machine, Singer 15BG168, that came with the treadle that the 201K now sits in. The 15-90 is name Jasmine.

A loser look at Jasmine.

Her face plate.



This is my 201K which I picked up for $35 with a box of attachments. Since this machine is stellar in her stitch work, I will call her Starr. This treadle is different from the treadle that Jasmine sits in. The font on this treadle matched Starr's font and decal style.


A closer look at Starr.



Yes, Thistle Marie has an honorary place next to Erica's toy sewing machine. I found the box at an estate sale while looking for attachment parts. The box had a 15-91 in it, but I moved that to the Queen Anne cabinet that had the 15-90.

Harvest Moon

A look at the bed runner on my queen size bed,

I made a change from making this into a quilt with squares to a bed runner with stacked coin strips. All was quilted on the vintage machine except for the decorative stitch.


This will be the center to a quilt that I have just started. I was practicing stippling on the Classic Lady with this material when the idea for my quilt came together. I will arrange some blue and cream color rectangles in a checkerboard pattern that will surround this piece.