Shannon's Quilt is finished! Yippee!

On December 20th, it was on her bed about four hours before she arrived from Waterloo.

Elephants for luck and to patch a small hole I pieced into this quilt twice!

I used a blanket stitch and zig-zag stitch around the outside of the cards in matching threads. Then I free motion quilted the five inch border.  On the reverse of the quilt you can see an outline of the front.

Shannon loves it!

Treadle Belt Pliers

When you sew with a treadle the leather belt stretches over time and needs to be shortened.  

I have owned five treadle sewing machines and everyone needed  a new treadle belt.  If the belt was there it was rotton.  The first time, I went to my local sewing machine dealer (Wayne) to buy a treadle belt, he insisted I borrow his treadle belt pliers.  This little tool is the neatest thing it has a nail punch and belt cutter.  First you open up the steel staple to remove one side of the treadle belt cut it shorter and then punch a hole in the new end.  Put the staple back on, after trying it out to make sure it is the right length, squeeze the staple back together again.  After I used his pliers I was so impressed with the ease of use, I knew I would never go back to using a hammer, nail and scissors to shorten my treadle belts again.  When I reluctantly returned them... complete with my offer to purchase, Wayne said no, his Singer pliers were very old and not for sale.  He did not think he would ever be able to get more.

Online internet shopping I go.  I found them in the USA at at sewing machine parts place.  I live in Manitoba, Canada.  One pair was $25.99 plus shipping to Canada was $24.99 outragous!  I decided that since the shipping was so much that I may as well buy two pairs, then gift the second set to someone else here who sews with a treadle machine.  I paid approximately $80 US and waited impatiently for my new pliers to arrive.

Well I forgot that importing an item made in Taiwan from the USA  to Canada is expensive.  When Fedex showed up at my door with my package I had to pay another $38 in taxes, brokerage and duty fees.  So here they are my two pairs of treadle belt pliers approximate cost $59 each.

Mine are way nicer than Wayne's because they are spring loaded.

1951 Husqvarna Imperial Class 10 VS made in Sweden

Introducing "Helen" a sweet little Swedish machine with a green kind of crinkle finish.  I went to look at an old portable Singer in a wooden box with a key.   The Singer was not to my taste,  so the vendor offered me this one.

This is a bottom view.

 

Serial Number C1016591

The bobbin winder.

The throatplate and needle bar.

I am unsure what this part is called...shuttle bar?

This lever controls stitch length and reverse.

Accessories.

This machine required a good cleaning and oiling when I brought it home.  It is very heavy and sews lovely precise straight stitches forward and reverse.

1951 is the year printed in the manual.

1910 Bernard Stoewer treadle manufactured in Germany

I named this machine Bernice. As you can see at 100 years of age she is still quite a looker.  I washed the cabinet with Murphy's oil soap, then applied one coat of Swedish oil as the wood was very dry and starting to crack.

 

The sewing machine itself had all of her parts but needed some heavy duty cleaning, oiling and a new treadle belt to get her sewing again.  Her gold lion decals are stunning.  The machine sews in reverse when the lever is up and forward when the lever is down. This lever also controls the stitch length.

  

With a flashlight shinning directly on the black panel on the front of the harp the words "The Phoenix" are legible.  On the back of the harp the faded words "Made in Germany" are printed.

 

The bobbin has a tiny hole which fits on top of a little nipple in the bobbin winder.

It sews wonderful precise stitches, uses standard needles and low-shank feet.  There were no accessories or manual when I bought it.  The threading path is identical to the Singer 127, the only real difference between the Singer 127 and the Bernard Stoewer "The Phoenix" is the hole in the bobbin and the stitch lever instead of screw which controls the stitch length and reverse (bonus).

 

The serial number is 1097147.

Please visit Colorado Lady's blog for more vintage treasures.

Happy Halloween

My first trick or treaters of the evening.  Brandon University Volunteers on behalf of the BU food bank.

Marilyn Munro dress.  This was Tanya's first sewing project.

Marilyn Munro with her date - the grim reaper~~~

Mom & Son

We had 64 ghosts and goblins up from only 23 last year.

Shannon's quilt 2nd update

14 of 22 rows are complete, past the halfway point.

I do hope she likes it!

Too funny not to share & Singer drawing room cabinet.

In my quest for knowledge I follow sewing machine websites.  Thanks for the chuckle ISMACs.

 

This is my drawing room Singer cabinet.  I bought it complete with an electric 1914 Singer 127 VS machine.  I think it is a bit of a rarity for a 1914 model to be electric, probably cost a fortune in its youth.. As I have a fabulous treadle 127, the cabinet was purchased for my 1950s Piedmont zig zag machine.

 

This cabinet is 95 years old and in great shape.

Rear view

The machine platform is spring loaded or hydraulic, which is activated by pushing a small button, then lifting the machine head up or pushing it down.

 

Right side view above and Piedmont installed below.

Please visit Colorado Lady's blog for more vintage treasures.  Cheers!