Nursing Cape - a quick easy baby gift.

Barb's granddaughter Kendra was born on September 30, 2009.  Her daughter had borrowed one of these nursing capes, so Barb copied the measurements so we could sew them.  We made six capes from one sheet at Stitch n Bitch last Wednesday.  It is so simple to make and functional.  The boning allows mum to watch baby feed in public and keep her modesty.

 Materials:
27" X 37" piece of cotton or polycotton fabric (we used an old sheet)
14" of 1/4 inch boning (the stuff we put in strapless dresses and corsets)
4" X 27" strip of cotton or polycotton fabric (we used the same sheet)

Sewing directions:
Hem the edges of the 27" x 37" by folding over 1/2 inch twice or serge all the edges and fold over 1/2 inch then hem.  You can be fancy and miter your corners but I did not.  Heck, I used the original wide hem (from my sheet) on one edge.

Fold the long side of your rectangle in half and mark the centre with a pin or marker.  On the wrong side sew the boning (curve towards the right side of the fabric) on the hem starting seven inches from your centre mark.

Fold the short side of  the  4" by 27" strip in half so it is two inches by 27 inches.  With right sides together sew one side shut and along the side to make a strap.  Turn your strap and press.  Here again, you can be fancy and put some top-stitching on your strap.  Take the finished end and sew over top of the boning on the wrong side of the fabric to cover the boning raw edge.  Try it on and adjust your length now.  Tuck in the raw edges on the cut end and sew it on top of the other end of the boning to cover the raw edges.

 

 

Sorry, I was the only model available and I took the photo!  Talk about multi-tasking sheesh!

Necchi Lelia 513

I collect sewing machines.  More often than not I get extra treasures included in drawers of cabinets or accessory boxes.    Lelia Model 513 was manufactured in Italy between 1963 - 1971.

There were three packages of needles priced at 29 cents per package as well as three little oil cans.  I find the oil cans especially interesting because when I got this machine it would only straight stitch in one needle position and the feed-dogs would not drop.  The needle bar and feed-dogs were bone dry.

 

I scanned and uploaded the manual to google docs.   Feel free to download it and enjoy.  Would you please leave a comment here, so I know this was helpful.

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

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff with Your Family by Richard Charlson, Ph.D.

Below is a chapter from Richard's book:

Never miss the opportunity to say "I Love You."

In my lifetime I’ve heard many people complain that their parents (or spouses) either never or seldom said (or say) "I love you." On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve never heard a single person complain that his or her parents, or anyone else, said these words too often.

I can't imagine anything easier than saying the words "I love you." However, for whatever reasons, many people simply don't do so. Perhaps we don't believe that our loved ones need to hear it. That they don't want to, or they won't believe it. Or perhaps we're too stubborn or too shy. Whatever the reason, it's not good enough. There are simply too many important reasons to tell the people in your life that you love them.

Whether you heard these words enough in your own life or not is not the issue. At issue here is the fact that saying, "I love you" makes people feel good. It reminds them that they are not alone and that you care. It raises their self-esteem -- and makes you feel good too! Undoubtedly, in my family, we do many things wrong. One thing we do right, however, is tell each other how much we love each other. It's simple, painless, and free. It's one of the most powerful sentences in the world. People who know they are loved (because they have been told) are able to offer the world their love in return. They have a quiet confidence and a sense of inner peace.

One of my firmest beliefs is that when you have what you want (in an emotional sense), your natural inclination is to give back to others. So, by saying "I love you" to a single person, you are, indirectly, helping the world at large. There is perhaps no way to guarantee that someone will feel loved and appreciated. But certainly the way to increase the odds is to tell him or her so, frequently. Genuinely saying the words "I love you" can erase many mistakes in the eyes of your loved ones. I know, for example, that when I’ve had difficult times with my kids, remembering to tell them I love them has helped us to forgive one another and move on.

On a more selfish note, saying "I love you" has personal benefits as well. It feels good.  Since giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin, saying the words "I love you" more than makes up for not hearing them enough throughout your lifetime. It's absolutely true that giving is its own reward. And saying these loving words is one of the most basic and simple forms of giving.

There are so many opportune times to express your love in this manner -- when you enter the house, right before you leave, before bed, and first thing in the morning. In our family, we have developed the habit of saying "I love you" before hanging up the telephone when we're talking to one another, as well as before we begin eating a family meal. Your opportunities are unlimited. This will be one of the easiest things you ever do --and, when all is said and done, one the most important.

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.