My new love(s)

Seems like perhaps I've been neglecting the blog a little recently, but then again if I don't leave the house occasionally then I'm not going to have much to write about, I guess.  Lots of fun crafty stuff going on, looking for a job, reconnecting with friends. 

Finally got around to working on the quilt today, pics to come soon.  And what was I using to do the quilts...

My new favourite things.  (Though I'm utterly fickle and this may only last for a while until I get distracted by something else shiny, pretty or glittery)

A Janome 720 Gem Platinum, and a vintage Singer.  I am completely in love with both of them, for different reasons.

I used the Janome today for the quilt strips - it will make me into a very lazy sewer.  (I mean a person who sews, obviously)  It's got automatic and cruise control: literally.  There's a foot pedal but you can also simply use the Start/Stop switch,  to there's buttons to lift and lower the needle, autolock.  It's wonderful. I thought they'd be gadgets but I'm already hooked.

For everyday sewing - denim, calico bags, unholstery fabrics for the Dandy bags, I bought the Singer.  Manufactured in 1952 (according to the man who sold it to me, but from the serial number I think it was actually made in 1936, in Scotland) and still going strong, this will sew through three layers of curtain tape and a double thickness of felt.  I wouldn't try any normal modern domestic with that.  Of course it's also as heavy as hell, as it is entirely made of metal parts.  It's the workhorse and for me, it reminds me of using my grandmother's sewing machine, also a Singer, when I was a child and fancied having a machine.  It wasn't the best introduction, as I now realise that the footpedal was faulty which resulted in it doing two speeds - no speed or breakneck.  I stuck to handsewing for many years and it was only in the last couple of years when XH bought me a machine - and then a year later I went to a class and learned the basics - that I became really interested.  Soon after I joined Wardrobe Refashion and since then, I've been making my own clothes. 

I will enjoy using the Janome on 'handsfree'.  Though at the beginnng, every time I was about to sew, I would take off my shoe - because I'm kerazzy - because I'm used to the foot pedal for my old Janome, and always take off my shoe so that I've got better control, because of my leaden foot.  Perhaps for using the Singer I should be wearing heels though, as this is the very ladylike footpedal...

Comments

[Villain Extraordinaire]

So beautiful! They just don't make 'em like they used to. My little Bernette has been clunkier than usual lately so I have been dreaming of visiting New Sewing Machine Land. Though (sigh) that will certainly not be until after slugging through the rugged territories of Spring Semester and Moving to Boston. One day I'll make it!

[Julie]

I've yet to master the intricacies of sewing and to tell the truth am a little frightened of sewing machines! The singer one is beautiful - reminds me of my grandma's and the Janome looks very state-of-the-art and more than a little daunting to one of my limited sewing ability! Looking forward to the quilt pics.

[melissa f.]

i'm awfully jealous of BOTH those machines. they seem like the perfect companions.

i meant to email you about the strip swap-- thank you for the invite! i'll get you the next time around :)

[jo]

I too have a beautiful old Singer, they are lovely aren't they. Mine is not electric but has a handle that you have to turn as fast as you can, which adds to the charm I think

[ruth singer]

ah, my namesake is very pretty. The other one looks good too.