Friday, May 31, 2013

Mod Shorts

My next project is going to be a pair of shorts made with some fabric from the thrift store. Of course I am going to use my little Bel Air Bantam.  These are going to be "Sort of Mod".

 Mod can be defined as:
An unconventionally modern style of fashionable dress originating in England in the 1960s.
Online Urban Dictionary
       
        One who wears modern clothes
        Webster's Dictionary

I was inspired by the fabric, and of course the Brady Bunch.  

 
I wonder where I can find a suede vest and groovy sunglasses to go with my shorts?

Simplicity and Butterick made some Mod patterns.

Simplicity 9736
 
Not Mod, but I like the striped shorts.

An 80s Version of Mod?

I looked for a sewing pattern for shorts.  Since I didn't find one I liked, I am going to use a pants pattern, just with shorter legs.  Simplicity 1948 fits the order.  

Simplicity 1948
The gentleman with the tie is wearing the version I am going to make.

Do you think my new shorts will look Mod with this fabric?

Time to start cutting.

Thanks for Stopping.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

More Cloning Around

The title is More Cloning around.

It could also be "Imitation is the Sincerest form of Flattery".

After I purchased my Bel Air Imperial in January, I have been intrigued by Singer Clones like it.  There are always Clones for sale on Ebay at outrageous prices.  I decided to watch Ebay for a particular model I wanted, because I was pretty sure one wouldn't show up at my local thrift store.   I was shocked when I won one on Ebay for $30, which I  think is a good price.  I guess bidders had better things to do on a Sunny Sunday afternoon than surfing the net.

Now I have two clones.

My Imperial is a Singer 15 Clone.  It was made in Occupied Japan so I can date it between 1945 and 1952.  It is a close copy of a Singer 15 which is a full size machine.  The base of it measures 7" by 14" and weighs about 29 pounds.  It uses the vertically loaded class 15 bobbin. The 15 Clones were made in tremendous numbers in Japan during the 50s.
Bel Air Imperial

Singer 15-91

Many Singer models were copied, but not in such large numbers as the 15.  Other Singers copied in lower numbers were the 66 and 99.    The 66 weighs about 28 pounds and has a base 14.5" by 7".  It was made from about 1900 through 1960.
Singer 66 (full sized machine)
Bel Air Deluxe  

The Singer 99 is a 3/4 size machine made from 1911 through 1962.  It is a smaller version of the 66.  It had some updates during that time. Like a stitch-length indicator and reverse.  It has all the power of the full sized 66 machines, just in a smaller package.  The base on a 99 is 12" by 6 1/2" and weighs about 22 pounds.   The Singer 66 and 99 use a drop-in bobbin.(class 66 bobbin)

Grandma's Singer 99-13.  (3/4 size machine) Well loved.

Watch it sew.

If you haven't guessed yet, what I won on Ebay is a Singer 99 clone.  But not an ordinary 99 clone.  This one is even more lightweight because the head is made of aluminum.

The box it came in when I picked it up at the Post Office was so small and light, I thought for sure I was sent the wrong item.  But to my relief and surprise my new sewing machine was indeed in the box.

Singer 99 Case

I removed from the box a Singer Case. Then opened it up to find the cutest little machine.  How or when my new Bel Air Bantam Model 33 started living in a Singer case, I don't know
Bel Air Bantam Model 33


Bantam Length 12"


Bantam Width 6 1/2"

Watch it Sew.

Wow!  Is all I can say.  This little machine is the same size as a Singer 99, but only weighs 12 pounds. A Singer 99 Plus!  In my research it seems there was an Aluminum Singer 99 made, it was the 99-10.  However it was made in low numbers and quite rare.  I think my Bantam is a copy of the Singer 99-28 because the stitch-length control looks exactly like the 99-28.

I will also guess my Bantam was made in the mid to late 50s.  It was made in Japan and "Badged" with the name Bel Air.  Numerous types of sewing machines were made in just a few Japanese factories in the 50s   They were named whatever the importer wanted them to be.  Dressmaker, Good Housekeeper, Sewmor, Wizard, and Bel Air, just to name a few.  Some were made in fabulous colors, not just black.
Singer 99-28

Singer 99-31. Has pointer for stitch length.
The other manufacturers built what was already a great success and well liked, a Singer.   I think I helped prove "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery".

I learned quite a bit of information researching this blog.  I hope you enjoyed it.

For in depth information on the Singers mentioned here, please see:




My little Bantam will be added to my collection and used for my next project.

Thanks for stopping.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Joe's Simplicity 7330 Shirt

I finished Joe's 7330 shirt.  I made it out of a blue bed sheet on my Singer 327.  I think it turned out quite well, and fits Joe like a shirt should.

I used a Greist #1 buttonholer with my Singer to make the buttonholes. This Greist is a straight-stitch model. It makes wonderful buttonholes.

Singer 327

Greist #1
Front
Back
Buttonhole

I was asked on a previous blog what I like so much about the Simplicity 7330 pattern.

Just to name a few:

It fits me, with no alterations.

There is no hand sewing.

It can be made with a collar stand or a notched collar.

The instructions are easy to follow.

There are a minimum of pieces to sew together.

I like the style.

I paid .30 for it at the thrift store.


Thanks for stopping.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

First Project With Singer 327


I decided to start out with a pattern I was familiar with for the first project using my Singer 327.  If you haven't guessed yet, it is my Simplicity 7330 shirt pattern I like.

This is a shirt for Joe.  He put on a little weight because of some new medication.  I am making this shirt in a large, using a bed sheet.  It has short sleeves and a collar stand.

Simplicity 7330
Singer 327




Shirt in Progress

Pocket
I made the pocket with a cardboard pattern I folded the material around, then ironed to fit.  Made for real  crisp edges.

Sleeves next.

Thanks for stopping.