Touch and Go

Before the "shelter at home" order,  A fellow student in my quilting class asked me if I worked on machines.  I am guessing she did because I was sewing with my Bel Air Bantam in class.  I told her I liked to oil them.

BelAir Bantam

Anyway, she then told me she had two machines she would give me at the next class.

To my surprise she brought me a portable Singer 771 Touch and Sew.  I don't think this machine was ever used, it was sparkling clean.  However, I had to replace the rubber feed dogs because they had deteriorated due to age.   It is quiet and sews a perfect stitch.  It also does a two-step buttonhole.

I

Many steps for a two-step buttonhole.

The second machine was a Brother Select-O-Matic 100 in a desk.  This machine needed oiling, a belt, a lightbulb, and a new electrical cord, but still beautiful.  After doing the fixes it needed, I found it to be a great machine.

I am not sure if I will keep the machines or donate them to the Hospice thrift store.

Thanks for stopping.

Blue Bomber Jacket

Sometimes I get in a rut and make the same pattern more than once.  This is the case with McCall 7637.  I made a sand-colored jacket last time.  This time it is a blue jacket.

The reason I made a second jacket is mostly because I bought some blue faux-suede and the lining at Wal-Mart for a total of $6.

I purchased the zippers and ribbing from Wawak.com for $15.

For $21 I have another faux-suede bomber jacket.

I used my Bernina 1120 to sew it.

Here is how I inserted the zippered pocket:

First I ironed interfacing a 1/2" bigger than the opening on the marked pocket opening on the inside of the fabric .

Then I sewed the pocket facing to the front side of the fabric and slit it up the middle with two little tabs, similar to a welt pocket.

Then I pushed the facing through the opening and pressed.

Next I put double-sided tape on the zipper and centered it in the opening face down from the back.

Then with a zipper foot I sewed the zipper in by sewing as close to the opening as I could.

Finally, I sewed the bag to the facing, keeping it free from the garment.

Voila! A zippered pocket.

Dixie and Armani

The pattern calls for a 24" zipper for the front that must be shortened to fit.  I simply used a 22" zipper.

 The pattern also says to slip-stitch the liner to the jacket.  I used my machine as much as possible and only needed to hand stitch 4" of the opening .

Thanks for stopping.