Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Old Sewing Machine and Old Shirt Pattern

 I live in a small town with many antique shops.  I rarely go into them.  But while walking our dogs through town like we do everyday, I spotted a treadle in the window of one of the shops. 

I was instantly interested.  This was on a Sunday before the shop was open.  I couldn't get to the shop until that Thursday.  It was still there, which shocked me.  I quickly paid the price of $50 for this Montgomery Ward Treadle Machine.

It needed a little clean up and turned out to be in very good shape.  It even came with three bobbins.  It is a long-bobbin machine.  I put on a  new be!t, and quickly started sewing with it.  There is nothing like the sound of a treadle.







I decided to make a short sleeve shirt from Simplicity 8427  in size 40 with some plaid material I bought at the thrift store.  I have had this pattern for over seven years, it is slim-fitting, that is why I size up to a 40.


I decided to use my So-Fro 9000 to sew on the buttons and in conjunction with my Singer buttonholer I made the button holes.

This So-Fro is an electromechanical machine.  It is fun to hear the machine click and clack to the appropriate stitch.  Plus, the knobs in front turn by themselves.





Here is the shirt.



I had lots of fun making it.


Thanks for stopping.


Thursday, October 31, 2024

Halloween Wall Hanging

 I received an email from San Francisco Stitch Co. with a sale on some cute Halloween appliques.  

I decided to buy the set and make a small wall hanging.  I used nine of the twelve.

I used my Simplicity SE3 to make the appliques.  I made them out of scraps.  The squares were 8" by 7".


I used my Bernina 125 to sew the hanging together.  I bought the material at Joann's in Juneau Alaska while we were visiting Joe's mom.



I decided to use my Singer 503A to quilt it.  



It turned out cute. 


Thanks for stopping.







Saturday, September 21, 2024

A Wool Shirt For Winter.

 I ordered some wool shirting from Fashion Fabrics Club and was pleasantly surprised by the softness and heaviness of this fabric.   It is solid gray, so no stripes to match up.

I immediately thought of my new found pattern, Simplicity 9858.

I made view A with the collar from view B. I made it in medium with two inches added to the sleeve length.

I used my New Home 5001 to sew it.  I have had this machine for a while.  According to the Janome website:

It was the first home sewing machine with computerized stitch combinations.

The year was 1979. Y.M.C.A. was a huge hit for The Village People. The Muppet Movie made the Top 10. And those Famolare shoes with the wavy soles were all the rage.

 

It was a big year for sewing too. Because in 1979 Janome introduced the first programmable, computer sewing machine, the MEMORY 7 Model 5001.


As a sewing machine, the MEMORY 7 was very sturdy with excellent power and stitch quality. Many are still being sewn on today.

 




This machine has a wonderful stitch quality.  It stops with the needle in the up position.

I decided to fold out the ease on the shoulders,  about an inch worth so I did not have to set-in the sleeves.  This way I could flats fell the seams.


Original
 

Folded

Redrawn


I used my Singer Professional buttonholer to make the button holes.



Looks like a shirt.  Plus, it is soft and warm.








I am ready for Winter.


Thanks for stopping.


Thursday, August 8, 2024

Stained Glass Iris Quilt by Ashley Hough

 Applique and paper piecing are something new to me.  This quilt has not only applique, but some paper piecing.  I purchased the Stained Glass Iris Quilt by Ashley Hough from Craftsy.  It came with video lessons and the patterns needed for the quilt pieces.



I purchased the fabric needed at Joann's for $2.99 a yard.

I had to go through my stash to get some fat quarters for the flowers and leaves.

I used my Singer 404 with a 1/4" foot to do the piecing.  It is a wonderful straight-stitch machine.


I used my Bernina 1120 to attach the applique with a satin stitch. 



I used my Bernina 640 with BSR foot to quilt around the flowers.   Then I used a regular foot to stitch in the ditch around the rest.  I used clear thread for the quilting.



Here I am working on the quilt.






Here it is finished.  It turned out to be 54 inches square, just the right size for a lap quilt.







I made this in mind to give to my Mom.  I am glad she likes it.

Thanks for stopping.

I had a question about the cord and pedal for a Necchi Logica, here are some pictures.







Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Fleece Jacket

 I saw some beautiful fleece on sale at Joann's and thought it would be perfect for a fleece jacket.

Originally I was going to make Butterick 5773 which I made eight years ago.


Butterick 5773

Then I saw New Look 6713 and I thought this would make a nice jacket also.  It has zippered pockets.  So a little more involved.  It called for a two-toned look, but I decided to do it all in one color.


I made a muslin in medium with two inches added to the sleeves to check the fit.  I used my Bernina 930 for this.



The shoulders were huge.  Plus, this made the sleeves too long.

I made a new muslin with the medium shoulder and armscye from the vest pattern.  Then I had to use the extra-large shoulder on the sleeves to match the body pattern.

This made for a much better fit.

I decided to make the finished jacket with my Bernina 830.




I used a 28" zipper.  The pattern called for a 29", which I could not find.  But like a review on pattern review, that would be too long.

Here it is:




Thanks for stopping.

Sunday, January 28, 2024

A New Shirt Pattern : Simplicity 9858

 It seems like I make the same shirt patterns over and over again.  So, when I spotted Simplicity 9858, I decided to give it a try.  Of course I bought it on sale for $1.99.

I made view A, but added the collar from view B. I also used a tower packet on the sleeves instead of the square one in the pattern.

I used some heavy cotton material I bought at the thrift store for 99 cents.  I made size medium with two inches added to the sleeve length.

For being a shirt that says "easy to sew", it has some more involved sewing like flat-fell seams and a separate button placket.  It also has set-in sleeves.  

I used my Bernina 640 to make it.

I serged the arm holes with my Brother 523.



Here it is:






This is a heavy duty shirt, almost a shacket.

Thanks for stopping.




Thursday, January 18, 2024

Christmas Shirts

 I found six yards of shirt material for $1.49 at the thrift store.  I decided I would make two short-sleeved shirts with it.  One for me and one for Joe.

Simplicity 7330 instantly came to mind as it is my goto pattern for Joe.  I made him an extra-large and me a large, just so they would be airy for the summer.

I used my Singer Touch Tronic 2010 to make Joe's shirt.  I just picked this up at Goodwill.

I used my Singer Touch Tronic 2001 to make my shirt.  I picked this up at Goodwill a few years ago, 2016 to be exact.


I used the automatic buttonholer with both of them and they both made beautiful button holes.

I used my Singer 6268 to sew a J on Joe's shirt and a W on my shirt to be able to tell them apart easily.


I think they turned out nice.




We promise not to wear them at the same time, except for this photo.

Thanks for stopping.