Category Archives: Studio & Sewing Machines

I’d been looking at Vibrating Shuttle sewing machines. They intrigued me yet kind of scared me off, being different. But I still wanted to see if I could meet the challenge of getting one up and running. I stumbled upon one; she was part of the trio that followed me home. The other machines were: a) going to be a huge or impossible project, b) not really something that is high on my list. But this Singer 27 was something I wanted and worth tackling; though covered with much dirt and dust, she moved freely and wasn’t too badly gunked up inside. The price was right. Even if I couldn’t get her running, I was only out a couple bucks.

Jocabed is a Singer model 27-1. She was made in 1892. The Singer model 27 is a vibrating shuttle, meaning instead of having a round bobbin and bobbin case, she has a bullet shaped bobbin case and a long bobbin. Her shuttle swings in an arch from front to back. The 2 sliding plates to the right of the needle indicate the shuttle/ long bobbin. The silver colored “shovel”, at the left of the arm, are also indicative of this model.

Winding a long bobbin

The bullet shuttle with the bobbin inserted, in the shuttle carrier.

Her decals are called the Sphinx pattern, with the Sphinx in the upper corner where her arm and pillar meet. Jocabed’s decals are worn, and in many places “silvered”, meaning the gold color has been eaten away.

Her tension doesn’t automatically release, like later machines do. You must press and hold the tab under the tension screw to release it. She required taking the tension completely apart. This was a first for me, so was done with fear and trembling for getting it back together correctly. But I did it.

She came unhoused (just the head, no case or cabinet.) She is shown here in my 66 treadle cabinet, which I used to test her out. It wasn’t a good fit, so I need to find another option. But we all got to sew on her a bit, including 4 of the grands that I taught to treadle on her.

I named her Jocabed after Moses’ mother, an Israelite in slavery in Egypt.

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I love sewing. I love antiques. Add the 2 together and you have a love for antique/vintage sewing machines. I particularly love the beautiful black, curvy ones, that classic shape of the early 1900’s Singers with black “japanned” paint jobs. Owning an old black treadle machine has always been a dream of mine, particularly a “red head” (red decals). Last year that dream began to take shape–in several steps.

In a spare bedroom at my dad’s sits a treadle. Last year I told him, if it hadn’t already been promised to someone else, I’d like to have it some day–and I’d like to come look at it. When we opened it, we were surprised to find not a treadle machine, not even one that had been converted from a treadle. From my research, I found it to be a 1948 Singer 201-2, a machine that I’d love to (and will) own, even if not a treadle. I’ve already named her Pamela, after my sister who died as a baby in 1948, and since she is coming from my dad.

When I told an older lady how excited I was about that, she asked if I’d like to have her grandmother’s machine. Would I?!!! I’d seen it’s bentwood case in a spare bedroom at her house. It was time to find out just what was inside. A 1922 White Family Rotary that had originally been a treadle, but great grandma had put a swing-away motor on it and put it into the bentwood case, making a–very heavy–portable. I had to name her Betty! since she is a White and was “born” in 1922.

2 very old machines. Both close to treadles–but not. But cherished for what they are, not what they aren’t.

Since I now had a sewing room that was not also someone else’s bedroom or the schoolroom or playroom, or a hole in the wall in the attic, I started looking more actively for the treadle machine. By now, having studied enough about old sewing machines that I could identify many, Singers at least, I had a growing appreciation for old machines other than treadles. Although I’d looked at many–many times–nothing was ever quite what I was looking for, nor at a price I was willing or able to pay at the time. That treadle, that just surely called my name, never appeared.

Then, God…

decided to pour out an abundance on me–all within about 48 hours.

Last week, I found a machine on Craig’s List, about 100 miles away. It wasn’t a treadle, not even in any type of cabinet or case, but it was only $15 and they said it worked. It was also the only other model Singer made with the same motor as the one on dad’s machine–that didn’t work.  I figured if the motor worked, even if I didn’t like the machine, or it didn’t run, I wasn’t out anything. They were right. She worked beautifully. Just needed a bit of cleaning–and probably some sort of case would be nice. I was now the owner of a 1952 Singer 15-91. I named her Louise, after my sister’s middle name, who was born in 1951 (close enough,) and passed in 1965.

The next day, I ran into a friend. She had noticed my old sewing machine posts, and told me she had one in her garage if I wanted to come look. If I wanted it, we could set up a trade (for essential oils). She didn’t know if it was treadle or not. It was buried in their garage. No treadle. But a cute little 1956 99K in a cabinet. I decided to take it, clean her up and see what she’d do. I had to name her Roxie Anne. 🙂 She came from a Roxanne, Anne is the 5th top name in the 1950’s, in Scotland where this machine was made, and my middle name.

Not 24 hours later. I received a phone call from my dad’s wife’s daughter. She’d been talking to my dad and he told her about my machines. She has her husband’s grandmother’s machine. She doesn’t sew or have room for it, and no daughters or daughter-in-laws to pass it on to. She’d love to give it to me. It’s a…

1929 Singer 66 TREADLE! Never been converted to electric. Works. And… I just “happen” to be going that way–in less than a week.

Picture to come soon! 🙂

Do you have an old sewing machine? Is there one you want?

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I’ve been working on my Design Studio a bit again. Have got a few things hung: my double-sided clock, a shelf, and a couple “letter racks”.  So I wanted to post an updated picture, and also a couple organization tips. (A second shelf will go above the first, when I decide how much higher.)

This is the crafting area of my studio, primarily paper crafting. I love that all my supplies are within reach, and that they are all modulars that can be changed around if need be–both moved around easily on wheels, and stacked in different ways. I also love that most everything is in drawers, shut away from sight but easily accessible, and I don’t have to dust every little piece. I’ve added a couple more modular pieces since my last update.

Within the drawers/shelves is further organization to make it easy to find what I’m needing quickly. The top drawer of the craft station (where my Cricut and Cuttlebug sit) holds my most used tools–scissors, rulers, (pick, tweezers, …) and most used adhesives (ATG, Scor-Tape, glue dots, Tiny Attacher). My paper trimmer, scoring board, cutting mat, and Envelope Punch Board slide into slots at the top of my modular stack. My ink pads are in repurposed cassette tape boxes on the shelves next to those. My patterned paper is on the bottom shelf of the modular stack, and my card stock in another modular on wheels (under my desk).

In between the paper and the ink is my newest organization update project–in the second modular in the stack. It now holds my stamps (all but wood mount) and dies, in DVD and CD cases. I love the uniformity of this storage. It takes up so much less room, makes things easier to find and easier to get to–and was far less expensive than other storage solutions. I also don’t like the bulk of storing in 3-ring binders, so knew that wouldn’t be the right solution for me. I’m loving this.

The CD cases are standard size (not slim,) standard cases with the tray insert. (Staples) I removed the trays.  The others are DVD size jewel cases, that don’t have the hub (knob) inside. Both of these are GREAT for this type of storage/organization.  Clear and rubber cling stamps will both cling to the inside of these cases. For the metal dies, I first attached a couple strips of magnetic tape on each side to hold the dies in place. I like that way best, but the magnet on the tape is not very strong. So I tried a strip of double-sided tape, since I figured that is what they are on in the package. We’ll see which way works out best in the long run.

Clear stamps and dies will fit 2 layers in the cases–one inside the front, one inside the back of case. Cling rubber stamps will fit only 1 layer. I used a label maker to label the spines. You can also adhere a picture of what’s inside to the front if you want.

I chose to use both DVD and CD cases because my drawer fits a DVD case next to a CD case across the width. So I started by putting my stamps in DVD cases and my dies in CD cases. My stamps all fit the row so far, but when I get more the extras will be put in CD cases to complete that row.

Clear plastic VHS cases are the perfect size for holding wood mounted stamps, but I only need 2 or 3 of them, and to buy them without the hub (which I haven’t been able to find to repurpose) they come in bulk (10, 25, 50, +). I don’t want a bunch of empty VHS cases sitting around, (or to pay the shipping that is more than the cases for 10) so my wood mounted stamps are still in cigar boxes (and may remain there.)

What tips do you have for inexpensively organizing your crafting space?

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Slowly but surely I’m making progress in re-doing my design studio. The crafting corner is getting there, and is organized anyhow.

The tall drawer stacks, to the right, hold stamps, embossing folders, dies and Cuttlebug supplies, heat embossing supplies, punches, ribbon and washie tape, paper scraps, envelopes, paper bags, and other paper misc.

The shorter white stack holds 12×12 paper, card stock, and chipboard. The drawer holds embellishments and markers. The shelf holds ink pads and blending tools. On top is my exacto mat, score board and paper trimmer.

The workstation to the left holds my Cricut and Cuttlebug, small rotary mat and a Cricut mat, to keep it handy. Other Cricut mats are on the side. The drawers hold tools- scissors, other cutters, rulers, Cricut tools, stapler, etc. , adhesives-tapes, ATG, glues, glue gun, glue dots, foam dimensionals, magnets, etc, and paper flowers. The slots at the bottom hold 8.5×11 card stock, grunge board, and other smaller papers, stickers, mod podge, etc.

As you can see on the tall drawers, I still need another paper cube. I thought the work station slots would hold that size, but didn’t, so now I need another one. Other than that, and the fact that I haven’t painted yet–and added a shelf for my Cricut cartridges, I’m loving it. Everything is organized and ready at hand.

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