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It doesn't get much better than this!
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ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 05 11:22 am    Post subject: It doesn't get much better than this! Reply with quote
    

ok, maybe it does but i'm soooo happy!

last night i got a phone call from a woman on freecycle that had seen my wanted ad for a sewing machine. she'd hemmed and hawed over her old machine because she's so attached to it BUT she just got a new janome with all the bells and whistles and her husband has been complaining about the old one taking up space so she called and offered it to me! i picked it up straightaway (didn't want her changing her mind ) i haven't had a chance to play with it yet but i will be doing so later this afternoon.

i had missed out on bids on 2 different machines i really wanted on ebay so i'd been feeling down however i had been buying sewing supplies and fabric in preparation. well, i got a lot of stuff in the mail today including some amazing chinese brocade fabric that's almost too beautiful to use (don't worry, i'll get over it ) i also got some sample velvet pieces that are quite large so those will do nicely as well. and if that wasn't enough i got my dehydrator today WOOHOO!!!

i've now got apples in as well as sweet potatoes lightly seasoned, i love sweet potato crisps! i'm going to have to buy some more as lidl had sweet potatoes for only 79p/kg! and i'm going to get some beetroot as i love beetroot crisps as well...

can't wait til i can do my one wee job for the afternoon and get dd to nursery so i can come home and play with my new machine! she did say it will need a servicing soon but that shouldn't be too dear. it's an old singer model mostly metal with a really wide sewing area though i am a bit concerned as it has a sideways bit to hold the thread, i have always used the upright kind and i worry what will happen if i buy something too 'fat' i saw something on ebay for 99p it's a stand that allows you to use those large overlocker sized spools with your regular sewing machine so i think i'll buy one.

any tips on sewing basics much appreciated, it's been 7 years since i've sewn on a machine but 19 years since i've done anything serious like dressmaking... i feel old now oh well, at least i'm 'old' and happy!

Last edited by ButteryHOLsomeness on Tue Apr 12, 05 11:25 am; edited 1 time in total

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 05 11:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Well done buttery

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 05 11:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

this is better than any christmases i've had in ages!!!

i've been gathering up all my fabric samples and any old clothes we aren't using that i like the look of. i've always loved fabric and fibres and beads etc AND i used to be huge on the altered books thing so now i can do altered fabric instead this of course has the advantage of not only being a creative outlet but it will help me hone my sewing skills for when i start doing dressmaking again and i can sell anything i don't like when i'm finished!

also i will be so happy to see my dd growing up seeing me making things. i plan to alter some of her clothing for her. she's only 3 but has extremely ecclectic and somewhat gothic tastes so i'll be able to make one of kinds for her. she'll probably want to learn herself and then she can make her own off the wall clothes and save our pocket book!

i plan to look at charity shops in a different light now. i normally shop in them anyway but now they'll become fabric stores as well!

WOOHOO WOOHOO WOOHOO ((doing the happy dance))

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 05 11:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

That's what I call a result, Buttery. What type of machine is it?
If it comes with the destruction manual, can I recommend that you go through the maintenance steps - brush out all the old fluff and oil the bits that need oiling. Then put in a new needle and you will be ready to go.

I had a bit of a result myself last night. I went to a meeting, and one woman put out a plea for old fabrics. It turns out she is making rag rugs. So, in return for some of my vile curtain material I mentioned in another post, I am getting some hessian backing and a lesson in rug making on Thursday evening.

So it looks like we both have our projects for April sorted

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 05 3:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

now that's MY kind of recycling judith! maybe you can share some of your newly learned techniques with us, rag rugs are on my list of things to learn

i'm really big on never letting fabric go to the landfill unless it absolutely has to. you can make paper out of wool and cotton, do crafts, make different clothing, rag rugs etc there's just no reason to waste it!

got both my dehydrator and my sewing book today AND my new version of foods for free...decisions decisions

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 05 3:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

oops forgot to answer your question judith!

it's a singer 6240 super elegance...

the woman i got it from reckons it's from the late 70's or early 80's. She bought it second hand from a well known and respected sewing shop up in the haymarket area here in edinburgh (one of my next ports of call ) it seems to be in good nick though i'll have it serviced soon, any idea how much a basic service is? i'm assuming that's a bit like an oil change on a car?

thanks for your tips about checking it before i get started. it should be very clean but it's worth doing anyway. i felt sorta sorry for the woman as i was taking it out the door, it was like i was taking away a beloved pet or child!!!

judith



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire
PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 05 4:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

ButteryHOLsomeness wrote:
i felt sorta sorry for the woman as i was taking it out the door, it was like i was taking away a beloved pet or child!!!


I know how she feels - I don't really NEED my old one, but it has given such good service, I don't think I can send it away just yet.

I don't know the model you have, but the old Singers were always good solid machines so I am sure it will be great. 'Fraid I've no idea what a service costs - I've always done it myself. I don't think it should be much though, particularly if it is in good nick.

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 05 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

well, i'm just about to get the sewing machine out and going. it came with most of the extra supplies but no oil so i bought some on ebay and i'll go easy on it until it arrives.

could i possibly use veg oil or WD40 instead of the singer oil?

don't worry i won't put any in until someone has answered me! we were advised by someone at the forestry commision to use clean veg oil for our chainsaw and that worked a treat! and i use veg oil for squeaky doors so i'm hoping that will work but i want to be sure

anway i'm going to mend some trousers of dh's and then start sewing some bits together for the beginning of my first quilt YAY!!!

got to go set up the table and have a good look at the machine

oh, just had our first seasoned sweet potato crisps out of the dehydrator mmmmmm wish the pototoes weren't so expensive i'd eat these over walkers any day

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Tue Apr 12, 05 5:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

ButteryHOLsomeness wrote:
just had our first seasoned sweet potato crisps out of the dehydrator mmmmmm wish the pototoes weren't so expensive i'd eat these over walkers any day


They can't be more expensive than Walkers can they?

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 05 9:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i suppose when you put it that way BUT i rarely buy crisps so it's not like i'd be spending the money anyway. but we've been rethinking where our grocery funds are going lately so i'm sure we can squeeze in a few more sweet potatoes here and there and get rid of something else less healthy

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28098
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 05 9:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Must try sweet potato crisps. I am a little surprised it works.

My kids asked if we could do normal potato crisps, and I said I thought that would not work in the dehydrator. Am I also wrong on that?

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 05 10:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

i used to do them on the lowest oven setting but that actually cooks them a bit... i think in the dehyrator you'd just get dried potatoes but it's certainly worth slicing up a potato to see!

one tip though, add some seasonings to the potatoes before you dry them. i had a few sweet potatos on the same tray as the last bits of apple so i didn't season those and they weren't as nice

n



Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Posts: 211
Location: Lothian
PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 05 9:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I realise you posted in April and this is June, but I wouldn't use WD40 or veg oil on your machine. Veg oil is much heavier than machine oil and will thoroughly gum up the works. Wd 40 evaporates. I would invest in proper oil meant for sewing machines. Drummond Wools in Edinburgh will have it (just along from Haymarket, park for 30 mins for free in the road opposite in the shop as its in the green zone, but make sure you're in the right bit or it will cost you £30!)
How's the quilting going?
n

ButteryHOLsomeness



Joined: 03 Apr 2005
Posts: 770

PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 05 10:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

thanks N i don't drive so that's not a worry!

i've been to drummonds for a few bits and bobs... i actually wound up buying some machine oil on ebay in the end, it's not too expensive and i reckon it probably lasts for awhile...

thanks for pointing that out though!

if you know anything much about sewing please feel free to share. i've gotten the basics down and i'm learning how to use the various stiches on my machine properly. i have finished one 12" patchwork square complete with embellishments (might add more though!) and i'm going to work on another first time i get a chance. i want to make a handbag out of it.

i've done loads of repairs on clothing and have altered some of my daughters clothes since i got the machien. i am also in the process of making her a faery costume i love the machine, just wish i had more time and i also wish i could find a dressmaking course, no one can tell me where i can find one even at the shops!

Blacksmith



Joined: 25 Jan 2005
Posts: 5025
Location: Berkshire
PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 05 11:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I'm no expert on sewing machines, but for light mechanical you won't go far wrong with 3 in 1 oil. Or for very light mechanisms thinned with parrafin.
Dave

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