This last Monday I happened to scan thru Craigslist for sewing machines.
I try to do that monthly, just to see if there are any great machines at a good price.
This time I found an older Singer machine. Listed merely as a vintage machine for $50.
I called the number and it hadn't been sold so we made arrangements to meet. I didn't
have my reading glasses on and we were inside a garage so I really couldn't see just what
the machine was. It looked very similar to a Featherweight. I had him plug it in and run it
for me. The light switch had an issue and he said he had no thread to actually show me
that it could stitch but on faith I bought it. For $45.00 of course, have to save a buck or
two.
Once I got it home I could easily see that it is a 99K, has a cute little case as well.
Now, I've wanted a 99K but when I put in a wanted ad no one had one. Now I do.
First thing I did was clean it well. Didn't really want to take things apart too far.
Parts of it had obviously been cleaned and it has a new belt. I get it all back together,
thread it and away I go. Clunk, clunk, clunk...jam. Oh great. Now I'm thinking this
guy knew all along it didn't work with thread. I decide now to clean a little deeper and
figure out where it's jammed and why. I find a thread or two but its still jammed. I flip her
over which is difficult because it's attached to the bottom of the case, and oil and grease
all the under areas. I keep playing with it and finally the jam is gone.
I try it again and clunk, clunk..but I stop before the jam. It came with a bobbin loaded with
some super heavy duty thread so I pull all of it off. I don't have another class 66 bobbin in the house to fill. I fill it and put on some white thread and try again. Clunk..I stop.
Now I notice the needle in the thing is HUGE so I replace it with a normal size thing and try
again. She sews beautifully!! I am so excited. Eventually I'll ask my husband to replace the
light fixture but until then I'll use a clamp on light. Here is a picture of it.
Yesterday I went to work and after waking up with a headache it only got worse. I was
feeling really lousy by 10am and came home. I am just now feeling better. Don't know what it was but no fun feeling that bad especially since my brand new Bailey Home Quilter 15" arrived later in the afternoon. I never even played with it. Can you imagine? I'm going to go in
and give her a whirl in a minute. Wish me luck.
I just now realized I never told you I had ordered another
quilting machine. Sorry about that. I have the Bailey Home Quilter 13"
and have been very happy with it but I suddenly decided it would
be great to have a 15". I'd love to have the 17" but that is out of my financial
comfort zone right now. Anyway, on the 31st of December I called and ordered
one. Chuck took out the money today which means the machine is being shipped
either today or Monday. I am SUPER excited. This is like being a little kid on
Christmas eve.
I've put my 13" on Craigslist and a couple quilting forums for sale. I have no
doubt it will sell. They are fantastic machines.
I work for a public school district so I was able to take off some time over the
Christmas break. I had almost 2 weeks which was great. First off I put a queen/king
top on the frame and used some of the backing fabric my husband had gotten me for
Christmas. This one is called Emerald Forest and done mostly in batiks. I was a little
worried about quilting it as everyone talks about the trouble you can have with batiks
but I had no problems at all. Luckily. :)
The 2nd quilt was done back in 2007 as a Mystery quilt. Once again just waiting on
wide backing and courage to get it quilted. This one was slightly smaller, more like
queen than king. The quilting went much faster. The Emerald forest seemed to take
forever to make a pass across the top. Of course both still need binding. That makes
3 waiting for that process. Hmmm, now am I just shifting them from one pile to another?
I don't see a rush to finish them as they have no new home to go to. I offered either of
them to my son for his new house but he keeps insisting that he's not a quilt person.
Ah well.
Today I'm going to get the laundry done quickly, clean the kitchen a little and then
put a smaller quilt on the frame. Nothing fancy, just 4" squares from years ago. I'm
wanting to practice different designs in the squares. I really need to kick up my skills.
I get so jealous when I see pictures of quilting ladies on my Bailey forum have done.
I keep thinking can they be that much better than me?? I know it's all about practice
so that is where I'll be today and probably tomorrow.
Ohhh! my husband just told me that the funds have been removed for the Bailey 15" we
ordered. That usually means it is being shipped! Chuck doesn't put the charge thru until
its ready to ship. I am so excited!! I just have to get the 13" sold now.
Talk with you soon.
It is almost Christmas break at school which means some time off for me. My sweet husband couldn't
think of anything I might like for Christmas so I suggested some wide quilt backing. He had me pick it
out and he ordered it. It is sitting in a box in the living room waiting for Christmas morning. I am so excited
about it, 18 1/2 yards! Wowee.
I took the quilt tops which were stacked in a corner of my cutting table and draped them over my frame to
help reduce some wrinkles in preparation. OH, I forgot to mention that my oldest son is moved out and into
his own home so I moved the frame into his room. I also have a table to cut, as well as my serger. I did finally
figure out how to thread it. It wasn't so bad after all. My son still needs to get some things out of there so I can
really get it organized better. I do have a design wall too. :)
I've been playing around making pot holders. A very quick item to make. It seems they get stained so quickly
that this way I can make them and toss them when they get too bad.
I seriously cannot believe almost 2 months has gone by since I last posted.
Let's see if I can remember what has happened since then.
We replaced my electricity sucking computer (crazy high) with a new Acer mini
notebook. I can't even tell it is working as it makes no noise. The fan on the other
one, which wasn't a laptop, was on most of the time and very loud. Did I mention that
it was also huge?
I guess I could mention that we got a really high electric bill. $135 more than it's ever been.
Woweee. $535.00 will get your attention quick. My wonderful husband bought a meter to check the amount of electricity each thing in the house uses over a 24 hour period. Surprisingly, the hot water heater doesn't use as much as we thought. It was all the little things, especially if they have transformers, that did it. We also switched to peak/off peak usage meter but the jury is still out on whether or not it is going to save us. If not we can switch back.
My son should close on his house tomorrow or Monday and be in next week. Paperwork has been a pain. Everyone has to get their added costs in there.
I went to the Quilt,sew and craft show. Tried out several longarm machines. I have decided that I don't want a stitch regulator. I guess if you start with one you love them but if not well, you get it. The sound of it speeding up and slowing down distracted me from the quilting. A fellow quilter from Casa Grande came by to try out my machine and frame. She went away with the knowledge that her frame has some issues and worked on it to make it better. Not sure what she decided about the machine. She didn't say.
I got about 11" of hair cut off and donated to Locks for Love. Hopefully, next year I can do the
same. Last year it was 9" to Pantene for adult women. Such a small thing to do.
I'll try to do better on posting. Can't do much worse, eh?
We get no season changes here, no beautiful leaves just dirt. It will be under 88 today and that is okay with me.
Remember just a little while ago that I was singing the wonders of my new
serger?? Well, the time finally came that I needed to thread it.. YIKES. All I have
to say is if you are use to a domestic sewing machine it is no small feat to thread a
4 thread sergers. I got mad and gave up but I WILL get it figured out. They keep
emphasizing the order so I'll begin again. Once I have it things will be great with it.
My oldest son is in Anaheim for a few days enjoying Blizzcon. A World of Warcraft
convention. He was lucky enough to get to buy some tickets and will be having a blast!
It doesn't seem possible that I've been away so long.
I have been busy practicing as well as all the usual things that wives, mothers,
daughters, sisters, friends and co-workers do. Life just always seems to get in
the way of fun some times.
My son's house is getting closer to being completed. They called him today and told
him closing and final walk-thru are on September 25th. He is very excited but worried
that he'll be hit with some added financial issues they "forgot" to mention.
Let's see if I can find a somewhat current photo. I'll bet you notice that beautiful blue sky as well. He has amazing views.
What have you been busy doing? Any sewing or quilting? I am working on some Christmas stockings for "Operation Santa USMC" I want to see just how many I can get made. Nothing fancy just some stockings for our fighting men and women. It's the least I can do.
