New Projects

Here it is, 4 1/2 months into 2008 and I’ve really slacked off posting on my blog. Work has kept me more than busy and I’m really looking forward to getting back to my part time hours so I can finish the few projects that I’ve got going.

One of the projects that I have in the works is a total restore on a 1919 Singer sewing machine that I obtained from Ebay back in February. It was sold as a parts machine, took me over a month to get it from the seller due to a mix up.  After getting the machine in my possession I discovered that it was intact as far as it’s parts, making it a very good candidate for restoration.

I’ve been waiting on warmer weather to get the project going in earnest and was able to get started a few weeks ago. I had a heck of a time finding enough Kerosene and the right sized container to soak it in. Why the kerosene you ask? It does wonders for loosening up frozen parts, dirt inside and out and won’t hurt the gold leaf on the outside. The container of choice wound up being a 28 quart cooler just big enough to hold the machine and 4 gallons of liquid.

The machine set soaking for nearly 3 weeks before I could get back to it last week spending the better part of an afternoon taking it apart. I’m still having problems with a few screws that hold in the needle shaft and the presser foot shaft, may have to resort to brut force with them.

1919 Singer Model 66 Redeye aka Ebay Machine.

Year nearly over!

The year is nearly over and a lot has happened since it started.  Slowing down on the crochet, going back to work, renewing my interest in sewing, the passing of both my mother in law and my father, and the birth of my newest grandson. Man, it’s been a busy year!

          

This is one of the 3 coats that I tried to get finished before Christmas, the last one still needs 2 pom poms and snaps but I should be able to finish that up tonight.  The coat didn’t call for a lining but I didn’t like the way it looked without.

My Sister’s Antique Singer (cont.)

I finished up my sister’s machine today, wound the bobbin, threaded it and gave it a test run in my treadle cabinet. I think she’ll be pleased with it, I know that I am.

As promised, the after picture.

My Sister’s Antique Singer

A few months ago I purchased an antique sewing machine, a singer handcrank from 1917 and this set a few wheels turning in my head. I had asked my sister if she wanted me to see what I could do with her old treadle. It was all rusted up and was looking really rough and I wanted to see if I could get it running for her.

After getting it to my house I soaked it in Liquid Wrench as best I could and let it set for a few hours. That was enough to free it up but only to find that the bobbin case was rusted to this spindle thing that it fits on. I had also soaked the bobbin case and tried to use a screw driver to free it but broke it instead. I was able to find online a place that sells replacement parts for old sewing machines.

This is before picture of my sister’s Singer, Model 15 made in 1907. The after picture is waiting for me to take it when I get back from Virginia.

Good Friends!

You can never have to many good friends! My friend, Wanda has been crocheting her heart out in the last few months getting ready for her local fair and she done really good with the ribbons. I knew that one of the things that she was making was a baby blanket for my soon to be grandson that’s due in less than 3 weeks. Not only did she do the blanket but also a really cute bib and booties.

She also did this really neat bag for my granddaugther, Giana and sent 8 skeins of Patons Cotton Top yarn for me to make something with.

Catching up again!

Quit a bit has happened since my last posting which explains why all you seen was my husband’s tomatoes.

The day after posting those beautiful tomatoes my husband lost his mother. He’d gone to the mountains to tend to her like he had nearly every other weekend for the last few years. I had picked with people and told them that he’s left me again for his other woman. They where getting ready to go to town, she’d gotten up to change clothes and fell in the bathroom. I got the call about and hour later that she was gone. I am so very glad that my husband was with his mother.

My mother in law as a heavy smoker, pert near a chain smoker. When I came up to visit my smoking got worse than my 2 packs a day. It was getting so that I was having a hard time breathing and I knew it was time to do something about it. I had smoked since I was 15 years old and had tried to quit 3 times before without a lot of luck. I bought my last pack of cigarettes on Sunday the 5th and haven’t had one to smoke since the 7th.  Yes I’ve had a hard time getting passed the first few days but I do belive I’m over the worst. (Breathsaver mints have been a Godsend.)

 

Matching hat for sweater

After finished the sweater for my grandson to be I just had to have a hat to go along with it. A dear friend of mine shared this pattern with me, it’s just a simple visor cap that looks like a base ball hat.  I worked it up in about 3 hours this afternoon. Looks perfect on the teddy bear.

Baby Sweater

I am going to have the best dressed grandson in the county if not the state, lol. This little number I got from Crochet Pattern Central and it’s called the Everyday Ragland. It didn’t take me long to do, about 5 hours total. I’m hoping that my daugther will bring home the baby from the hospital in this.

Bad, Bad, Bad Girl!

I’m a bad, bad, bad girl! I didn’t realize that it’s been 2 months since I posted anything on my blog or been envolved in anything at all on C’ville.

I finally finished the Round Ripple afghan that I started on the 11th of May and sent it off to my daughter’s friend. This was the first piece that I was to be paid for and I had set the price but wound up giving the lady a break on it. Got just enough to cover the cost of the yarn, shipping and a bit of my time.

My part time job is going rather well, I’m working about 3 days a week which gives me plenty of time to do what ever needs to be done around here. I started on a sweater from my Becky’s baby and keep redoing it, not sure if I like the way the yoke is turning out. Better do something with it soon, the baby will be here before we know it.