 |
| Elle Dubya's restoration projects: One down, ane to go |
A calendar month earlier I started this blog, California-based homemaker "Elle Dubya" fired upwardly a vintage Singer spider web log of her own. Titled "My Sewing Machine Addiction," it chronicles her impressive mission of completely trigger-happy downward too rebuilding a model 201-2 that she acquired inwards May. Her spider web log went upwardly inwards June, too I've been hooked ever since discovering it. "When I purchased this 201-2, I rushed into buying her," Elle admits, too it's a feeling many of us know well. "I was charmed yesteryear her decals, too it wasn't until I got domicile too into skillful calorie-free that I realized that she was inwards genuinely bad shape."
The 201-2's status earned it a nickname: "I named her Ms. Rusty," Elle says. "I couldn't motion the needle, her gears were locked up, too she was inwards dire demand of both aesthetic too functional repair. At that signal I figured I couldn't genuinely exercise whatsoever to a greater extent than damage to her so I mightiness every bit good seek fixing her up...even though I was in all probability diving into the deep destination of the pool."
Elle's 201-2 rescue projection is fascinating too inspiring because 1) She's trigger-happy down everything on the machine, too 2) she's never done this before. Although her grandmother taught her to run upwardly at a immature age, the 40-something Elle didn't acquire dorsum into sewing until her thirties, too "the vintage sewing machine põrnikas fleck me simply this year," she confesses. How did that happen? Read on for the Vintage Singer Sewing Machine Blog's commencement People Profile, the Elle Dubya interview!
VSSMB: You got into vintage sewing machines simply this year. What's the story?
Elle Dubya: I was looking to acquire a Featherweight because they are such cute footling machines too are slowly to carry to quilting class. Unfortunately, I'm also a cheapskate, or "bargain shopper" depending on your view…
…and I didn't desire to pay the $300-plus that most people accuse for those babies. So I started cruising Craigslist too came across an onetime dark Singer inwards a cabinet for $75 which simply called out to me.
I bought it, but it wasn't until I did to a greater extent than inquiry that I found out that I had a 15-91 Centennial edition that was worth to a greater extent than than I paid. I learned a lot cleaning her upwardly too refinishing her cabinet, too it wasn't long earlier I started trolling Craigslist on a regular ground looking for to a greater extent than bargains--or every bit I tell my husband, investments :)
And eventually yous picked upwardly the rusty 201-2 that would acquire the plain of written report of your blog. How did that happen?
Well, I was trolling Craigslist similar I commonly exercise on the weekends too found a icon demo of what appeared to live a vintage Singer inwards decent shape. I'm non yet familiar plenty amongst vintage sewing machines to tell what the model was without to a greater extent than information, so I asked what the model and/or series position out was. The seller was form plenty to tell me the series position out too using the Singer website I determined she was at 1941 Model 201. I had been on the Yahoo Groups (Vintage Singers too WeFixIt) long plenty to know that the 201 was a skillful machine so I made arrangements to banking concern check her out.
During my see I found out that the electrical flow possessor inherited her from his grandmother who bought her brand-new inwards 1941. She was taken attention of too used upwardly to the hateful solar daytime his grandma passed away, some 10 years ago. During that fourth dimension he had been storing her inwards his garage too was hoping at some signal to larn to run upwardly too position her to use. Unfortunately, he needed to a greater extent than room inwards his garage too he decided that since he hadn't touched her inwards 10 years that it would live improve if she went to a improve home.
We opened her upwardly too discovered that she appeared to guide keep some surface rust (I wouldn't realize how bad the rust was until much later), but nosotros plugged her inwards to catch if she would run. I adjusted the residual bike to bobbing winding trend so that exclusively the motor would run without turning over the gears. The motor hummed correct along so at to the lowest degree the motor was inwards operational condition. I so tried moving the residual bike to motion the needle upwardly too down, but she wouldn't plough over. Naively I thought she exclusively needed a footling oiling to acquire her dorsum into shape. Her decals were inwards first-class shape, too the cabinet was inwards fairly skillful shape - goose egg that a fleck of pocket-sized refinishing piece of occupation couldn't fix. The cabinet didn't come upwardly amongst the matching stool, but I figured betwixt the cabinet too what was sure to live an operational machine amongst a footling stone oil too TLC (ha!) she was worth the $55 bespeak price.
So far, so good. But so yous discovered some problems amongst the machine?
It wasn't until I got home, took her out of the cabinet, too did a existent inspection inwards skillful lighting that I found out the existent problems she had too thence she earned the advert Ms. Rusty.
Being stored inwards a garage exclusively 2 blocks from the Pacific Ocean was non form to her. She had exclusively surface rust on the chrome, but serious rust on the needle mechanism, the bobbin assembly, the inner gear shaft, too underneath the head. The dorsum of the machine was the worst too the rust was eating away at the metallic nether the japanning, causing it to come upwardly off inwards big flakes. The wiring to the motor was also a mess - its a miracle nosotros didn't small the whole affair out when nosotros turned it on.
It became pretty obvious to me that she was going to demand a lot to a greater extent than than TLC too stone oil to convey her dorsum to functional status or create her aesthetically pleasing, too hoping for both was a long shot. That's when I decided neither Ms. Rusty or myself had anything to lose too everything to gain from a consummate tear-down too overhaul - fifty-fifty if it meant breaking some rules established yesteryear to a greater extent than experienced too knowledgeable people than myself - similar pulverization coating her instead of icon her, taking every unmarried screw out rather than simply the minimum needed.
And every bit you've found, at that topographic point are plenty of experienced sewing machine wrenchers who'll tell yous non to guide keep a machine completely apart.
I position a "words of warning" page on my spider web log because at that topographic point was to a greater extent than than ane individual that 'freaked out' when they found out what I was doing. I thought it would live a skillful thought to allow them know that what I'm virtually to exercise is in all probability stupid, but I'm going to exercise it anyway (LOL).
What made yous create upwardly one's heed to document the projection inwards a blog?
Since I didn't genuinely know what I was doing, I knew I would demand lots of pictures to aid me acquire her dorsum together again--if I could fifty-fifty acquire her apart. I also tend to guide keep lots of notes when I exercise my restorations or projects of whatsoever form (probably due to many years taking notes inwards course of pedagogy too inwards meetings). I needed a identify to store all those pictures too notes inwards some sort of organized way, so starting a spider web log was simply every bit skillful a identify every bit any. I genuinely didn't hold off anyone to read my blog, but I figured if at that topographic point was some slight adventure that at that topographic point mightiness live someone that would detect this data helpful, so it couldn't wound to create the spider web log public. Honestly, I'm shocked that at that topographic point is anyone likewise my hubby next my spider web log too fifty-fifty to a greater extent than shocked at the position out of page views my spider web log has had. There are to a greater extent than sick people out at that topographic point than I realized (LOL)!
Let's utter virtually your previous wrenching/restoration experience.
When I was 15, I worked on a 1967 Chevelle Malibu amongst my step-dad. That was my commencement restoration project. The automobile was covered inwards rust so I learned how to withdraw rust using a belt sander(!). I also learned how to utilisation your criterion tools, similar screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, et cetera; how to smooth chrome; too most importantly, I learned that perseverance too attending to exceptional pays off inwards the end.
When I was inwards my 30s, I found some other 1967 Chevelle Malibu for sale. I bought it too restored it myself so I could finally drive my dream car. [Pictured upwardly top.] It was my daily driver for a patch too directly I simply drive it on the weekends too for shows.
My commencement existent sewing machine restoration is Ms. Rusty, the 201-2 that yous catch on the blog. I had also done some piece of occupation on the 15-91 Centennial, "Ms. C, "but that wasn't much to a greater extent than than simply cleaning the surface, replacing the grease, too oiling her up.
 |
| After an Evaporust bath |
 |
| Impressive before/after of the handwheel |
My husband's hobby is edifice experimental aircraft, which makes my sewing machine hobby expression similar child's play :) Some of the extra equipment he has is a sandblaster (beadblaster); a pulverization coating set-up, including oven; too a few welders (mig, tig, oxy-acetylene, etc.), too wiring equipment such every bit soldering gun too oestrus gun. He's built too flown 2 airplanes so far too is nearly finished amongst his third. He's also a professional person diesel fuel mechanic, so he is a skillful sounding board for my ideas too encourages me inwards my tinkering adventures.
I'm pretty sure I would guide keep even so pigeon into completely refurbishing Ms. Rusty if I didn't guide keep access to all his equipment. I simply would guide keep used to a greater extent than traditional techniques such every bit using pigment stripper instead of sandblasting too using auto pigment instead of pulverization coating. It would probable guide keep taken longer too may or may non guide keep looked every bit good, but it for sure is to a greater extent than fun to utilisation my hubby's toys for this project!
As the championship of this spider web log suggests, I'm exclusively interested inwards fixing upwardly vintage Singers; but I yell back a lot of the readers are to a greater extent than interested inwards sewing inwards general, too a wider multifariousness of machines. Can yous tell us what yous similar to sew, too what machines yous use?
As far every bit sewing, I genuinely relish quilting because yous tin john live creative too it ever fits! But I also similar sewing clothes, hats,curtains, too other domicile dec items. Last summertime I did quite a fleck of sewing too embroidery for my babe sisters wedding, including making too embroidering her veil, band bearer pillow, blossom daughter basket, too several other items. I'm even so working on her quilt too promise to guide keep that done earlier her 1st anniversary :) The commencement projection I did on my vintage 15-91 was a sheet booney chapeau for my husband. It would guide keep been hard to run upwardly through so many thick layers on my modern machines but onetime Ms. C went through it similar a champ - I was impressed!
I utilisation most of the machines I own, some to a greater extent than than others. Here is my electrical flow 'family:'
- Ms. Rusty, obviously, a 1940 Singer 201 inwards a Model forty cabinet acquired from Craigslist.
- Ms. C, or Ms. Centennial - 1951 Singer 15-91. She was the ane who got me hooked on restoring vintage sewing machines. She came inwards a Model 71 cabinet inwards genuinely pitiable shape too I ended upwardly spending every bit much fourth dimension refinishing the cabinet every bit Ms. C. She sews similar a dream too is my 2d favorite side yesteryear side to Ellie (see below), at to the lowest degree at the minute :)
- GiGi - 1946 Singer 221 Featherweight. My father-in-law (my husband's dad), upon finding out that I was collecting sewing machines, too genuinely using them, decided to give me his Grandma's (my husband's Great Grandma's) sewing machine. I almost roughshod out of my chair when I found out it was a featherweight! GiGi is small for Great Grandma.
- Ellie - a Baby Lock Ellisimo sewing too embroidery machine. She is the most modern too versatile of all the machines I have. Not sure I would desire to live without her!
- Sergio - a Baby Lock Evolution Serger. This is the exclusively machine that has a manlike individual name, but it seems appropriate given that it is less fragile too ornamental than whatsoever of my other machines too also is the exclusively ane amongst a built-in knife. He was my acquaint for graduating from concern school.
- Jem - a Janome Jem Platinum, which is perfect for taking to classes but is non nearly every bit cute every bit a featherweight.
- Blossom - a imperial Janome Blossom. I found her on Craigslist. As a children's sewing machine she isn't really versatile, nor really practical. But she is purple, too since that is my favorite colouring I simply couldn't resist buying a imperial sewing machine! I suspect she volition eventually travel to ane of my nieces if they ever acquire the sewing bug.
- Connie - a Consew Model 18. She was given to me through a friend of the menage unit of measurement too volition live used when I exercise the upholstery for my husbands airplane. I haven't sewn amongst her yet every bit I detect her a fleck intimidating for some foreign reason.
- Bernie - 1980 Nova 900 Bernina. I got her when someone at piece of occupation heard that I liked sewing too thought that their babe mightiness guide keep a skillful domicile amongst me. I so called my mother in law for her advice too asked if she thought I was beingness light-headed to purchase yet some other sewing machine. Her respond was "You don't genuinely hold off me to tell yous NOT to acquire a sewing machine, exercise you?" When Pops (my mother-in-law's husband) overheard that, he told her that nosotros both belong to the SMAA lodge - or Sewing Machine Acquisition Addicts club. Since then, my mother in law too I are proud members of the SMAA, adhere to the 12 stitch computer programme (instead of the 12-step program), too don't genuinely guide keep whatsoever plans to halt acquiring sewing machines whatsoever fourth dimension soon.
- Several battery operated 'hand' sewing machines, if yous genuinely desire to count them.
- I'm even so cruising to a greater extent than or less yard sales too Craigslist looking for my side yesteryear side project. This yesteryear weekend I added some other machine to my brood: It's a 306k - non sure of the yr every bit I can't seem to locate the series number, but it has the model position out on a plate below the stitch regulator so it's probable 1960 or older. She doesn't guide keep a advert yet, but since she was made inwards England, I yell back she should guide keep a British sounding name, similar Gertie or Pippa.
I lately picked upwardly my commencement 306 every bit well. So you'll proceed acquiring vintage Singers?
Yes. I'll probable remain amongst the dark electrical motor models, although if the correct treadle machine comes along I mightiness reconsider.
Now that you've got nearly 3 months of the Ms. Rusty projection nether your belt, what are the best too worst parts of doing a consummate sewing machine restoration?
Best parts: Accomplishing something that yous didn't genuinely yell back would live possible.
Worst parts: 1) Finding out that ane of your "good" ideas [to solve a exceptional problem] isn't so skillful after all, too 2) It taking longer than I expected.
As far every bit Worst Part #1, that's ane of the reasons your spider web log is so instructive too inspiring: You readily acknowledge too demo us when something's gone wrong. I yell back something that stops a lot of people from attempting repair or refurbishment is this fearfulness of making mistakes. It's encouraging to catch on your spider web log that yous tin john create mistakes too it's non the destination of the world. As for Worst Part #2, how long exercise yous anticipate it volition guide keep yous to finish? Also, exercise yous attention how long it takes?
Ha! Excellent question. My life is pretty crazy correct directly amongst work, too I've simply started a garden, too nosotros are going to completely remodel our kitchen too living room this fall; if yous haven't noticed, I commonly seize amongst teeth off to a greater extent than than I tin john chew. With all that inwards mind, I promise to live done yesteryear Thanksgiving, but who knows what life volition throw at me. As long every bit I'm having fun too learning along the way, I don't genuinely attention how long it takes.
Thanks in ane lawsuit again for doing the interview!
Everyone, live sure to banking concern check out Elle's progress at My Sewing Machine Addiction.
