My planned project - and some questions

[jhockin]

Tobus:
Just curious if you worked-up the courage to try the old electric Singer yet?

[Tobus]

Tobus:
Just curious if you worked-up the courage to try the old electric Singer yet?

Not yet, but one of these days perhaps. For the moment, I'm going to put my labour into the treadle machine. I'm pretty sure it (the treadle Singer) just needs a good cleaning, oiling, and some minor adjustments once I get the new belt on. The electric Singer, on the other hand, is going to need wiring work - some of it is covered with black electrical tape - and some rubber parts replaced. Apparently replacement parts are fairly easily found, and even the motor can be completely rebuilt if needed. But that's more of a project than I want to get into right now, if I can make-do with the treadle machine.

I did a crude mock-up of how this blanket should look with my intended layout. This is using photos of the actual tartans I'll be using, although I may play around with their arrangement/layout a bit. Despite the mock-up visual, my tartan scraps won't all display the same portions of the sett. Each piece will be unique and likely not centred in the tartan pattern to minimize waste. Also, of the various pieces that I have, many of them are different size setts which will make it more visually interesting. I'm tempted to put some of them on the bias (diagonal), but I'm not sure I want to stray too far into artsy territory. I'm a professional engineer; I like squares and straight lines.

The tartan patches are:
Black Watch (modern)
Black Watch (ancient)
Black Watch (Wilson's colours)
MacKenzie/Seaforth
Gordon
Sutherland
USMC

[Lady Grey]

That looks fantastic!
As for bias.... mmm.... try a pillow top first?
Bias is a whole other ball game!

[Barb T]

I'm so glad you're putting all those tartan scraps to good use!!

Barb

[Tobus]

I'm so glad you're putting all those tartan scraps to good use!!

Barb

Thank you again for making them available! This patchwork blanket is my attempt to get my proverbial feet wet with machine sewing (I really haven't done it since I took Home Ec, circa 1986). If I'm successful and don't feel like throwing the whole thing in the river when I'm done, then I might plan to do a more complex project after that, using the smaller scraps that you sent me. Mainly the pleat cut-outs. That would be a lot of smaller work and more complex patterns, but I have some ideas for some really neat patterns to make the best use of them.

Anyway, I got my treadle Singer all cleaned up, oiled, and seemingly functional yesterday. There were plenty of spider webs, dirt dobber nests, lint, and caked up goo in there. But after cleaning it out and liberally applying penetrant oil, all the parts move smoothly. The presser foot was frozen in place, but after some soaking and gentle nudging with a hammer, it's good too. When I spin up the treadle wheel with the foot pedal, it runs by itself for a good 60 seconds before rocking to a stop. I love seeing old machinery come back to life! And as an engineer, I love seeing the design of the internal works. Such simplicity of design, and such thought put into making everything robust and serviceable.

Alas, I can't try sewing anything yet because I still don't have the new treadle belt or any bobbins. When those come in, I'll string it up and see how she does.

[Pleater]

I just took another look at the machine and I think there is a little rubber wheel missing from the bobbin winder - when in use the rubber wheel is in contact with the main machine wheel - it fits in the groove at the end of the winder.
You can improvise with rubber bands if necessary.

Anne the Pleater

[Tobus]

I just took another look at the machine and I think there is a little rubber wheel missing from the bobbin winder - when in use the rubber wheel is in contact with the main machine wheel - it fits in the groove at the end of the winder.
You can improvise with rubber bands if necessary.

Anne the Pleater

On the electric machine, the bobbin winder does get pushed up against the wheel. There's a rubber piece on there that needs replacing.

But on the treadle machine, as I understand it, the bobbin winder swings away from the main body of the machine so that the little wheel on the right side of the winder comes into contact with the treadle belt. There shouldn't be any rubber piece required.

I'm still waiting on the treadle belt to come in. My first one got lost in the mail, apparently. Just my luck. But once I get the silly belt on, I'll be testing it to make sure that bobbin winder works as intended.

[Pleater]

On the electric machine, the bobbin winder does get pushed up against the wheel. There's a rubber piece on there that needs replacing.

But on the treadle machine, as I understand it, the bobbin winder swings away from the main body of the machine so that the little wheel on the right side of the winder comes into contact with the treadle belt. There shouldn't be any rubber piece required.

I'm still waiting on the treadle belt to come in. My first one got lost in the mail, apparently. Just my luck. But once I get the silly belt on, I'll be testing it to make sure that bobbin winder works as intended.

Maybe just different models - it is difficult to see without the belt being on there, but yes, it does look as though the winder would connect with it.
The one we had from my Dad's mother was not electric, but the bobbin ran against the wheel not the belt. I had to repair the belt several times with cord as one of the holes through which the metal join passed had broken. I think that has to be the first thing I ever repaired.

Anne the Pleater

[DCampbell16B]

?
Bias is a whole other ball game!

Can confirm. My wife has been an active quilter for many years. She doesn't like bias because the fabric stretches, which can make it very, very difficult to accurately meet up with the pieces cut on the square.

[OC Richard]

I don't have anything to add, only that talk of quilts and Singers brings back fond memories.

West Virginia and quiltmaking are inseparable! They almost put a quilt on the State Quarter.

When my grandmother moved in with us she brought her quilting horses and she would sew all day. I grew up with a needle and thread in my hands, knowing a Wedding Ring from a Cathedral Window.

And her old Singer! It looked like it had started life as a treadle machine, with an aftermarket motor bolted on. Maybe it had been made that way, it looked homemade to me.

And my dad drove a Singer for a time! There were cars.