Underestimating the Young Sewist

(I don't like the word sewist.  I dislike sewer even more [when it's in print] --I spent yesterday repairing the toilet plumbing and don't want to refer to anyone as a sewer.  I really like seamstress but it's gender specific, so sewist it is.)



Photo from Vintage Sewing Patterns Wiki



My post is actually about Home Ec class.  I've read two or three things lately about old Home Ec classes.  Threads  magazine (Nov 2010) had this quote: "Even the most skilled or enthusiastic teacher was typically limited to dull, repetitive projects.  Everyone in class had to make the same thing, at the same time, out of the same materials."  It said that few people would say their home ec teacher was inspirational.

That wasn't my Home Ec class in the late 1970's.  Now I agree I wouldn't call my teacher inspirational --we didn't get along so well.  She knew my mother could sew and assumed I could, but I couldn't do much --so I went back and forth between class and home trying to pick up the skills.  The class spent the first few days learning the basics of sewing.  If you have one of the old Bishop sewing books that was basically my class.

Then the class was told to buy their pattern and fabric.  It could be whatever you wanted with the exception of knits.  No, knits!  One girl showed up with one and was told No, take it back.  We were, of course, steered toward something easy such as, skirts.  And since the wrap skirt in the photo was hugely popular, that is what most of us showed up with, including me.  My first fabric was a brown and rust plaid.  Yes, plaid.

There were only about six or eight tables for cutting and the teacher would go around helping each student.  I learned how to match plaid right away.  (And mostly succeeded --if you didn't look too hard).  I was quite pleased with my skirt and a little proud.  And I wore it a lot.

I was thirteen years old at the time.  I'm of the opinion that if I can sew at that age anyone can.  And sewing didn't come naturally to me as it did to my mother --I had to work at it, but it all came together beautifully -- eventually.  (I'm still learning though.)

Just Some Quilt Sewing

I haven't done much sewing lately it seems, but I have been quilting up a bunch of quilt tops I had made and stacked up.  I love the bold colors in this stroller size one.

I seem to be more occupied with keeping the house standing:  leaking toilet, broken ceiling fan, mildewing grout, strange and annoying humming in the plumbing pipes, etc.

Junior Vogue

As a teenager I think I would have liked this simple dress.  I like it now and I'm far from being a  teenager.  Notice the model with the solid version is wearing what looks like a long sleeve T-shirt underneath her dress.  I don't think I've ever seen this sort of thing done in vintage clothes with short sleeves --it seems a more modern thing.

A Knitting Request

I don't usually do sewing/knitting requests.  My husband once told me that he told a co-worker that wanted me to copy a baby quilt for her that I don't do requests and sewing is my creative outlet where I am totally a free spirit.  No one tells me what to make!  (And I don't copy other people's quilts; where's the fun in that?  Plus she was to cheap to pay $85 for it --I would have charged more if it had been my work). 

Back to the point:  Son #1 has asked for a scarf.  More specifically a Doctor Who scarf.  Fans know of the scarf Tom Baker wore in the 1970's for the show.  It was ridiculously long.  You can even see Baker sort of trip on it a couple of times. 

Well, of course, I'm going to make it!  The men folk don't usually want any of my sewing/knitting stuff.  It's also beautifully mindless knitting --stripes and garter stitch --so simple.  There's even a site dedicated to this scarf with the pattern.

The only problem was finding the right colors.  I ended up getting Berroco's Comfort yarn.  I usually stick to more natural yarns (this one is acrylic and nylon--blah)  but I couldn't find the necessary colors in anything else.  There were some wool yarns available, but I've had nothing but trouble with wool the past two years with these stupid adult onset allergies.  This bothers me since I used to love felting things.  But synthetic it is!

If you've read older posts you'll know this isn't my first Doctor Who knitting project  --those Daleks are still here.

1940's Dress That Isn't My Size

Some time ago I photographed all my patterns and put them in a file on the computer so I can browse through them without getting out all the bins they're stored in.  I was feeling in the mood for 1940's over the weekend and started to search for something to make when I found this beauty above.  I  actually sat back and wondered why haven't I made this before --I really like it --that waist detail, the fabulous neckline, the shoulder yoke.  Then I spotted the size...a 42.  A 42?!  In my collection?  I'm a scrawny little 32 here.  Somehow I had two larger size patterns --the previous owner of most of my patterns sewed for other people sometimes.  I had forgotten about this one.  Needless to say, I'm disappointed.  I'll have to rummage out the bin this is in, see if it's all there, and sell it.  Maybe in return I'll buy a similar one...in my size.

The Featherweight Is Ready To Sew

In yesterday's post I told how my new Singer 221 Featherweight was in very good condition when I bought it.  The only thing I knew had to be fixed was the plug.  Obviously it had been replaced once before with this round one.  Part of it was missing and one of the prongs was knocked loose.  I popped it back in to test the motor but stopped at the hardware store for a new plug.  That's a simple fix.

Cleaning didn't take long either with one exception.  I was amazed at how much lint was under the throat plate.  I haven't had a vintage sewing machine yet that didn't have its feed dogs crammed with lint but this one wins for the most.  It was crammed all down in around the bobbin area too.  Plus broken threads were twisted all around things. 

Once that was cleaned out the machine really only needed a good oiling --it was very dry.  The seller told me it had been in the attic for awhile.  The case smells like an attic, but better an attic than a basement smell!

I didn't even have to polish all the metal parts.  They were already shiny --even the presser foot.  That's never happened before; usually they're pretty grimy.

The bobbin had quite a number of thread colors wound around it:  white, black, blue, green, red, and white again.  While it came with a manual and all the basic attachments (except the narrow hemmer but I have several of those), it only had the one bobbin.  No problem; I have a couple of others and a pack of new ones.  Oh, and it came with two rufflers.  I don't know if I've ever mentioned it but every machine I pick up has a low shank ruffler and sometimes two with it --even if it doesn't fit that machine.  I must have a dozen of those things now.

So what does a sewing hermit like myself do with a portable machine?  I carried it into the living room and sewed while I watched some Sci-Fi on TV.  I admit I've never been a Featherweight fan and thought they were over hyped machines (definitely overpriced), but this little thing is NICE!

A New Member of the Family

Sewing machine family, of course.  No, I didn't need another sewing machine nor did I particularly want one.  I've passed several little beauties by lately thinking they would be fabulous machines...for someone else.  I didn't even call about the Craigslist ad that simply said "Singer Sewing Machine" when I first spotted it over a week ago.  Friday I said to my husband that the little machine was still listed and might make a nice Christmas present.  To my surprise he actually called about it then told me we would go and look at it in the morning.  He stressed that I was going because he wasn't about to pay for something he knows nothing about.  Fair enough.

We went to the seller's house and there it was.  A Singer 221-1 known as the Featherweight.  The case as you can see is in OK condition except that one of the locks is broken off and someone seems to have dropped a paint brush with white paint on it.

In the dimly lit kitchen the machine looked remarkably pritsine.  I mean perfect.  Strangely perfect.   I admit I was excited but so suspicious--this thing was beautiful!  I really couldn't believe my eyes, but I looked it over and the motor looked original, the wires looked original (and again, in great condition except a piece of tape in one spot).  I checked for the bobbin case --it was there.  I followed the thread path checking the guides and the tension knob --all fine.  The little thing was just glinting.  I've heard of these being repainted and cheap decals put on them, but I couldn't find any evidence of this having been done. 

It wasn't until I carried it into better light that I finally saw indications of this machine having actually been used.  But there they were --all the little pin scratches, as I think of them --the tiny scratches that can't be avoided on a sewing machine if it's being used.  Plus there was a little mark on top and a little blot of white paint on the front bed decal (very messy painter).  So it wasn't a refurbished machine but one that was very well taken care of.  And now it's mine. The sellers probably had no idea they could have got at least twice, if not more, than what they were asking (and I certainly didn't tell them!)  

Treadle Sewing Machine Needle

First, I did get the sewing machine needle that was stuck in my New Home treadle out.  I did what everyone suggested and put some oil up around it.  After two days it popped right out.

The problem:  Before I got the needle out, I thought the it seemed longer than usual and wondered if it was one of those larger non-standard size needles.  When Rosie1925 left a comment that she has the same machine and puts the needle in without it going quite all the way in I was sure it was the different size.  In the photo you can see the needle that came out on the left.  The one on the right is the standard 15 x 1 size that is available everywhere sewing machine needles are sold.  The other is special order if you can find it --and more expensive.  If you want a treadle to sew on regularly this is something to be aware of.  The old Singers generally take the standard size needle.

I'm probably not going to do a whole lot of sewing on this treadle, but I still love it for its beauty and family history!

Mail Order Pattern

I've never used a mail order pattern.  Until recently I only had three of them in my collection, but I came across some 1960's ones and picked them up.  While I'm planning for fall and winter sewing I still like to think ahead for next spring.  The architectural seaming in this one is nice.  I wonder what it would look like with two different color fabrics --except I never wear color blocks because my husband always comments on that sort of thing looking like a super hero's outfit.  Not a look I'm going for...maybe.

Finally Did Some Sewing (And Made A Top)

I managed to get a little sewing in and made a wrap dress from Butterick 5454.  Only when I was done and looked in the mirror I wasn't exactly pleased with it.  It wasn't bad just meh.  Once again my husband looked at it, said it was ok but would be better as a top.  He was right again.  A simple fix -- I now have a comfortable little top to wear over my yoga pants in the morning.

Sorry about the blurry photo.  I took several but they were either blurry or overly bright.  My camera doesn't seem to be working so well.  Do digital cameras wear out?  It wouldn't surprise me if they did.  My camera isn't that old nor was it cheap but I'm having trouble with it lately.

Pattern Monday As Usual

I always show a vintage sewing pattern from my collection on Mondays.  One of these days I'm going to run out of ones to show but not yet.  And no, I do not make them all.

This Advance 8238 pattern is neat.  It looks like a simple straight dress from the front, but the skirt back isn't straight --it has a little more fabric to flare out.  Behind that long front placket are two zippers:  one in the bodice and one in the skirt.  A bit unusual.  I like the little notes written on pattern envelopes by the previous owner.  This one has written to narrow the shoulder and raise the waistline.  She's also written 3 1/2 yards of 42" taffeta and 3 1/2 yards of 36" lace.  I would have liked to have seen that dress.