A new old toy

A month or so ago a friend asked if I was interested in her mother's old Singer sewing machine. I don't know anyone in their right mind who would turn down a working mechanical Singer sewing machine. I'm certainly not such a person. My friend brought it over during the height of the artisan market weaving marathon, so I was responsible and moved it to an out of the way corner. Even after the market it sat in its corner because preparing for Christmas had taken the brain space that had previously been occupied by the market. 

So it was that today I had an afternoon that had no demands and it was time to investigate the new toy waiting patiently in the corner. I have to say it is all even more wonderful than I had hoped. 

The sewing machine in question is model 301A. From my brief research it is known as the "big sister" to the featherweight. And this machine is heavy! It tips the scales around thirty pounds.

Still in it's case.

Along with the machine came the instruction book and multiple feet.

Button foot

A whole box of different feet.

Let's chat about some of these feet. First, they are so cool looking; little mechanical marvels. So of these feet are ones that I could never afford to get for my newer, digital sewing machines. 


Gathering foot

Edging foot

Hemming foot

But today's plan was to see if I could get it sewing. I went step by step through the instructions and I'm the end I had a machine that sewed. Not only that, I also followed the instructions and adjusted the tension to create an even stitch. 

I am enchanted by this machine. Everything makes sense as to what it is doing, and the instructions are extremely clear about not only how to use the machine but what screws and knobs need to be tightened or loosened to get the result you want. It all just makes sense. 

I do still love my modern high tech machines, but they are far more mysterious in how they work. If something goes wrong, the option is to take it to the shop instead of instructions as to how to fix it. 

Since I have it out and set up, I'm using it for basting together all the muslins I made for my pattern drafting class. I haven't quite decided where it is going to live. If I want to use it regularly it makes most sense to have it out because it is a heavy thing to move around. For right now it's living on the studio table. I don't need the table for anything else at the moment so it works. 

And yes, I realize that having too many sewing machines is a good type of problem. 

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