Sewing Pains

A wish-list machine has been found! For AU$100 I am the proud owner of a lovely German 401-13: The machine was serviced in 2015 but still has a problem with zigzag stitches, I hope I can resolve the issue.

Well, another vintage Singer joined the collection this week, which brings the total to four! I hadn't planned on buying another machine so soon after my 99K, but this machine is unusual, and it was so cheap... :o So, without further ado meet Janice - a splendid and uncommon (in Australia) 1947 Singer 66-16 (sans motor) in the fashionable-at-the-time 'black side' crinkle / matte black, scratch-resistant, and low-glare finish! Machines with this finish are uncommon here because Kilbowie, Scotland normally supplied Australia, and it was less common for American machines to come to our shores. Singer 1947 66-16. Some of these machines are a 'blackside' series, where every piece of metal has been treated to have a black appearance. My machine doesn't have this, but I did manage to find a blackside thread guide and needle clamp, as well as a few black presser feet. I am on the lookout for a treadle cabinet for this machine, or perhaps a wooden base

I now have an extension table! I had a piece of dark grey acrylic/plexiglass/perspex cut today, based on a cardboard template I made for my Lisa. This model did not have an extension table as an option, so I had to DIY. The sheet is 10mm thick and very heavy. I need to find adjustable legs for it, but currently I use four pillars made from blocks of Lego Duplo - the engineering on that plastic is great, the table is perfectly level! ;) Very spacious. I also bit the bullet and purchased a walking foot in a mixed bag of Husqvarna attachments. The walking foot is about AU$180 new, this is the older style, so I got it and ten extra feet for $100. Originally for a Designer machine... that's a floppy disk in that sleeve, folks!

Today my mother offered me her Pfaff 1222E, the sacred machine! I'm beyond thrilled as I never thought she would part with her beloved. -In progress-

In December I added another Singer to my modest collection, a 1954 99K! It has a bentwood case and runs very nicely. It had no accessories, but as it shares common bobbins, feet and needles with my 201 machines, I'm not bothered. As usual, the TFSR manuals were my first stop. Auction photo. Beside my 1951 201K. Back-tack, not true reverse. I removed the screw inside the bobbin area which a lot of guides suggest not removing. I can see why they say that, but although the condition of the machine is good, it can't have been cleaned for decades. I had to open up the bobbin area to be thorough.  The TFSR manual made it easy, but it took two attempts to put the bobbin area back together, the first time I did not have the clearance right and the machine would not sew, but I followed the steps again more carefully and figured out the acceptable positioning, and the machine now works beautifully again. It is a tricky little area! Another area of concern was the bentw