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By: Petrina Case,
on 10/13/2015
Blog: Paper Pop-Ups (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: dress form, petrina case, oil lamp, sewing, bird, studio, chair, american, singer, card, pop-up, sewing machine, Add a tag
By: Claire Louise Milne,
on 8/14/2009
Blog: Needle Book (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: decorating, sewing machine, craft room, corners of my home, Add a tag
By: Claire Louise Milne,
on 8/28/2008
Blog: Needle Book (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: singer, sewing machine, Add a tag
I've finished cleaning up the 15-91 Singer that was inside the little sewing table. It was such a mess when I first saw it, but I had rubbed a little spot on the back metal plate with my finger and got the impression that it was mostly just a thick layer of greasy old dust that would clean off nicely.
This was my first glimpse of the sewing machine. Yuck!
Some close-ups of the state it was in:
But now it looks like this:
I use mineral oil (ie. baby oil) to clean the outside, which is safe and doesn't rub off any of the gold paint. It turned out the condition of the machine underneath the dust was very good with very little wear to the decorative gold paint and just a few light pin scratches which you'd expect from any sewing machine that's been used at all.
I also opened up areas of the machine and cleaned them with a Q-tip and some more baby oil. It's mostly just dust that collects inside the machine. Then I used sewing machine oil to oil all the points indicated in the manual, on the top and underneath the machine. I found the manual on this sewing blog. Very friendly emails and the manual arrived in no time!
Here's the back:
And a detail of the front:
This is a lovely machine. It can basically do everything you need apart from built in zig-zag stitches. Ie. a nice quality stitch, adjustable stitch length, numbered tension, reverse stitching (which not all old Singers have), and it uses regular needles and round bobbins. And it has a nice elegant shape with a spacious gap in the middle (called the harp) which means you have room for sewing big items like curtains.
I've used it already and despite all the neglect there doesn't seem to be thing wrong with it. These old Singers certainly aren't very fussy, just a little bit of attention and they're ready to get back to work.
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By: Petrina Case,
on 10/13/2015
Blog: Paper Pop-Ups (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: dress form, petrina case, oil lamp, sewing, bird, studio, chair, american, singer, card, pop-up, sewing machine, Add a tag
By: Claire Louise Milne,
on 8/14/2009
Blog: Needle Book (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: decorating, sewing machine, craft room, corners of my home, Add a tag
So I've taken to calling it my studio, but it's really a combination of crafts room and art studio. It feels like an incredible luxury to have my own workroom for sewing and painting. And it's pretty much done, I just need a new light fixture!
I bought a desk from craigslist to have a practical working surface. It's a really big heavy desk with lots of storage for only $20. Well it quickly became covered with a mish-mash of crafts supplies. You know how it is! So I decided I needed some open shelves.
Yesterday I finished making the shelves. There was lots of lumber left in our garage when we moved in and I asked Bradley to cut one big plank into three pieces. They were a bit rough, but after a quick sand to avoid the really splintery bits, I primed and painted and they were fine. The brackets are from IKEA.
The shades for the window are also from IKEA. They're patterned panel curtains that I like for their lacy look. (inspired by Fieldguided's beautiful room with lace covered window) I had bought them for our old house bedroom but they didn't really work out there. So it was great to find the perfect spot in our new house.
So, the south wall has the desk and open shelves with a little bench under the window.
The east wall has my two secretary desks. The desk on the right has crafts supplies and the one on the left has art supplies. It helps keep things organized so that I can actually find things.
The north wall has my fabric cabinet with vintage tins on top with extra sewing notions.
This room has a pretty decorative vent cover and lovely dark hardwood floors. So painting was the only thing I needed to do (again because of holes in the walls after electrical work). The walls are painted in CIL Wedding White, which I think is similar to Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee. It's a nice bright white. The shelves were painted to match the trim in Cloud White. 
Just for fun, I searched under "craft room" on Flickr and found lots of inspiring pictures. You can see my favourites here. I love the fact that I'm not the only one with boxes and baskets and jars and cabinets and shelves bursting with supplies. There's a comfortable solidarity in it.
1 Comments on My studio, last added: 8/16/2009
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By: Claire Louise Milne,
on 8/28/2008
Blog: Needle Book (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: singer, sewing machine, Add a tag
I've finished cleaning up the 15-91 Singer that was inside the little sewing table. It was such a mess when I first saw it, but I had rubbed a little spot on the back metal plate with my finger and got the impression that it was mostly just a thick layer of greasy old dust that would clean off nicely.
This was my first glimpse of the sewing machine. Yuck!Some close-ups of the state it was in:
But now it looks like this:
I use mineral oil (ie. baby oil) to clean the outside, which is safe and doesn't rub off any of the gold paint. It turned out the condition of the machine underneath the dust was very good with very little wear to the decorative gold paint and just a few light pin scratches which you'd expect from any sewing machine that's been used at all.I also opened up areas of the machine and cleaned them with a Q-tip and some more baby oil. It's mostly just dust that collects inside the machine. Then I used sewing machine oil to oil all the points indicated in the manual, on the top and underneath the machine. I found the manual on this sewing blog. Very friendly emails and the manual arrived in no time!
Here's the back:
And a detail of the front:
This is a lovely machine. It can basically do everything you need apart from built in zig-zag stitches. Ie. a nice quality stitch, adjustable stitch length, numbered tension, reverse stitching (which not all old Singers have), and it uses regular needles and round bobbins. And it has a nice elegant shape with a spacious gap in the middle (called the harp) which means you have room for sewing big items like curtains.I've used it already and despite all the neglect there doesn't seem to be thing wrong with it. These old Singers certainly aren't very fussy, just a little bit of attention and they're ready to get back to work.
18 Comments on Shiny old sewing machine, last added: 9/24/2008
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This is great and so inspiring to me right now! I am getting ready to move from PA to MO and house shopping soon. This time around I get my OWN ROOM (!) for painting and sewing. I am overwhelmed at how to set it up because I have a lot of stuff - esp fabric. I use those rectangular ceramic planters you see everywhere that flower arrangements come in to store folded fat quarters. They are great for most anything, look great, and are fun to hunt for at thrift stores and yard sales. Your room looks adorable and eclectic - love the vintage tins on top of cabinet! You may never want to leave that room. Thanks for sharing with us.