In late August or early September my dad and step-mom, Cindi, stopped by the baby house to say hi and see what our house looked like since getting it fully furnished and decorated. Of course I had 5,000 quilt and sewing machine pieces everywhere. Cindi seemed genuinely interested in my patchwork pillows and sewing machines, and mentioned she had thought about learning to make a memory quilt with clothing from family members. Naturally that sparked an idea for me! Her birthday is Oct. 7 so that was the perfect amount of time for me to put something together.
I really wanted to get Cindi a vintage machine because I strongly believe they are built better. And let’s be honest, it just looks way cooler and is more inspiring than the typical modern plastic models! I found this fabulous 1960’s White brand sewing machine from a guy in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. It was completely seized when he got it and he had managed to get it to spin. However it still had many little features and adjustments that were stuck or gummy, to the point it really wasn’t usable. Let me tell you, this thing REALLY tested my patience. I had to use major muscle power to get a couple things broken loose, then it took thousands of wiggles, slides, and bumps to get the oil worked down into every little nook and cranny. It was all I did for 2 days straight, I honestly don’t think it had been oiled in over a decade. But now it is smooth, powerful, quiet, and most of all: easy to operate. I discovered that this machine had at one time been a rental for a sewing machine shop. I guess you could rent a sewing machine for your project then just return it when finished. I was able to find and print the manual for it and it came with a few different feet and extra bobbins, just about everything you could ever need to get started making things.
I really wanted to get Cindi a vintage machine because I strongly believe they are built better. And let’s be honest, it just looks way cooler and is more inspiring than the typical modern plastic models! I found this fabulous 1960’s White brand sewing machine from a guy in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. It was completely seized when he got it and he had managed to get it to spin. However it still had many little features and adjustments that were stuck or gummy, to the point it really wasn’t usable. Let me tell you, this thing REALLY tested my patience. I had to use major muscle power to get a couple things broken loose, then it took thousands of wiggles, slides, and bumps to get the oil worked down into every little nook and cranny. It was all I did for 2 days straight, I honestly don’t think it had been oiled in over a decade. But now it is smooth, powerful, quiet, and most of all: easy to operate. I discovered that this machine had at one time been a rental for a sewing machine shop. I guess you could rent a sewing machine for your project then just return it when finished. I was able to find and print the manual for it and it came with a few different feet and extra bobbins, just about everything you could ever need to get started making things.
I also bought Cindi her own copy of my favorite quilting book, Elizabeth Hartman’s The Practical Guide to Patchwork, and gave her a patchwork pin-cushion I made with her machine. You can read more about the pattern I used in my previous blog post.
I really hope my crash-course introduction and this easy-to-understand book make for a fun, successful quilting journey for Cindi. We will be getting together soon for a more formal sewing lesson where we can actually work through a project together!