treadle adventures

This is the summer of 'give it a try' to be sure.  I have had more than a few crazy ideas and most of them have been successful.  We have done a good amount of sewing and altering and were just about finished with a skirt for Moira when my Brother sewing machine got stuck in reverse.  Sorta.  The stitches are trying to go one way and the feed is going the other way and oh, it's just bad.   What is worse is that it was a cheapie machine - less than a hundred dollars.  The local sewing machine repair places start their tune up and repairs at $30.  Hardly worth even fixing it when a cheapie replacement is $79. 

I was very motivated to finish that skirt however.  Wracking my brain, it occurred to me to look at the sewing machine I had brought home a couple years ago.  It was a vintage treadle Kenmore model that I was told was functional.  It came housed in a lovely wood cabinet which was doing a tour of duty in my living room under a very nice vintage lamp. <g>  

We began to clear off the table and set up the machine and sure enough, it worked!  Only catch was that it wasn't threaded.  Surfing some time netted directions that went something like, "Pull the thread through the top thing, then bring it down around the circle part and up through the part that goes up and down..."  I kid you not.  Undaunted and armed with that info I proceeded to wind thread up and over and around the parts 'til something sewed. 

Once we got off and running I was amazed.  The quality of this machine, all steel and cast iron, far surpasses the plastic disaster running backwards in the craft room. As the owner of Sew Vintage explains, this is because,

"These machines were built to last not years, not decades, but generations. A quality, vintage machine is an heirloom piece to be enjoyed and used well after that new, computerized machine and it’s technology has become outdated and obsolete. You can realistically expect a new machine to provide about 10 to 25 years of service under normal conditions, but when it has died and gone to the landfill, the quality vintage machine will still be sewing along."

I hope so! I figure it's a good sign that it is still running, considering it has lived through eras where home sewing was a daily reality, not a trendy hobby. I can see how much easier it must have been to learn to sew on such a machine. The treadle mechanism gives far greater control over stitch speed than the foot pedal of my newer model - a big perk for budding seamstresses. You can sew at a snail's pace with a treadle if need be but it is capable of humming right along as well. 

We finished our project but we are stuck for now until I can locate more bobbins and figure out how to load them. (Unless we only sew things that require black thread.)  It is a thoroughly delightful rabbit trail.

Comments

[Sara Kay]

How fun! My mom has an old sewing machine and I've always wanted to try to use it!

[Juli]

Will your broken machine still work to thread the bobbins? Maybe you could use it for that if you can't figure out how to do it on the vintage machine.
I'm very impressed with your machine. I wish I had luck at finding treasures like this.

[Susan (Taffy)]

I've been wanting a vintage sewing machine for a while for all the same reasons you gave - especially for the greater speed control. My lead foot always pushes too hard on the pedal leading to many stitching errors that I have to undo. My machine sewing would probably be much faster with a machine like yours.

More motivation to find a treadle machine now!

[Wendy in VA]

Hey, I think I may have one of these... It was my grandmother's. I may even have the owner's manual somewhere. You've inspired me to dig it out and see if we can get it going! :o)

[elizabeyta]

Hello.

I just had to comment. After learning to sew on an electric machine, I bought myself a treadle machine and never looked back for the last 28 years. I agree with all of your assessments of stitch quality and speed control. Mine is a Singer, has a long bobbin, and goes only forward. It is from 1896. My daughter's is also a Singer, from the 1940's, uses the standard round bobbing and has reverse but everything else applies.

The only thing I can say, is have fun!

[Angela]

As always, love your posts. Every time I come by, i'm glad you went back to blogging.

Years ago, my dad bought me a 1923 Singer Sewing Machine at a junk store, brought it home, and fixed it up, put in new wiring, etc. It works WONDERFULLY for any light sewing. when i sew with it, i love feeling connected to all the generations of women who used it before me.

I was able to get more bobbins for my machine by contacting a local sewing machine repair shop - he had a bunch that fit my machine, and it was just a few dollars for about a dozen bobbins. Good luck finding some!

My oldest daughter and I have been doing a little sewing, too - we're giving away a 9-patch doll quilt we made together, plus some other goodies. please check it out if you have a moment - http://www.larksongknits.com/2009/08/07/first-giveaway/