Monday, October 21, 2013

Sunny Steps Quilt

Introducing my new quilt design Sunny Steps.  I designed this quilt after I received this "Sunnyside" fat quarter bundle from the Fat Quarter Shop (www.fatquartershop.com).  I really like this line and everything else designed by Kate Spain for that matter.  I just love the 3D stacked boxes effect that was achieved.




Sunnyside Fat Quarter Bundle
Sunny Steps

Sunny Steps with my sweet dog Airlie

Thursday, October 10, 2013

My New OLD Standard Rotary Treadle Sewing Machine

I was gifted this old coffin top Standard rotary treadle sewing machine by a fellow quilt guild member. She has a pretty early 6 digit serial number so I'm guessing she is from the 1890's - 1900ish.  It was in  an uncleaned and somewhat neglected, but fair condition.  I knew nothing about vintage treadle sewing machines and was very excited to get my hands dirty and learn all about it.  I started to clean her up right away.  I first removed the machine from the cabinet.  It was evident right away that the decal was long gone so all there was to do was to clean off the years and years of oil and crud that covered the whole thing.  It took a lot of elbow grease and there is still more that can be done.  What I'm most excited about is how much better the cabinet looks after a cleaning with Murphy's Oil soap, touch up with some Old English and an application of Howard's Restor-A-Finish.  We figured out how to cut and fit the belt with a little help from YouTube.  I was able to figure out how to thread it and within minutes I was sewing.  She works like a dream.
Here is a FREE pdf of the original Standard Rotary Manual

Before she came home to me.

Catalog  Image

Coffin top before

Machine before

Dirty bobbin case with a little Liquid Wrench 
Distressed top before

After


Here she is in action with her ruffler foot attachment.