Singer 201-2

I have been looking for a good vintage machine for a while. I had my sights set on a Featherweight initially but one I really started scoping out the scene I was on a desperate hunt for a 201. After stalking Craigslist for what seemed an eternity I found my 201-2 in a table for $95. The picture on CL was awful but I was pretty sure it was a 201-2 by the little light switch.

I spent 3 hours last night vacuuming out the dust in the desk and oil and greasing the machine. I cleaned out the old grease; Ick is only word. It was thick and nasty and I'm pretty sure it was from the 40s. Anywho, it purrs like a kitten and is pretty clean on the inside now. When I cleaned out the desk a whole slew of attachment were in there. A buttonholer, a pantyhose mender, two old springy buttonholers, a bunch of attachments for making rugs, a box of original Singer attachments, a darning thingy, a "magic foot", an embroidering foot and hoop thing, a pinking attachment (which looks like a torture device and is the size of an apple), and a box of 100 original needles. Wow. I also found the original booklet and two blue glass hat pins.

I have to fix the tension dial next. The push pin seems to be stuck and the tension is off. I have a dress to finish today and I think I'll hem it on the new machine. The stitches are beautiful and far superior to my junky plastic Brother. I'm not quite brave enough to try the buttonholer out in the new dress but I do think I play with it.

Anyone have any suggestions on how best to clean the outside of the machine to make it shiny? I used mild soap and water and it left it cloudy so I just rubbed a small amount of Singer oil on it. It soaked it in. There is some crazing around it and I don't want to lose the paint.

The breakdown

Okay peeps, I am thrilled. I have an envelop of stray pieces that I couldn't match up but everything else looks good. I even got an apron pattern from newspaper, a child apron from newspaper, and what looks like a doll clothes pattern. There are also a couple kid patterns outside of envelopes and no instructions that are a total mystery. The Hollywood pattern is missing instructions but I don't really need them.

My favorite items besides the adult patterns are the two mommy and me patterns. I have been looking for a set of 40s patterns for ever. They are usually soooooo expensive.

Pattern insanity!!!

I just got a box of patterns for $10 at a barn sale (anew one!!). I'm still sorting but it's amazing; stuff I haven't seen on etsy or eBay! It's mostly kids but about 8 are women's in my size. Nothing is older than early 1950s.

I hope I win!

Another Heyday giveaway! I love this bag, and the red/white/blue combo is my favorite. I guess I'm just patriotic!

Inspiration Please!

After I washed the fabric I started staring at it. I'm scared if it. I'll never find fabric like this again, in this quantity, and at a whopping $2. What should I make with it? I have about 6 yards (I haven't measured but eyeballed it, it could be 7 yards) and its 36 inches wide. WTF, I'm scared to cut it. I need some pattern inspiration. I want something I can wear all the time and if I'm very careful I can get two dresses from it. Or at the very least a dress and a blouse. Ideas please!!

You can see how sheer it is, the white stools are visible behind the fabric on the left side. There are no holes, no stains and it's basically perfect. Not even a dab of color bleaching. It's like the Holy Grail of vintage fabric quests.

Update: what about this pattern?

Barn sale haul!

Okay kids, I got a steal this weekend! The border print fabric is going to make a fantastic full skirt to a dress with a pink bodice and the green floral one...... wowza. I'm guessing early 40s? It's perfect and 6 yards! The snack sets will add in my collection and the see magazine cover is getting framed along with the Lindy Hop dancing pictures inside. The patterns are all superb too, especially the McCall blouse. All for a whopping $10.

Slowly slowly

Here is what the sleeves look like. The facings are floppy, I haven't figured out how to tack it so it won't show on the front side. I may try a fusible interfacing or something.

Mail Order Sentinel #9329

My experiment in knits is back on track. I am almost done with the bodice; some sleeve facing left. It's a little droopy but I think it will perk right up once I get the weight from the skirt pulling it into place. I have so many projects going right now I feel like pulling my hair out.