Singer Press project

 

Picked a Singer ironing press up off a local buy/sell page for $25 the other week, not a bad price considering what new ironing presses go for (at least $400).

It doesn't have a steam option (some of the fancier models do) but that's OK, it will work well for what I want it for- bonding interfacing to fabric and pressing large fabric pieces.

Plus I can always squirt something with water from a spray bottle if I really need steam.

Obviously for "cheap as chips" pricing a little bit of work is required...

Firstly a good clean. The press had been sitting in someones shed for who-knows-how-long and it was pretty grimy. 

The pressing board cover itself looks like it has seen better days, with a couple of scorch marks and burn holes:

While the ironing plate is pretty gunked up with what looks like fabric ink residue:

I'm guessing this one got used for setting screenprints on fabric rather than domestic ironing.

(The fun part is trying to work out what the words originally said - something "Ace"?).

Looks like I have a new sewing tool to tinker with ;)

 Till next time...

Happy Sewing!

Kate :)

Layby pick up!

 Finally got to pick up one of my Spotlight sewing laybys today. While not overly exciting (i.e. not a new machine or fabric) these are thing that I have been thinking of getting for a while and I think will come in useful. 
Also - if truth must be told- I'm thinking that even if I don't truly know 100% what I'm doing all the time, at least with these tools I might look like I know what I'm doing right? ;) I mean doesn't that tailor's ham and curve ruler just smack of some serious dressmaking going on?

And maybe one day I might just get good enough that I will be needing tools like these all the time, and then I will be soo glad I thought ahead and got them ;) One can dream...

I was spurred into laybying after receiving a "spend $100 get $40 off" in the mail (loyalty clubs do pay off sometimes) and -just in case I missed that_ they also emailed it to me too. Obviously the sewing gods were telling me something ;)

Now I must say that while not being the most patient person when it comes to getting something - I think my generation was the beginning of the "instant gratification" era- I did enjoy going in every week and checking out what new stock was on the floor while I paid my measly $10 on the layby. Knowing I had this (and two more laybys!) to pay off was also a good deterrent for buying anything else.

Currently planning my next big sewing related layby once my other two packages are paid for...

Happy Sewing!

Kate :)

Hardware store love for the sewing room

 Someone posted about these roller cutters on a sewing related FB group (the Sewing Library) I subscribe to. I thought I would share in case you were in need of a good, cheap rotary cutter and unaware of this cheap alternative:

For the princely sum of $10 (some people have found them on sale at random stores for about $5) you can get a roller cutter and 10 replacement blade at Bunnings. Not all stores seem to have but I think its definitely worth a look-see if you happen to be cruising by one and have the time. 

 I found mine in the power tools section, where they also sell things such as spirit levels, drill bits, spanners etc...

I've stocked up on three of these "Craftright" cutters in the last week (there's a rumour that the line is going to be deleted?) and I figure that should see me through for the next few years or so. Funny that my first rotary cutter was also a buy from the same hardware chain, a "Fiskars" cutter that I think I paid about $13 for. I'm mostly buying these ones for the blades (hello to not paying $7 per blade for a while) but the handle is actually suprisingly easy and comfortable to use- yay bonus win!

If you live in Western Australia I have seen these for sale at Malaga and Midland- if I visit any other stores and find them in stock I will update in my comments.

Makes it worth tagging along next time someone in the household needs to do a hardware run doesn't it ? ;)

Til then...

Happy Sewing (and cut-price cutting!)

Kate x

Pocket pleats

I've been playing around with pockets recently, as part of a project I'm currently working on. Decided it would be really neat to do a double pleat (one pleat on top of another- not sure if that the correct terminology) pocket for a change and after sewing the seamlines realised that actually pressing the pleats flat and open would be a bit harder than I thought. 
The solution I came up with? A metal ruler (which was luckily the right size for the big pleat) and a wooden skewer (much thinner than the small pleat but the only thing I could find) to help me get the pleats straight and centered on top of each other while pressing.

 Now.... I thought I was really clever with this. Coming up with the idea of inserting something into the pleat to aid with pressing- how smart am I? 
Then what do I see while wandering through Spotlight the other day (I was there ONLY to get thread but who can resist a wander)? These Clover Loop Pressing Bars- (sorry I forgot to take a pic in store so hence the link, no I'm not flogging anything or getting paid a commission on Clover products!).
 Ok so I'm not the sewing gadget genius I thought I was - lucky I didn't take a patent out on the whole ruler/skewer combo-  but how useful would the rod set be for pressing open fiddly pleats and casings?
I'm guessing if you had a handy metalworker in the family you could maybe press ("press" - get it haha! sorry lame punning...) them into making some similar rods up for you in a suitable metal? Not sure what would be the best metal to use, something that wouldn't rust or warp with heat for starters.
In the meantime I will be making use of my metal ruler and bamboo skewers until a really awesome sale offer comes up. Or until I get over pleats and move on to a different pocket detail ;)
Anyway...

Happy sewing/pressing/pleating :)

Kate :)

 

A few of my favourite (sewing) things...

While I am faffing around with the Kwik Sew 2955 top I thought it would be a good idea to show some of the sewing tools that I find handy (and cheap to buy).

First up is this elastic grabber/threader/tube turner thingy:















The thingy I am talking about is the one that looks like a pair of tweezers with a ring on. This is the most useful thing for threading elastic through waists and turning tubes. Basically it is like a pair of tweezers, except the end have blunt, jagged "teeth" that interlock together.
The ring slides up and locks the teeth together on whatever elastic/ribbon you are threading, then when you have threaded it you slide the ring down to release it- easy! To turn tubes insert the blunt end into the tube, close the teeth onto one side of the tube end, slide the ring up (while inside the tube) then start feeding the "tweezers" through until you come to the other end of the tube, turning the tube as you go. The teeth don't damage whatever fabric you are using and the ring makes sure it is quite secure until you are ready to release.
The blunt needle like threader came with the "tweezers" as part of a pack however I never use it, it is just that much easier to use the "tweezers".


Japanese glass head pins- I brought these as a present to myself from Knitwits in Nedlands. Originally I was a bit skeptical as they were quite pricey at $9, but after reading about how you should have good pins for sewing I thought I would give them a go.
Now I have used them I am totally converted. Good pins make pinning, cutting and sewing up so much easier, plus I don't get snags in my finer fabrics any more from imperfect/blunt pin ends.
These babies are sharp!


Plastic bobbin tidy - I think this cost me about $10 from Janome in Balcatta. Buying this has meant that I don't have to spend forever untangling bobbin spools in my sewing box. Ideally I would like to have more bobbins pre-wound and sitting ready ...maybe one day :)


Finally a "universal" invisible zipper foot that I brought from Textile Traders a few years ago. Not by any means the best one on the market, but a cheap option when starting out. If you can get the hang of using this dodgy number, by the time you can afford a proper one you'll be inserting zips like an expert:)

A full review of this item on Sewing Pattern Review is available here.