Doing the Christmas shopping

[xwhatsit]

Singer 201K ? That's a very good sewing machine , most would say Singer's best ever, arguably the best sewing machine ever.

Seriously though, yes, that's what I've heard too. It's for the crumpet (well, ex-crumpet now, although she is still quite crumpety, she's not my crumpet if you follow). I thought about getting her a new one with all kinds of fancy shit, but she, like me, loves old shit and I heard the quality of stitching on the 201K is superb, better than new machines with all the wib-wobs and zig-zags and blinkenlights.

Gave it to the crumpet early, she shat bricks, fired it up, it's dead silent. Doesn't sound like an air-cooled 4-valve Jap OHC at all. Gorgeous thing. Original user manual, the works.

Need to get some sewing machine oil and oil the bits that need doing, it was checked out by a Singer guy though within the past week (might just be the seller bullshitting though).

How much does that thing weigh?!

Not too bad! At least it wasn't the treadle version Mebbe 10kg?

I'd quite like to get a zig-zag and buttonhole attachment to fit to it. I see old eBay auctions, so I might be able to snaffle one. There's also a `hemming' attachment, maybe some kind of faux-overlocking device?

The knee-lever arrangement is weird, I think I prefer it to a footpedal though.

EDIT: Oh yes, it's the electric version. They made them in three versions or something, treadle, handcrank, electric -- you could buy the electric motor and little dinky electric light as an add-on if you got tired, apparently cost a bomb.

[Gremlin]

REAL men sew with just thread, a needle, and their bare hands!

I don't know if I would call it sewing, but when I tried that, every pass, I jabbed my finger with the needle. The angrier I got, the harder I jabbed myself, it was a vicious cycle. Worst past was, it had to be done... it sucked

[Ixion]

There's also a `hemming' attachment, maybe some kind of faux-overlocking device?

No, the hemming attachment is exactly that, a hemming attachment. It sort of turns the edge of the fabric over , and over again and stitches it. Hems it in fact. Quite worthwhile, though of course you can do the same thing with a few pins.

I'd suggest ignoring overlocking attachments, I never saw one that worked. If you need an overlocker get one of those Babylocks, they are quite good for the money

And real men don't use a needle. They use staples! (Industrial ones !)

[gijoe1313]

I roflcopter at this thread ... actually my grandma had a singer with the treadle. Being used by a family friend at the moment.

As for needle and thread, I am a dab-hand at the ol'stitching yarn since it was one of those requisite skills for a bachelor. Darning socks, holey underwear, rips in trousers, button replacement etc. Only thing I didn't learn how to do is zips ...

Knitting is next to macrame for me! "I has black belt in Macrame!"

[turtleman]

I don't know if I would call it sewing, but when I tried that, every pass, I jabbed my finger with the needle. The angrier I got, the harder I jabbed myself, it was a vicious cycle. Worst past was, it had to be done... it sucked

I know how you feel - but perseverance pays off once you break through that pain barrier.

I now have a nice button on the end of my finger, though....

[portokiwi]

Hmmm... I feel a poll coming on. How many bikers also embroider? I do!

My main sewing machine is my late grandmother's late-1970s Toyota. It does straight stitch and zig-zag! I also have a treadle machine whose vintage I don't know.

Gabby loves to embroid One day I will have to get her a sewing machine. She is doing everything by hand lol

[vifferman]

It's a sewing machine (1955 Singer 201K)

That brings back memories! My mum's first machine was that model, complete with the light and that lever.

I don't know if I would call it sewing, but when I tried that, every pass, I jabbed my finger with the needle.

That reminds me - when I was 5, my sister (7) was playing with the sewing machine. I accidentally leaned on the lever, and sewed her finger.

She remembered, and a day or two later, she pushed me through the window.

I am a dab-hand at the ol'stitching yarn since it was one of those requisite skills for a bachelor. Darning socks, holey underwear, rips in trousers, button replacement etc. Only thing I didn't learn how to do is zips ...

Sounds like me - I left home knowing how to cook, iron, sew, knit, make rugs, paint, work on my own car/bike/lawnmower etc., make stuff from wood or leather, etc etc.
I think sometimes it's a curse being a DIY expert - I can hardly ever get someone else to do stuff. I've since added plumbing, electrical work, tiling, carpet laying, plastering, stained glass work, soldering electronics bits, concreting, tree pruning, shearing, roofing, and heaps of other things to my resume. Of course, now that I'm 100 I can afford to let other people do stuff for me...

Hmmm... I feel a poll coming on. How many bikers also embroider? I do!

I don't - but the vifferbabe is a very keen emroiderer and quilter. I bought her a nice Janome machine a few years ago. Once she got over the annoyance at how much it cost, she actually appreciated its abilities!

[Big Dave]

Oh, the importance of an apostrophe!

BD, don't they fight while they're in there?

Love from BDOTGNZA

Returned with compliments by the cant be arsed when its dribble club.