Pimp my Traddy

I got a new wheel! Yes, yet another wonderful wheel! This one is a vintage Ashford Traditional, just like the one pictured here. It was a sweet deal on Craigslist and came with some very nice Clemes & Clemes hand carders, a navajo spindle (30" tall - so you can spin it off your thigh!), 4 bobbins, an upright kate, a vintage and highly collectible spiral bound copy of "The Essentials of Yarn Design for Handspinners" by Mabel Ross and 4 giant bundles of pre-drafted roving - all for a very good price. Too bad I had to trash the fiber. Not only did it stink of cigarette smoke, but there were remnants of critter contamination - that's right, moths! No way was I going to put my own fiber stash in jeopardy. I tossed all the fiber toute suite... (very fast) Even the fiber spun onto the bobbins had been compromised by those little buggers. The wheel was built between 1975 and 1981 and the fiber looked like it had been sitting on those bobbins ever since.

So, now I'm sure you want to know how I plan to "Pimp my Traddy" (the nickname affectionately given to Ashford Traditional wheels). Well, I've been lucking out left and right in finding low cost accessories. I never realized Ashford wheels could be upgraded and configured so easily.

Here's my "Pimp" plan already in effect:

• New Jumbo flyer with 4 jumbo bobbins
• Three speed flyer (for regular bobbins - gives the old wheel an added speed ratio
• New stretchy drive band (I hate cotton bands - you can feel the knot hitting the flyer)
• New leather connector for the single treadle footman
• And the pièce de résistance, a double treadle upgrade kit!

I've already placed this new wheel in my bedroom, right in front of my bay window so I can sit and spin till my heart's content. God is good.

Craigslist Has Given Me The Urge To Serge

I've always wanted a serger. There are so many sewing projects that can be enhanced by the beautifully finished seams & edges a serger can create. What I really love is that most sergers can cut away fabric as they sew. This is an absolute must for reconstructing garments. Unfortunately, sergers cost - A Lot! Even older or vintage ones are hard to come by, but if you do find them they usually have no manual and no threading diagram (sergers require pretty complex threading for operation).

Well, after scouring Craigslist waiting for ads to jump out at me something did, a listing for a Singer 14 series serger in the NJ listings (my State) - But get this, the cost? $50! "That HAS to be wrong," was my first thought. Or, its missing something, or broken or cross posted from some state somewhere clear across the country. What the heck, I decided to email the poster and leave my phone number as they requested. Within 20 mins I got a call back - the serger was working (although the poster hasn't attempted to use it) and is located about an hour away from me. The downside, no manual and no accessories. No worries. I ordered a $5 downloadable manual from http://www.mastersewusa.com/ so I had all the info I needed to thread and use the serger - assuming it really worked.

What I found when I arrived, the serger was in like-new condition! It couldn't have been used more than once or twice. Even the foot pedal was like new. Still, I was a bit leary about whether it worked or not and the seller was very hesitant to confirm that it did. However, when I got home I read the manual and found that the front plate of the serger is actually a door that opens to show the threading guide! I followed the instructions and thread all 4 threads, oiled the oiling points, adjusted the tension and stick in a fabric scrap... bada-bing-bada-boom - it sews! Beautifully, I might add. Here's what I think: Seller purchased serger; seller couldn't thread serger; seller posts serger on Craigslist for cheap; buyer (me) buys serger and finds out how to thread it and tells her readers all about her great buy; readers think, "dayum she's good!"

Finding the time to blog

Whose got time to blog when there's so much to be done? Sorry, that's just how I've been feeling lately. My sweetheart has been in the hospital for almost a month now with a head injury and I spend all my time traveling - work->hospital->home->work->hospital->home... well, you get the picture. When I am home, you'd think I'd catch up on some sleep, right? WRONG! I can't sleep. I stay up till 3 or 4 in the morning. I guess my nerves are so shot I feel too jittery to sleep. So, I sew. I sit at my machine and make random items. My random items of the week are quilted post cards and wristlets (thanks Chanecia!)

On another topic, I listed a few of my machines for sale on craigslist recently. Just trying to make room for my ever growing Featherweight and 301 machine stash. Well, no one contacted me about buying the machines, but I did get an email from a wonderful woman named Karen who had a cabinet for a 15-91 machine that she was giving away. That's right, I said "giving!" Well, I'm not big on cabinets because most are a dime a dozen and the rest are sitting on the curb come garbage day in any given neighborhood, but something about how she described this machine caught my attention. She stated that the cabinet was "interesting" and that it had drawers and plenty of storage, yet she listed the size as being the average sized "throw in your trunk" cabinet. Interesting... I had to see this cabinet. I made arrangements to drive out to her place and when I drove to the end of her driveway I saw one of the most amazing little cabinets I've ever seen. After some research I've found its a Singer No. 48 cabinet made exclusively for the 201 machines (although a 15 machine fits just fine, as will other models).

Enough about me and my sweet deal of a cabinet. I found out that Karen, this wonderful giving woman, makes clothing for American Girl dolls. She took me inside her fabulous home (warm and richly filled with all things vintagy) and showed me her collection of clothing that she's made on her vintage Singer 15 machine. The collection is amazing!!! I've never seen so many doll garmets, ensembles, everything from the dresses with matching jewelry, to raincoats with tiny umbrellas, faux fur outfits, hippie garbs with beads and peace signs, costumes with masks, gowns, frilly girly clothing and so very much more! Karen does about 30 doll shows a year but get this, she doesn't do anything online! No website, no forums, nothing. What a shame I can't point you guys to her website so you can see her handywork. You will be amazed! I for one am hoping to inspire and help her get her wares online. The world needs to see all she has to offer. This is one very talented woman y'all. Makes me want to start collecting American Girl dolls just so I can dress them up in her clothing.

If anyone is interested in beautiful original designs of very well made American Girl doll clothing, shoot me note and I'll put you in touch with Karen.