Why I love my Kenmore 158.1760

I made this little clutch purse today after I got home from my disappointing trip to fetch a Singer 223. http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/2012/06/consolation-prize.html

It was a bit of a pain making all those pleats.  I am going to try the Ruffler next time I make it.  Experimentation time.

This is fabric that I got for free at an auction.  You know, the stuff they didn't sell and don't value and leave out at the end for us scavengers to scoop up.  There were a lot of "home decor" samples.   Most of them are about 24 inches square.  That's a lot of fabric.  I love to make bags and 24 inches is a pretty useful size.

Except that I needed a piece 30 inches long for this.  So I found some matching fabric of about the same weight and went to town working on this bag.  The only problme, this fabric frays.  Now if I were an expert with the serger I would have just gotten it out and set it up and that would be that. BUT the Kenmore 1760 is ALL set up and ready to go.   Honestly, I did not want to add to my frustration.  So I used one of the special stitches on the Kenmore to bind the edges.

 Now pay attention.  One hand is holding the camera and they  other is guiding the fabric.  Pretty steady feeding.  And just listen to that machine.  It is a bit rattly at the higher speed.  I may look into that.  But I do love this machine.  It's such a joy to use.

The free arm is another huge advantage. I love the whisper quiet of the 158.511 and the rhythm of the 158.96 but I love a free arm.  Oh I know that I could manage with a flat bed and I have, but still why make life more difficult?  Aren't they pretty stitches?

Celtic Knot Quilt

I love to make Celtic knot quilts.  This one is a wall hanging and is an unfinished project.  I won't say how long ago I started it. 

you have to make the strips, cut on the bias, and then stitched together and turned inside out (I use Fast Turn tubes) It can be a challenge to get the over and under just right.  Still I really love these quilts.

I made this quilt using my Viking Quilt designer and my Singer 66.  I did the quilting with the Singer 66.  I used the Viking for the strips.  Only because I did not have the 66 when I started the quilt.  The tension never was right on that machine.  Then I replaced the whole tension assembly and it was so much better.  This 66 now lives elsewhere.....I am rather sad..  it was the first sewing machine that I serviced.  Hmmmmmm.  Womder if I can re-possess it?

Next time I make one, and I think it has to be soon, I will use the Feather Weight.....Ohhh it has to be VERY SOON. 

Sweat Shop

My sewing loft is in one of our outbuildings.  We call it the Dutch Barn because it looks like a Dutch Barn.  But the loft is hot in the summer.  This morning I rushed out to sew before it got too hot.  The dogs were happily snoozing at my feet.  I managed to finish this "City Tote"  before noon.  I found the pattern in Sew What You Love a delightful book I bought on impulse one day.  It is a pretty simple project.  I think I will make several for holiday presents.

The fabric was free as was the lining.  Auction finds....Next time I make it though, I am making the handle a bit bigger.

Singer 201-2

More eye candy

The Singer 201 is supposedly the best sewing machine Singer ever made.  I can't say.  I do love mine.  It is quiet and it stitches just beautifully.  It is a straight stitch only, class 66 bobbin machine.   the motor is gear driven.  I have three of these machines.  I am only keeping one.  This one.

I have a Centennial model that is ready to go.  I have another one that needs motor work.  I am distracted right now with sewing projects and sewing machine base construction. http://mysewingmachineobsession.blogspot.com/2012/06/it-all-happened-so-fast.html


And rose bush admiring

This rose bush has never, ever, ever, bloomed.  I thought it had died years ago.  But then it started growing again and I just left it alone.  Totally alone.  This year I did feed it some Osmokote.  But that was AFTER I saw all the buds.

Eye Candy for the Vintage Collector

Singer 401A

Draw String Bag

Draw string bags are useful little items.  I am making one for each sewing machine to store attachments and foot controller and power cord.  I finally figured out to make a pretty one efficiently.

Before starting any sewing project, it is advised that you:
1) Change the needle.  New project, New needle.  Needles are relatively inexpensive when compared to thread and fabric.  A bent, damaged or dull needle can wreak havoc with your project.  Bite the bullet and put in a new needle (I love my Kenmore 158.1760 but I hate that it does not have a needle clamp)

2)  Clean out the bobbin assembly.  Follow the instructions for your machine.  It is inadvisable to use canned air to blow out the lint.  Canned air has a propellent which could blow moisture into your machine.  Use a lint brush.  One came with your machine.  If you bought a used machine, such brushes are available at the sewing store or other places that sell notions and fabric.

3) Switch to the straight stitch needle plate.

This project does not require anything but straight stitch.  You can see the difference between the two needle plates.  When the needle pierces the fabric on the zz needle plate, some of the fabric could get carried down into that big, gaping hole.  It isn't much and it doesn't matter if you don't have a ss needle plate. But if you do, use it.  Your stitches will be much prettier.  Just don't forget to switch back when you have a project that requires zz or you could break your needle.  Needles are cheap but a broken piece of needle could fly into your eye.

Because I also oiled the machine before I started this project, I ran a test seam to clean out the excess oil and to check the tension.  Not bad....

Now you are ready to sew.


Select two fabrics and cut a rectangle from each fabric.  I used 10 X 21 for this project but you could use any size that you would like.  I imagine you could even use a square.

I like to press the fabric once I have cut my pieces off of the larger piece.  I cut each piece a bit bigger than the 10 X 21 so that I could press the fabric and then cut the pieces precisely.

Stitch the two pieces together with a 3/8 inch seam allowance RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER.  Start your seam about 6 inches from the top on one long side.

Stitch all the way around, back tacking and pivoting at each corner.   Stop sewing and back tack about three inches from where you started.

Trim the corners

I press the edge with the three inch gap. This helps define where the seam belongs  ( despite the missing stitches) when the bag is turned right side out

Turn it right side out.  Reach in through that three inch gap and grasp one of the far corners and pull it through.  Work the fabric until the whole thing is right side out.

Use a pointed object to make the corners square and press.   I have this nifty bamboo gizmo, that I believe is designed just for this purpose.

Turn over a 1.5 inch hem on each end and press.

Now stitch just along the edge of the hem.  I don't really like the big straight stitch foot on this machine.  The Super High Shank Kenmore feet are not universal.  So I just turned the whole project around so that the narrow edge of the ss foot was along the edge of the hem.
( If you are not accustomed to bringing the bobbin thread to the top of the 'work' I would suggest that you do it on this project.  It makes thing so much tidier.)

Now I can turn the 'work' around and line up the edges with the 7/8 seam allowance mark on the needle plate.  

This creates the casing for the string or ribbon.  What beautiful stitches!!! No wonder I love this machine.

Now put the right sides together and match the hems. ( I know I need a manicure. My manicurist is out of town now and I just love her to pieces and won't see anyone else.)

Yo don't HAVE to pin the seams.  I do.  I need all the help I can get.. Stitch just a long the edge to get a narrow seam.  Start just at the base of the hem.  Do not include the hem in the seam. Do this for both sides.

Turn the bag right side out. And press it.  Cut two lengths of nylon cord 2.5 times the width of the bag.  I "flame" the end of the cord with a lighter to melt it so that it does not unravel.  Attach one end of the cord to a safety pin.  You can tie a knot or just loop it through.  

 Now push the pin into the cord casing and inch it along all the way around the bag until you come out the same end you entered.

You may choose to fasten the other end of the string to the bag itself so that you don't pull the string all the way through as you thread it.  (Ask me how I know)

Tie these ends together and, starting at the other side, do the same thing. Now you have your strings in place

And you can pull them closed...