I had planned to write about the newest addition to the Etsy shop,
but almost as soon as it was listed, it was sold. No complaints here! I’m crocheting more of these scarves, of course. I’ve just started one in autumnal colors.
Sorry, this is a little dark – it’s raining today. It will be much prettier than this photo indicates. I think we’re in for a dark and dreary day here at the cottage.
I dreamed I heard a dog barking this morning. This has happened to me a few times since Riley died. I hear a single bark and I struggle to wake up. For a moment I can’t figure out if it is real or not. Riley used to bark in the early morning hours if he needed to go outside and I would jump out of bed and run downstairs to let him out. These dreams I have are unsettling and leave me feeling sad and empty. The dream, coupled with the rain, has made for a bittersweet morning.
Thank you for all the wonderful names you suggested for my new Featherweight. I love them all, but I have to say that the one that really makes me smile is Debby Messner’s suggestion: Mabel. There’s something old-fashioned and sassy about it. Mabel it is!
So, I took Mabel for a spin yesterday. I have a wonderful book that I bought when I was using my friend’s Featherweight, Featherweight 221 – The Perfect Portable. Besides being full of information, it also has a reprint of the original manual. I needed a refresher on how to wind the bobbin and thread the machine. Then I found a piece of fabric and started Mabel up.
She purrs like a kitten.
Beautiful, even stitches. Perfect tension.
But, a funny thing happened. I plugged in the footpedal and it didn’t reach the ground. I thought: How strange! I don’t remember this being a problem with my friend’s machine. I examined the plug, I moved the machine closer to the edge of the table. Still a problem. This is what I had to do to work the pedal:
Yes, that’s a piece of McCoy Pottery I’m using. And that, of course, is Scout on the right.
One of the comments yesterday was from Pam and she sent me a link to a wonderful site, Nova Montgomery. Nova knows about all there is to know about Featherweights. I wrote her and asked her what the length of the cord should be from the machine to the foot pedal. She said about 47 – 50 inches. I measured mine: 28 inches. Yikes. Nova thinks that the cord most likely got damaged and was shortened and repaired. How anyone used it, I’ll never know. So I’m going to send the foot pedal and cords to Nova and she’s going to replace the cord.
Other than that, Mabel is perfect. She’s probably been yearning for a longer cord. Now she’ll get one.
By the way, here’s a post I wrote back in San Diego when I was using my friend’s Featherweight – sort of an ode to the Featherweight.
Happy Tuesday.
Claudia – I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU ARE USING A PIECE OF MCCOY FOR A FOOTFEED REST!!!!!!!!!!Oh, the shame!LOL I think Mabel is a very fitting and apt name. She wears it well as well as your beautiful new scarf. So pretty. Have a great day.
Judy
Claudia,
I believe Riley is contacting you each morning like he always did. Please take that as a good thing….that he’s still with you, and always will be.
Your scarves are gorgeous. I see the one you made me every day, as it hangs in my craftroom. I wish I could wear it, but having chronic inflammation, in addition to hot flashes, and the fact that I live in a desert…..dose not equal a happy camper. So I look at it longingly, wishing I could wear it. I wanted it because you made it.
Hugs,
Meri
What an inventive lady you are : foot rests, crochet and a shop of your own on this amazing information highway. Sweeter dreams are definitely in store for you. McCoy for a foot rest? Indeed!!
“Mabel” is perfect…Glad you are having fun with her…She needs a longer cord for sure…Dreams do strange things..I often wake up with my hand over my face..I used to scratch my nose..Not sure what that’s all about…Enjoy this rainy day..
Love both of your posts. Glad you kept your promise to yourself (very important) and got a Featherweight. I have always called my cars “Myrtle” – my first, a 1978 VW convertible, had MYR in the licence plate and Myrtle just stuck with me. Enjoy Mabel, may you have many happy years and projects together. Now I’m off to check out your Etsy shop. Have a great day.
Claudia-
So sorry to hear you’re not resting due to the dreams. Hopefully, that will pass. It’s part of the grief I believe, part of a coping mechanism in our minds. I know you miss your Riley. Smile today, even if it’s forced. It helps. :)
The scarves you make are lovely. Glad to hear your shop is doing well after being on hiatus from it.
I saw that little machine yesterday and wow… I think it’s great! I have a secret…I have an old machine. I don’t think it’s a feather weight, it’s in a cabinet and I’d love to use it. I’m thinking on having it put in the shop so I can sew on it rather than my newer Elna machine. I’m NOT a seamstress. But if I sew I’d love to sew on that old machine. Love the name Mabel. So fitting.
Your foot pedal photo… made me LAUGH. OUT. LOUD. My eyes crossed I laughed so hard…. Brenda just told me the other day how you love your McCoy… the irony for me was not lost! ha ha ha !!!
~ have a blessed day my friend, Pat
What a beautiful machine!!!! I can only imagine all the creative treasures your will create on it~
Blessings, Joanne
I know I said Maggie but I was WRONG…..she is a perfect Mable!! So glad she works even with that short cord. Love your scarfs and I can see how they fly out of the shop! It’s a rainy day here also and I’m feeling a little down and sad. I’ll go do something fun to brighten up my day! Thinking of you and sending a big HUG! Linda
You won’t believe this, but Mabel is the name I came up with later yesterday myself! So I guess she’s meant to be a Mabel. Love the stitches!
Brenda
Hi Claudia
Love that you picked Mabel – that was my great grandmother’s name and she was sassy.
Enjoy her!
Leann
Congrats on your new featherweight machine
I inherited my Mother’s featherweight after she
passed away. I remember well, watching her sew
my clothes when I was young. Now I get to sew for
my grans.
Mabel is a perfect name. It was my Grandmother’s name!!
Happy sewing.
I would still be trying to figure out what I was doing wrong with machine set up! Who would figure on the cord being shortened. Happy sewing when you get the pedal back! ~ Maureen
My mother used to have a sewing machine cabinet for her sewing machine. It had this place up underneath were you could put the foot pedal so it was right next to your right thigh. You just had to press on it with your thigh and the machine would run. It was kind of neat. It was nice because you didn’t have the foot pedal moving around on the floor and it was easy to control too.
Some machines with a knee power lever had short cords. I think your power pedal was exchanged at some point and that is why the cord is too short. The power pedal is a failure point on old machines.. If you are not handy at rewiring, elevating it to work like you are doing.. It is amazing these machines sew so beautifully right out of the gate, yours looks in ready good condition. Congrats and enjoy! I have quite a few singers, no featherweight tho….
Ohhh Claudia,
I have been saving my Augie’s fur (poodle like fur/hair) for the last 4 years. At the endof this winter when I shave him down- I was planning on having his fur processed into yarn. Not sure how much I would get out of it – but would you crochet me the scarf, using the same pattern, and using Augie’s fur for me? I’d pay you the same as what you charge for the scarf ?? I love that pattern!! His fur is black with a little bit of white.
Mabel she is, and she is lovely. I am sure she’ll appreciate being on a longer leash too. Such a beautiful scarf… I just love it when it gets cool… time to get out the yarn and hooks. :)
The crochet scart is delightful. Love it!
Your dream reminded me of dreams I would have after the death of our beloved Princess in 2003. At times, I thought I even heard her breathing next to the bed. It’s hard to say goodbye to our furry friends.
Mabel is a great name. As for that foot pedal, the pedal on my old Singer (formerly my mom’s and grandmother’s) is actually housed inside its cabinet on the right, at knee level. I use the right side of my leg/knee to put it in action. It isn’t a foot pedal at all and won’t even reach the floor. Perhaps Mabel had a cabinet in her youth?
So pleased to meet Mabel, what a little beauty she is!
How heavy is she Claudia? We have Singer Featherweights available over here via Ebay and such but I read they’re a lot heavier than you think.
Happy sewing :D
Mabel is a perfect name for your her..I’m sure you’ll create many beautiful things together !
Mabel. I like that name, too. One of my aunts had a neighbor named Mabel, and we all loved her. She made the best damson plum jam, and she would give us a piece of toast with jam as a snack. I know you will love your Mabel, too, and maybe you should fix yourself some jam toast as a snack at break time.
Wow!! Congratulations on Mabel!!! I am going to just come out and say it. I AM JEALOUS :) What a fabulous birthday present. A friend gave me an old Brother machine to use, and it had that musty smell. As I used the machine, the smell went away. I also stuck a dryer sheet in the case. That seemed to help too!!
Have lots of fun with Mabel!!
xoxo Debbie
That scarf is just gorgeous, Claudia! No surprise it vanished from your shop before you had time to post about it! And ‘Mabel’ is a wonderful name! I hope she gets her longer chord soon so you can start sewing. Take care and have a beautiful weekend!
Congratulations! Mabel is fantastic! I’m so happy for you, Claudia! Why shouldn’t you have your dream sewing machine?! xo Jennifer