July 2009 - Posts

• The Stitching Awl

  Also known as the Sewing Awl. This is a tool that has been around for a long time that makes it easy to stitch up heavy fabrics and leathers, things that would be difficult to stitch on an ordinary sewing machine. It is also very good for repairing things that wouldn't fit under a sewing machine foot, such as a torn tent canvas, or a leather strap.  It is simple to use, and makes a very strong stitch using the heavy duty waxed thread. It is small enough to be carried with you if you are an outdoors type person, and need to make repairs when you are miles from any store. I experimented yesterday with mine, making some stitches on the thick handle of a canvas shopping bag. It stitched it easily without any problems.  Something like this should be kept in the car, and in all emergency kits, and anywhere you might need some simple stitching done.   Here is a video showing how it works:  The Sewing Awl  Edey Posted Jul 16 2009, 06:29 AM by Edey with 2 comment(s) Filed under: awl, stitching awl, backpacking, hiking, sewing awl, tent repair, emergency kit

• Another sewing machine brought back to life

  It sure is a good feeling to bring an old sewing machine back to life.  This is one that was purchased in a thrift store for $25.00. It's a class 15 Japanese machine. It was horribly tangled with thread wrapped around the wheel, motor and bobbin winder, the stitch length lever just flopped around, and the needle struck the bobbin case when the needle was lowered. I thought it was not going to be repairable. It came in a bad case with peeling Contac paper. But now, all cleaned up, and adjustments made and a new motor and foot pedal attached it is sewing like a dream. The motor and foot pedal was $41.00. So for a total of $66.00, some oil and my time I now have a beautiful machine that will outsew any plastic sewing machine. That is so rewarding.   Edey Posted Jul 01 2009, 02:14 PM by Edey with 2 comment(s) Filed under: motor, foot pedal, sewing machine repair

• Cigar Silks and Needlework

  In the late 1800's and early 1900's cigar manufacturers wrapped bundles of cigars with silk ribbons, bearing the name of the manufacturer. In keeping with the ideal of wasting nothing these ribbons would be saved then when they had enough would be sewn together much like a crazy quilt with decorative stitching. Later to entice more women into smoking pretty silk pictures were made, similar to trading cards.  This is an interesting article on the subject with some good pictures:  Tobacco Premium Quilt History: Silks, Ribbons & Flannels If you Google Cigar Silks you'll find several articles about it.   Edey Posted Jul 01 2009, 08:39 AM by Edey with no comments Filed under: cigar silk