<<Using the canvas drop cloths for a tent, that's a good idea. I'm guessing that it is cheaper that way than buying yardage?>>

Definitely.  We got two 12x15 drop clothes for like $76 (although I was dismayed to find that the measurement is not correct; they cut the fabric out that size, then sew it up and you lose inches in the seams--I asked my husband if that wasn't like saying that a pair of pants was a size 36, except that they only fit someone with a 34" waist?  He said take it up with the tarp industry). 

Anyways, I cut them in half and so I got four nearly 12' wide panels, nearly 7.5' long--our walls being 7 feet long or a bit less.  I also had to add in a section of 4 foot-wide canvas that I already had (and bought at a bargain price because it was a remnant) to give us enough coverage (50' total) and a bit of overlap around the corners and things like that. 

If you get canvas that's 60" wide, you'd need 10 panels of it (think of the sewing labor involved in that--all I had to do was hem one raw edge on each panel and attach clips), each 7 feet and a couple of inches long--so say 2.5 yards.  That's 25 yards of fabric.  At $6 a yard, that's $150.  And that's the absolute cheapest we saw any canvas.

So, considering our remnant cost us like $6, I think, we only spent $82 total on canvas--compare to $150.  Plus, as I mentioned, it saved a LOT of labor to buy such large sections already put together and hemmed. 

We have a friend who has made her own canvas tent before (and we're talking large, fancy tent here; not a piece of canvas thrown over a tree limb!) and I thought she was crazy for doing it, but, actually, I found that the canvas really wasn't that hard to sew after all.  The worst of it was trying to get it folded in half so I could cut it; it was wet and muddy outside--had been for weeks--and the drop cloth was bigger than our kitchen, even when folded in half.  So I had some difficulties cutting out something that large, but it wouldn't have been so bad if I could have taken it out to the yard to do it. 

Keriamon:

So I had some difficulties cutting out something that large

That has always been a problem with me, finding a good surface to cut out fabric. I'm beyond crawling around on the floor or ground to cut out anything, so it has to be table height to work. Right now I use 3 card tables end to end, or 2 buffet tables on the patio placed side by side for cutting. I ran into the problem of space when it came to cutting out a backing for a large quilt, and then basting it together.

$82.00 isn't a bad price for a good well made tent.

The way they measure a tarp sounds like wood measurement, which I'm sure you probably know. A 2x4 board isn't 2x4 and if you don't know that it could easily mess up a project. Edey

My grandmother used her Singer non-electric machine her entire life. I have her love of sewing and have a Janome-which is wonderful.  I have found it to be dependable, works smoothly, and makes me want to sew even more. 

still have to get the serial no from my moms to find out the age.  was a treadle one at the antique show but not for $195.00. missing the plate over the bobbin. common thing.

MarthaMFI:

still have to get the serial no from my moms to find out the age.  was a treadle one at the antique show but not for $195.00. missing the plate over the bobbin. common thing.

I've seen several machines on e-bay that have missing bobbin covers. There was a machine that I wanted being sold near me that had too high of a price on it for the parts that it was missing, like the bobbin cover and the foot pedal. It could have been converted to a hand crank, or put into a treadle base, but without the bobbin cover it wasn't useable. They are parts that show up on e-bay so there is a possibility of finding the right part.

If you get the serial number, let me know.  I'll be happy to look it up for you, and if you have any questions, please ask. Edey.

I've restored my 1914 Singer Red-ey 66-1 and had a great job doing it. I found quite a bit of information on how to clean it up and get it working again like new. There are several web-sites with good information, pictures and help on doing that project yourself. It isn't difficult once you do some looking around these sites. Here are some websites that were most helpful:

www.ismacs.net an international sewing machine collector's website.

www.neeldebar.org  lots of good pictures and information here. They have a forum to join but you don't have to, to view their pictures.

www.tfsr.org  This is an organization that takes in repaired machines and sends them to Third World countries. Their online sewing machine manual is a techinical repair book for the most common of the old black Singers. Very useful information for restoring a machine.

www.treadleon.net   Very good site dedicated to people powered machines, meaning Treadles and Hand Cranks. Loads of different types of information on restoring machines. At first sight this page may seem a little strange but the people here know their business. They have a sister site: www.quiltropolis.com

For lots of pictures people have posted on line of the their favorite machines and hobbies go to www.webshots.com. There are thousands of pictures here.

Singer's website has the list of serial numbers for machines back to around 1900, when they first starting keeping the serial numbers lists. You can also buy or download free manuals for Singers. www.singerco.com

I'll be glad to help anyone if I can with questions. I'm learning all the time about working on sewing machines. I'm not real interested in the more modern machines, those are too complicated to me, so don't know much about them. But I do get thrilled when I see anything at all about the old treadles, and old Singers.  Edey

I'm nervous about used sewing machines with parts missing. I've repaired & worn out too many machines to buy used. Last 4 parts weren't available anywhere. For an active sewer having a great relationship with machine repair place is very important. They know our machines are as important to us as our family & they will offer deals to us that the general public won't get.

 A brand name doesn't matter as much as what do you plan to do with the machine. Machines today are created for different purposes; clothes sewing, quilting, embroidery & even paper scrapbooking. Some even have special darning features.

I love my serger over my regular sewing machine. The serger cuts my sewing time in half & increases my creativity with materials I have on hand that would normally be worn out & tossed.

I have to agree with you on the used machines bit.  I sew a LOT, so I don't think buying used--for me--is generally a good idea.  However, if I only wanted a machine for occasional use, then I'd have no problems buying one used.  My grandmother's old 1960's-era Singer finally gave up the ghost a few years back.  She sewed the devil out of that thing, but it's now to the point that everytime she has it in to get fixed, it doesn't get fixed.  I told her it was likely just worn completely out and there was no hope for it.  She used to sew stuff for craft shows, so it saw much heavier use than your typical home machine. 

And, I must admit, I've known too many people who sent their machines out and they don't come back right.  I'm not even sure if anyone much can fix them nowdays.  I don't get mine serviced; I'm afraid to. 

For the kind of sewing I do, I've never found a good reason to own a serger. Mostly I do small items, and quilting related projects.  My zigzag machine and my newer HuskyStar have plenty of stitches to use on the projects that I do. My sister loves her serger but then she does many different projects than I do, working with types of fabric that need edges overcast to prevent raveling and for strength on the seams. She has made flags for the school bands, helped with band costumes, and made holiday costumes for others. For her it is a worthwhile purchase. Edey

I take my sewing machines in for cleaning every 2-3 yrs. I have them show me how & where to clean & oil my machine between times. Any respectable sewing machine repair shop  is more than willing to show me. I ask them to make a note about this request on my information card. When I pick up my machine they are prepared to give me the time.

To find a good repair shop: find a quilt fabric shop & ask the sales people who they recommend.