As many readers of this blog will realise I sew quite a lot, but so far it has all been by hand! So when, earlier this year I was given a sewing machine I quickly signed up for an introductory sewing class with Edinburgh Sewcial Club. Then COVID_19 happened, we went into lockdown and classes were all postponed.
However, recently the club started up classes again and yesterday I was able to attend! Fewer participants in a socially distanced studio, window and door open for full ventilation, everyone wearing masks, lots of hand sanitiser and no shared materials or equipment, this was a COVID secure class (or as secure as you can get in these pandemic days).
It was a very enjoyable class, I learned all about how to set up and use a sewing machine, though the machines in the studio are different than the one I have, but mine is too heavy to want to carry it down three flights of stairs, into a taxi and then down a flight of steps and through a building into the studio). I made this lovely cushion using floral fabric I had taken along and some striped fabric in complementary colours from the studio
which looks lovely on my comfy chair in our living room
Today I wanted to consolidate my learning by inspecting my own machine, which is a Singer 5805.
I was able to easily find the manual online and worked out how to thread the machine. However, the machine is missing the spool cap, so I can't as yet sew anything (the spool cap ensures that the spool of thread doesn't fall off the machine.) I know the part is available from US based Etsy stores but £12.00 postage for an item that costs about £2.00 is very steep, though I'll pay that if necessary!
Actually, I did learn to use a sewing machine in Domestic Science classes at secondary school, but that's a very long time ago and I had forgotten everything.
Edited to add: I remembered there is a sewing machine shop (David Drummonds) at Haymarket in Edinburgh so that's where I went to buy the spool cap. It's a good place to go if you need a new machine, parts for an existing machine or if your machine needs to be serviced. It's good to support local businesses particularly in these times of uncertainty.
3 comments:
Hi, Juliet, You may want to check Amazon UK for the missing spool cap. All the best, Gershon
What a wonderful cushion, and well done you, CGP, for (re)learning this skill. It takes me back to the days when we arrived back in Newcastle, and having bought some waterproof/thermal curtains in the Gateshead Co op for our kitchen, I then set about adapting them to fit the window. I had taken on a pretty old family Singer, a hand machine (not electric), and being left-handed had to sew towards me in some contorted manner. But the curtains were fine and were later turned into a garden tablecloth when we moved south and had different windows.
Hi Gershon, I try to avoid Amazon to be honest but will try them if all else fails. There's a shop quite near us that may actually stock what i need now I've thought about it
Caroline - those sound like great curtains and my mother had an old hand Singer!
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