I recently bought a sewing machine off eBay. Two, actually.I don't have either one yet, but they are in the mill.This has me fairly traumatized. I could use some advice.I bought them with the idea of learning how to just make basicrepairs. No big deal. Just to hem some jeans and some dogtowels.My current questions fall into two categories:-- RoomI have a large basement room which has good illumination andelectricity. It would be perfect except for the fact that itgets damp down there. Soggy type damp.I also have a spare bedroom which is much smaller. It mightbe able to be made to work, but I don't see ever setting upany large table in there.-- ProjectsI think this will be the main bitch.From what I can see, most of the sewing books / classes arerelated to making things with patterns. This is not where Iam. I want to just learn how to put solid hems on doggietowels which have frayed edges. I *might* try to make him avest later on, but not right now.Where do I start?

Not good. Your machine will be affected by the dampness. But you could put a cutting table down there.I don't have a large sewing table in my house. I use either the dinner table or my bed for cutting.Well, I guess you start with putting solid hems on doggie towels which have frayed edges. Sounds to me like it would be perfect practice for getting used to your sewing machine.If you need suggestions on how to do a nice job, write back.

Trish, here's a photo of one, on the Nancy's Notions site: this look familiar?Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati

Starting from scratch?

Jul 07, 2003 23 Replies

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Trishty 23 years ago

Heh heh No, don't like tunnels, especially London's Blackwall. There is a queue to get in, and the 20-minute wait used to reduce me to tears. Won't use the Eurotunnel because it's under the sea. Can't use the Underground, after one too many breakdowns. Can't use lifts, since I was stuck in one with 13 other people (maximum capacity 10 persons) for 30 minutes.

Don't have the dreams though, which I'm glad about.

So grateful to my big brother who, every time my parents went out, locked me in the understairs cupboard for a laugh...

:) Trish

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The Other Harry 23 years ago

Guess what a nice 2CV sells for in The States these days?

About $8,000 to $10,000. That would be for a *really* good one. Near perfect condition. Restored or garaged since new.

$5,000 will get a fairly good one -- a "runner" which has not too many dents, not too much rust, or any other serious mechanical problems.

Either way, they are difficult to come by.

While mowing my back lawn yesterday, I realised that what you need for your stable, in addition to the Skoda, is a black,

1958 Renault Dauphine.

A friend of mine used to "date" a girl whose father had one of those. Most every evening, she would bring her little stool over to his bedroom window.

The father offered to give my friend the Renault if he would marry her.

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SewStorm 23 years ago

Trish, here's a photo of one, on the Nancy's Notions site:

formatting link

Does this look familiar?

Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati

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Kay Lancaster 22 years ago

Singer and Schmetz needles are slightly different lengths. I understand it's possible to "retime" a machine so you can use the other brand. But in general, it's Singer needles for Singer machines

Aack! I hate automatic shutoff irons! They're always going off when I need them most.

For a lot of purposes, finger pressing and then using a bamboo point turner or similar bit of wood does well enough for light construction pressing (like turning over the edge on a facing before stitching)... I have a profound cheapatarian streak in me, so I do the point turner/finger pressing thing a lot, and also do all the sewing I can (even if it's on several different parts of the garment), then do all the pressing I can at one swell foop, turn off the iron, then back to the sewing machine for more construction.

If you've got a naked incandescent bulb around, you can also use the heat of that for small pressing jobs while you're sewing.

Kay

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