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Singer Of Your Dreams!

2K views 25 replies 9 participants last post by  jbertelson 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hair Nose Head Chin Eyelash


No No No, not THAT kind of Singer Seams to be quite of few people that have repurposed the old antique Singer sewing machines. Let's see how many we can get together and compare. I have 2 projects over the past 12 years involving singer sewing machines. I am now looking for a couple more of the treadle bases for project ideas I have. My first Singer project was built for my wife. She has always loved and collected bowl and pitcher sets and she would love to have a wash stand to display her favorite of the month on. Another thing she enjoys is sewing but had to put her machine on the kitchen table to use it. We had a small old shotgun house and didn't have room for anymore furniture. I went to work and designed a Walnut and Birdseye Maple dry sink (wash stand) When I got it finished I waited for her to go to the grocery store one evening and I took an old floor model stereo that wasn't used anymore out of the living room and moved the dry sink in. I was just watching TV when she got home and helped her with the food. She walked into the living room and then screamed when she saw her newest bowl and pitcher in the sink. I thought she was going to faint when she looked in the cabinet.
Cabinetry Table Drinkware Drawer Tableware


Cabinetry Drawer Wood Hat Chest of drawers


Table Furniture Sewing machine Wood Writing desk


Singer #one….... My Grandmothers 1932 electric Singer sewing machine that she received from her mother as a wedding present. My wife has 2 other machines that she never uses because they have too many buttons and features. Since she got this one in 86 after Granny passed, she has not used any other. Singer #2…..... I had this base for probably 10 years without a use, just taking space in the shed. Not long after getting my Jet minilathe I saw the base in the shed and got this idea. Built the top and just one accessory drawer and there she's been ever since. This base has no family connections, just a yard sale find.
Furniture Table Computer desk Wood Desk


OK people, show us the Singer of your dreams!
 

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#2 ·
No Singers to show, Dan, but your creations are just great. That combo sewing table dry sink is a wondrous thing. I have lived in cramped quarters when young, and that sort of thing is a piece of magic.

My wife does have a couple of the old electric portable Singers mostly for display, but they do work.

I am sitting here in front of the computer recovering. Recovering from plumbing. Gull darn do I hate plumbing. Had a kitchen faucet start leaking underneath. It is one of those things where the head pulls out of the spout and it becomes a sprayer. But located in a narrow space back of a deep sink in our island in the kitchen. The realistic way to work on these things is before the sink goes in, or pull the sink if something goes wrong. Right.

I was able to pull the faucet, partly from the top, and some from the bottom, although the bottom part is mostly inaccessible. Got it out, and the cause was probably a loose hose connection to the faucet. Teflon tape, replaced the faucet, and everything is fine. I spread the work over 3 days. We have another sink in the kitchen, so no rush. On my back, working at impossible angles, etc. I have the tools, just not the flexibility anymore.

I built a simple jig out of a dowel to get the U shaped nut that holds the faucet down from underneath back in place. Took my wife and I to do that. I conned her petite little self into doing the under cabinet part… (-:

I had to tie a string on the quick disconnect for the spray hose that was located way at the top behind the sink. That way I could push up with a very constricted hand on the fitting, and pull down on the string with the other hand to allow it to snap in place. I left the string, a simple lasso with a loop to pull with, in place.

While you are having fond memories, I been sweating… just kidding. Thanks for the post. Like those cabinets.
 
#3 ·
My mother of 96+ years has her mothers pedal one, with the 3 drawers on each side and the big top and extension table that when you lower the sewing that hinges over the top and you have this 30+" x 20" flat top.
At first use when I was about 4, she had to pedal it with the original machine, then about 7 my uncle did a motor conversion on it. Then a few years later she bought a modern portable Singer and hated it. I looked at it and it had the same hinge system built into it for a table model and it was the same as the original, a half hour later it was in Grandmas original cabinet.
 
#11 ·
Yes Bob, I didn't know it was sought after but it is the featherweight. My grandmother never had a sewing cabinet, she didn't really like to sew. The women of their times did it all anyway. She was born in 1909. I do have the rest of it, including the top and bottom of the case, the accessories tray, button hole attachment, and the little can of Singer sewing machine oil. The accessories are in the right drawer along with scissors, pins, and needles. Her last project with it was making draw string bags out of Domino fabric. I made a bunch of sets of Dominos for our clubs Christmas for little shavers 2015.
 
#14 ·
My wife's singer is a Featherweight. She may have two, but I think only one is in perfect working order, and complete with the manual. We have a couple of other old machines that I would think should be repurposed into something else.

If I ever run out of repair projects around our houses, then I may get at the sewing machines. I am becoming a full time plumber, I swear.
 
#15 ·
Oh, and would you believe my next project is to build two ironing boards for quilting, the tops are 24" x 60" a piece. One top goes to a friend who will use it without legs since she has a repurposed chest of drawers for that. My wife wants hers to have legs and all. I will be able to post them as a project, I guess, since they will be wood.

There, double bump… (-:
 
#17 ·
They still make those treadmill machines for
use in countries with unreliable electrical
service.

I fuss with sewing machines now and again.
I have a Pfaff set up with a hand crank
for sewing leather and I've owned a few
other leather machines over the years.
 
#18 · (Edited by Moderator)
...and it turns out my wife has 3, yes THREE Featherweights.

After I came in the kitchen chuckling from your comment over on the Splitter thread, she asked me what I was laughing about, and that's when she spilled the beans. If you count the long arm, she has four sewing machines up and running, if you include her La Conner one, and that is not including the Featherweights.

Don't you think I should be a little suspicious about some sort of conspiracy or another? ...(-:

I think that friends who come over use the Featherweights now and then, since they are a big favorite of quilters. Maybe she is running a quilting "ring" or some such… (-:

Finally sitting down again after a grueling day of plumbing. Even an hour of plumbing is grueling. It is always in some least favorite position of my ancient old body.

Think it is time for some TV and a glass of wine… burp…
 
#19 ·
Don t you think I should be a little suspicious about some sort of conspiracy or another? ...(-:

. Maybe she is running a quilting "ring" or some such… (-:

Think it is time for some TV and a glass of wine… burp…

- Jim Bertelson
Jim, relax and enjoy your wine. I will notify the InuitATF about her Ring so she wont blame you!
 
#24 · (Edited by Moderator)
Well, Dan, this thread isn't singing the right tune, I guess, but it keeps on bumping along one way or another.

Some more interesting projects my wife has assigned me. I have to build an entryway bench, I may have noted that before, and now she wants me to build a cheap, very cheap, dining room table for the same house.

This is a new house for her handicapped daughter, but since I am the only Dad she has ever known, I'll just say it is our daughter. My wife is selling her share in the previous house, and buying one where she is the only owner. I agree that it is the thing to do. But then there is the furniture, and it will get rough service from two handicapped clients and multiple caregivers.

She doesn't want to pay a bunch of money for cheap furniture, if I can build a table for under $500. Well, yes I can do that, and so I will. The legs will be pre-turned pine from HD, and the top will be either pine or red oak planks, depending on the price. The legs will get painted, and probably so will the top. A rustic farm dining table. There are examples on the web, so I know it can be done. Just don't know how long it will last. I'll put in a lot of glue and supports that complete amateurs might not, but it will not be fancy.

Right?

Just so she doesn't add change orders as I go along, it will work. She will purchase the chairs for it.

Now if only I had a couple of old singer treadle frames to use for legs… (-:
 
#26 ·
Glad to see you are sticking to topic, a true patriot… (-:

I agree with your suggestions about painting the legs, I was thinking black, and poly on an oak top is my thought as well.

Glad we geniuses think exactly the same. I thought I would stain the oak, if it is in budget, a reddish brown prior to the varnish. Black against a reddish brown.

Just like your picture…
I can see it in my dreams… (-:

Later…
 
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