9/29/11

Old girl, new dress

Well, my National Sewing Machine restoration project is concluded. Well, almost concluded. I have one more piece of veneer to glue down that I noticed this morning had come loose. Thank goodness it didn't crack. Gluing the whole sheet back down is much easier than putting in sections.

Here she is in her normal spot. She's convenient, just open her up and I can sew and she still holds part of the weight of my quilts as I'm quilting them. I'm using the cutting mat to protect the top for now.



This is a better look. Poor thing. Her cabinet was all to pieces. I glued it all back together and refinished it. We all had a story about finding the door open. Rob's was funniest. He went past her to empty a trash can one day and turned around to leave and the sewing cabinet door had swung open behind him, trapping him. If he hadn't noticed, he would have knocked it off the hinges. We all got trapped behind that door at some point as the ghost that inhabited it would open it at the most unpredictable moments.




The top of the cabinet was not salvageable. The veneer was cracked and chunks were missing, so I scraped off what was left of the top layer and painted it green. After several coats of paint, I applied three coats of paste wax, so it's slick and shiny. Perfect for resting a quilt on while quilting.




Here is the sewing surface. After the varnish was applied, it got 5 coats of paste wax. It's also slick as glass and will be a pleasure to sew on. Fabric should just glide across that surface.




Isn't she a pretty machine? She was made by the National Sewing Machine Company. I know that they made lots of machines that were sold under the store brand names. And, I thought this was for a local department store, but that was Scarborough's and this is Scarbrough, so I don't know if that was an oopsie or not. If not, then I can't find any history on that brand name, which is wierd since the internet is the world wide web and somewhere in the world, there must be another.





Anyway, sews like a charm. Cabinet all fixed up. Happy part of the sewing room. Serves a purpose, even when I'm not sewing on it.


Since she's a National sewing machine, I've been toying with the name Natalie. Natalie Scarbrough.


Jeez, it wasn't enough I gave my machines first names, now I'm giving them last names, too. I need a life.


Take care and have a great Thursday. Lane

6 comments:

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Looks gorgeous! And I love the name

Patricia said...

Beautiful machine! How did you learn to fix them up so expertly?

Michelle said...

She's a beauty!!!

Tammy said...

Natalie Scarbrough, has a nice ring to it. You did a lovely job cleaning her up. Now she is not only a functional sewing machine she's a looker ta boot. I love her.. my Singer 15-91 is named Pearl and my 1910 Bernard Stoewer Treadle is named Bernice. I think it is endearing that you name your machines as they are a valued part of your sewing family. I must say that naming your Kenmore Ken Moore was an especially brilliant.

Seraphinalina said...

She's beautiful, I think she suits Natalie Scarborough.

lw said...

My 2nd 221 is named "Marjorie Gilbert" after the original owner. Good save on the cabinet, but I wonder what the door opening ghost stuff is caused by?