Sunday, January 06, 2013

And then there were nine.....

For Christmas I got another sewing machine. She was -- & was not -- a surprise.

I had seen her on eBay & told Shug that perhaps she would be a nice birthday gift (my birthday is in early February). But when we go back after our holiday travels to have our own personal Christmas at home, I found a big box under our little tree: a 1963 White! She is kind of a celadon green with an ornate face plate & nearly like new. I've decided to call her "Betty".

It took me a while to get the tensions right. There were skipped stitches at first, but a new needle fixed that. She also sounded kind of click-y, but with some oil & attention, that seems to be going away. (Both Betty & Amie had a short, refreshing trip to a sewing machine spa & returned rejuvenated & ready for play. Both sew a fine seam now.) Feather-weight she is not! -- tips the scale at 37 pounds -- I won't be toting her to any retreats! I wondered what roll Betty would have among my sewing machines. Except for the 2 family machines, which don't work right now & are more sentimental than functional, & the Singer 99 Lotus, which is mostly an art object, all my machines provide something unique: portability, deep throat for quilting, programmable stitches, off-the-grid ability for when the power is out.

I think Betty will be my downstairs machine, to set up in the dining room or on a folding table in front of the television.

1963 white

betty

9 comments:

Rebecca said...

She's pretty!

O'Quilts said...

Wow...Wow and Wow...!!!

felice said...

Pretty!

Scooquilt said...

Betty is beautiful! Also glad that great minds think alike. My old White machine is named SueAnn. :-)

Claudia said...

Oh my, she's a beaut! If I had the space, I would totally go all out with some vintage machines. I have a featherweight but not place to display it.

Nifty Quilts said...

Wow! You are one lucky girl. Both of these machines are just wonderful. Your French friend has certainly topped us all at hostess gifts. Happy birthday--only a month away. Yours is in early February? What day? Mine is too! I hope you're celebrating already.

amy and the bad cats said...

both betty and amie are lovely, lovely girls! and you now win! i'm down to eight now, because i gave one up to Goodwill in december that wasn't worth it to me to get fixed.

Rachaeldaisy said...

Oh my gosh!! It's lovely to meet Betty!! I'm so glad she has joined your family. You should put on your quilt labels which sewing machine you used for your quilts.

Cassie said...

hahaha! Betty White! That's hilarious!! She's beautiful, congrats!