This fall I have been in a mode of morphing... Morphing from a prior attempt at lighter colors back to my more comfortable darks...
In this process, I attempted a slip-cover for the wingback on the left.... My first attempt at a slipcover...
Maybe my last.... But, that's another story. Finished it and then... I just didn't like it in the spot I had planned for it... Bummer... It's currently banished to The Last Frontier of my house cleaning!
One of the more fun things of this little venture was the discovery that my ancient Singer was as good as gold. I have a newer machine... but, with MULTIPLE layers of drop-cloth canvas and big trim, it just bogged down. Not, this old girl! I tell you, I always come back to Old Girls one way or another.
LOL.
This beautiful old machine still has the sticker from the Charleston, South Carolina shop where it was "re-built". It was my Mom's. She sewed LOTS on it. Someone probably sewed LOTS on it before she got it. I sewed LOTS on it; but, it had been YEARS since it had had work. I just dusted it and oiled it... and it was off like a flash. You've just got to love that.
Let's dust ourselves off... oil ourselves up... and stitch on!! Wishing everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with the joy of discovering something that "still works". ;)
blessings ~ tanna
35 comments:
Your slip cover looks very nice, and your living room is so cozy! You are right about the old Singers. I have a Featherweight, and it's my favorite machine. I learned on my grandmother's treadle machine and then sewed a lot on my mother's 1946 Singer. You just can't beat those old girls, sure enough! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
I just love how beautiful your home is. I don't think I've seen too many pictures of it. You're so lucky that you know how to sew. I think your slipcover looks great! That is so neat that you can sew on that old sewing machine still today. They just don't make them like that anymore, do they?
I have my grandmother's old treadle Singer. Might have to get that out and give it a try...it's been YEARS! Decades even...
I will not, however, be attempting to slipcover anything as intricate as that wing back chair!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Tanna.
I have an old treadle. I never even thought of getting somebody to fix it up. Wonder how much it would cost. Hmmmmmmmm............ Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I love this time of year.
Your posts, lately, have been very inspiring and thought provoking.
Yes, the Old Girls are so beautiful and faithful!
Your last post really made me think about saying Yes to more.
thank you!
that's so cool that you still have and use your mom's machine.
have a great thanksgiving day, dear tanna.
Your home is beautiful, beautiful, gorgeous and beautiful! And you did a great job on the slip cover. Sorry it didn't turn out like you wanted. I need that paint color - no joke - going to paint my living room and that color is calling to me! Do you mind sharing? Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Tanna!
Oh yes, I do love it! They just don't make things like they once did, do they?! :)
Tanna what a beautiful atmosphere has your home! You are living in one of my dreams!
Great job!Such a perfect slipcover for this armchair. Most difficult was to make the form of pattern for to cut the fabric, is not it?
I always like seeing a glimpse of your home...it is so lovely and cozy at the same time. Good job on the slip cover and congratulations for even attempting it. Your Singer reminds me of my mom's that I grew up sewing on. I agree with you, it was sturdy and not temperamental like today's machines seem to be.
Love the slipcover. Really great job. That is something that would be a little overwhelming for me. The measure twice, cut once would come to a measure 100 times...no cutting going on. Happy Thanksgiving, Tanna.
I have been wanting to make slip covers for two arm chairs like that for ages but I'm chicken. Yours looks like what I would want mine to look like. I had an old singer, but she bit the dust. Now, I have an even older one that belonged to my grandmother from Montgomery Ward.
It still works.
Better than I do!
I think you did a great job and I really like it. My late mother and I shared an old Singer machine though she was really the great seamstress, not I.
Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Tanna.
Your room is so fresh and inviting! I would like to sit and have a cup of coffee there Tanna! COMFY! You did a wonderful job.
Happy Thanksgiving to YOU and your ENTIRE family!!! ENJOY!
they turned out wonderful... you and your machine did good...Happy Thanksgiving sweet blog pal...
I've never seen anything you knitted/crocheted/sewed/created/painted/cooked/decorated/etc. that wasn't perfect! I'm coming down there! Watch for me. :)
Happy Thanksgiving, Tanna and lovely family!
I'm a dark color person, also, Tanna ~ your room looks so cozy and warm!
I feel the urge to break out my garage sale find Singer in it's original wood case and see if someone can recondition it for me so that it's usuable & not just a decoration
now to find a gorgeous sewing machine table like yours!
happy Thanksgiving, my friend!
Melissa
Happy Thanksgiving my friend!
I love that old machine... The stories it could tell.
Hot pants, Maxi skirts, cheerleading costumes, and baby clothes~
Years to be Thankful for!
You know the saying "they don't make'em like that anymore!" It's nice to know that Singer is still humming right along. Your slipcover looks pretty good to me. I wouldn't even know where to begin. The best I could do is grab a sheet, drape and tuck. :) Happy Thanksgiving! Tammy
Every thing in your home looks gorgeous! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family - Love, sandie
I think your slip cover is lovely......and I agree...they just don't make quality things any longer....Happy thanksgiving...
It is magazine ready! What a delightfuly balanced beautiful signature Tanna space. And your words always encourage me in the most kind way. You are true blue Ms. Tanna. I think I'll go dust myself off, oil up a bit and keep going.
Wow, Tanna, that was your first slipcover? You sure picked a difficult first project, and it turned out great. I agree, old machines are just built better...less plastic and no computers to get messed up. Hope you had a great THanksgiving with your family!
This post had me wanting to stand up and shout, "To-Wanda!" Just like in Fried Green Tomatoes. Love it!
I'm trying to figure out why that chair doesn't work in the living room? I say dust that thing off and put her right back out there front and center instead of banishing her to the back. She's a beauty. =) Oh, and I'm still ga-ga over the paint color in the living room.
If I ever get to Tyler, Tanna...I hope to be sitting in that cozy room, chatting and sipping coffee, and marveling at all your handiwork.
I think the slipcover looks great!
Oh, I love your old machine!
Tanna- your first attempt at slip covering looks fabulous. I couldn't do that in a million years!
Love the story of the sewing machine-- I have an old Singer also-/ it used to belong to my Mother--- it's priceless.
Vicki
I been paging through a few of the posts I've missed. You have been busy indeed. The baby and "little man" are both delights and I know how they gladden your heart. I also think you did a great job with the slipcover. It is really hard to work with cording and it looks like you mastered it first try. I hope you had a fantastic holiday. I'm sending hugs and blessings your way. Mary
Well I think it looks great....now you want to come my way and help me finish up the chair I tore apart in my garage...LOL I got the cushions re-done and now I have to do the rest...I think I took out at least one million staples
Yes those old machines are great...I am using an old one for my reupholstering job and it just sews straight through those layers and cording.
I suspected it....but now, I'm sure----you can do anything!!! Upholstery??!!! WOW. First attempt---and it looks rather perfect to me!!! Good job, Grandma. I'm proud of you. (my Grandson--at age 2/3--used to tell me that all the time!)
Slip covers are VERY hard, aren't they! You can't be a perfectionist, though, and live with the results. Unless yours turns out like Miss Mustard Seeds do, I guess. I live with mine, in all of their imperfections. Yours looks beautiful! I like it.
Hugs, Cindy
I love your brown and cream theme - it fits so well into the traditional details of your home. I have a dark grey wall in my living room and am finding it much too dark as we have a forest behind us that blocks out much of our natural light although I love the drama and boldness of the darker colours. I'm feeling very inspired now to do some painting. Hmmm...with Bob busy on the studio, this may become my job!
And an upholstery job...there's no end to your talents! (I loved the old Singer's and especially my grandmother's old treadle one as it seemed I had more control over the stitches...but I'm going waaaaay back with that!)
Simply gorgeous!! The entire room AND the slipcover! Wish you were for hire so you could come work on my house! :-)
I love your home - so inviting and warm! You're so brave to attempt slipcovers - I think it looks great.
Post a Comment