So I Have This Sewing Machine . . . .

Several years ago I bought this sewing machine at a garage sale. 

If I remember correctly, it came on a table, which was kind of a disaster.  The table is long gone.

It had belonged to the seller's grandmother, who used it for decades, and was only selling it because she had a new, fancier machine. 
Of course, it wouldn't take much to be newer.
But fancier?  This comes with more feet than I know what to do with.  It comes with interchangeable wheels that can be inserted to make elaborate embroidery stitches.

And it comes with the original 1963 owners manual . . .

. . . complete with well-manicured hands demonstrating how to wind the bobbin.  What else could I ask for?

Maybe something to sew!

Well, if that's all I need, perhaps this weekend's sale ($0.99 for selected Simplicity patterns!) at JoAnn's would inspire me.  Yes indeed! 

Lizzie and I ventured to the grand world of JoAnn's for almost an hour on Saturday, where I scoured the Simplicity file cabinets, and Lizzie located "fuzz" from the floor, showing me the especially big or colorful pieces of "fuzz."  Yes, I let my child play with dust bunnies, fabric shavings, and ... I don't really want to think about it.  But everyone was happy.

I came home with a receipt that said that I paid $9.45, and saved $131.64.  I love receipts that look like that.


As you can see, I selected quite an eclectic assortment of patterns.  Skirts, baby gear, toddler dresses, infant shoes, aprons, shirts, curtains.  I should have no excuse if I ever get the sewing bug and don't know where to start.
 
Upon returning home, I put Lizzie down for her nap, moved the sewing machine from the office (soon to become guest room) into the master bedroom, and proceeded to accomplish a project.

The strap that allows you to collapse the back seat in the Suburban had busted, and it needed to be re-sewn.  Sam commissioned me to fix it, and fortunately, the dear old grandmother who originally had the machine also had heavy-duty needles.  Armed with heavy duty thread, and my trusty old owners manual, I figured out how to a) wind the bobbin, b) replace the all-purpose foot with a zipper foot, c) change the needle, and d) sew nylon webbing.

Before:

After: 



I feel so accomplished.  So inspired.  So ready to create something.

Now all I need is fabric.