Linda Sewing Machine

While you know me as Mrs. D--my given name is Linda.   This is my new arrival, a vintage sewing machine from London.

Our friend Dwaine buys lots of sewing machines from Europe via online auctions.  He called me in March when the Linda sewing machine was being sold on EbayUK.  

Holding My Breath During the Bidding:

It was just Dwaine and one other bidder.  There was no back and forth volleying.  Dwaine bid first, then outbid by the other bidder.  And there the auction sat for hours and hours.  

Dwaine waited until the last 15 seconds to launch his bid, but then his computer slowed and that dial thingy spun round and round for 13 seconds.  With only 2 seconds left in the auction, Dwaine's bid landed and he won.  My eyes were as big as saucers--I thought we'd lost for sure.  When I exhaled, it was time for the happy dance.

Dwaine had contacted the seller in advance of the auction to ask the question--if she'd consider packaging and shipping the sewing machine to the United States.  So thankful she said YES.

I am delighted with the Linda machine and have corresponded with Ms. Hemmings who was selling this flawless machine.  She was happy too, knowing the machine was traveling to the States to come live with me.  

Don't know much about the Linda Sewing Machine Company, other than the badge says it was imported by Lindeteves, from the Netherlands.  It is a Clone of a Singer Class 15 built in Japan. 

The knob shown here is to raise/lower the feed dogs.  Darning?  Free Motion Quilting?  With a Hand Crank?  So I asked some experts about these features and they say the Japanese manufacturer chose both features.  I guess the idea is, it could be motorized or people powered.  Hand crank machines are common in the UK.  More research to do; hoping to find out what year it was manufactured.

When I took this photo--I hadn't finished polishing the backside of the machine.  But as you can see from the shine in the other photos--it took no effort at all to surface polish to a mirror finish.

Dwaine he had it all oiled up and ready to go when he delivered it to me.  

I'll take this machine with me to shows this summer to demonstrate.  It sews perfectly, like the day it was made.  I am the lucky one.

Making Your Own Labels - TUTORIAL

I want to share with you how to make your own labels for your sewing projects . . . 

I make and sell these lovely padded cell phone carriers that clip-on at the neckline, lapel, purse straps, or waistline.  The carriers feature a lasso stitch beaded closure.  This one is typical, decorated with couching, hand dyed yarns, shiny bits stitched in place.  

The polymer clay beads I make by hand--about 50-60 pieces is an evening's work.  Other evenings, I embroider wool medallions, adding a few glass beads.  To make my purses and carriers--recycled wool and corduroy men's and ladies jackets, and the linings are cotton prints and batting leftovers from quilting projects.  A great project for scrap busting.

Getting back to the reason for writing this post . . . to show you how tot stamp labels.

INKS

Purchased two tins of COLOR BOX permanent fabric inks in WICKED BLACK and in PUTTY.

The Putty color ink is more transparent, and didn't show up on any fabrics!  However, it did produce a stamp image on the white price tag example.  

I returned the Putty ink for refund, and purchased a WHITE permanent fabric ink by VersaCraft. 

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The stamp was created for me by Ashley from her Etsy Shop SayaBellStamps.  The stamp size, the fonts--it is PERFECT.  Great customer service--likes working with her clients.  Wonderful!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SayaBellStamps

Experiment #1

Working with Contrast and Fabric Texture

1.  White VersaCraft ink on the Black Linen Upholstery fabric doesn't make a good stamp transfer. 

The problem is the Black Linen Upholstery fabric has too much texture (too bumpy, not flat enough to make a good imprint).

Stamping the back, (lighter side) (smooth side) of the Linen fabric with WICKED BLACK ink by COLOR BOX works well.

 I use a sewing machine to sew-in upholstery fabric stamped labels to purse or soft luggage linings during construction. 

While a perfectly wonderful label making material--some upholstery fabrics even though they have a nice stabilizer backing on them can have a tiny bit of hairyness, or fraying along their rotary cut edges. 

BUT--this can be eliminated with a finger dampened with Fray-Check around the perimeter.  It takes only seconds to do.  

The Olive Green Upholstery micro suede fabric has a smoother surface than the black linen.  Here, I've stamped with the white ink, and again with the black ink.

One more important thing about these fabric inks . . . they take some time to dry--otherwise the ink will smear.  

Allow several hours drying time.  Clipped the stamped strips to the window curtain in my studio, a safe place for them to dry.

2.  The Stamping Fixture

I asked my husband Jon to build a fixture for stamping.  He selected a 36" board, and screwed two metal yard sticks to the board.  My drawing and instructions asked for a WOOD YARD STICK, cut in half,  glued to a 24" long board.  Ok.  well, so much for the drawing and instructions . . . 

There is an advantage to using the WOOD YARD STICK.  Because it is a thicker material, it provides a deeper channel to hold the 1 inch rotary cut strip of fabric.  And if your fabric strip wants to curl a bit, you can use a dab of stick glue here and there along the length of the channel to keep the fabric in place.  

3.  Another Approach

Since textured fabric has issues, I decided to try some dark blue cotton fabric with the white opaque fabric ink.  Very pleased with the results.  Here's what I did . . .

Cut the blue cotton strip of fabric wider (1-1/2 inches wide), and this time I didn't use the stamping board fixture. 

Lay the 1-1/2" wide fabric strip horizontally on an old cutting mat, and go ahead and dab with some stick glue if you want.  Used the old cutting mat grid, stamping as straight as possible, producing about 10 labels and hung the strip up to dry for half a day--while I worked on a quilt.

Separated the 10 dried labels cutting them using the rotary cutting mat grid.  Then, took the labels to the ironing board and carefully turned the edges under and pressed.  Threaded my needle with matching blue thread and pinned a label to the cell phone carrier, stitching it with tiny applique stitches (about two minutes work--not a problem).  

I like the stamp imprint and the soft cotton fabric and how easy it was to stitch in place.  This is a winner.  

I hope you'll try this.  It is fast and fun.  You deserve something fast, fun, and economical.  

Consider this--every stamped label I save 40 cents.  That is the price I used to pay to have an online supplier make 120 labels for me ($60.00) plus shipping. 

After years of buying printed labels from this same online supplier--most of the time waiting as much as six weeks for my label orders, I sent her many emails begging her to get off her butt and send me my label order, and she would ignore my pleading.  Finally, I decided--THIS STINKS.  I'VE HAD ENOUGH.  I'LL MAKE MY OWN LABELS.