Happy Friday! Today I want to share this travel set I made for the thrifted Singer Featherweight 221K sewing machine!


In case you missed it, earlier this year I had the thrift find of my dreams! I found a Vintage Singer Featherweight 221K sewing machine at my local Goodwill! For the full story, see this post: Thrifting a White Singer Featherweight 221K

As it happens, I already had a white featherweight of my own when I found that one. Obviously I didn't want to leave it behind, but I decided pretty quickly that I shouldn't keep it. Lucky for me, my Mom had just mentioned she was going to set herself up to sew in the living room and was going to use a little machine. So, I gave the thrifted featherweight to my Mom for Mother's Day!


Giving her this machine was the perfect excuse to make a travel set for it! I used my Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern, which includes a tote bag, extension table cover and a drawstring bag for holding the foot pedal and cord. For the main fabric I used this floral fabric that I found at the Goodwill Outlet store. It seemed appropriate!!


I took this project as an opportunity to adjust the extension table cover to fit the 221K's shorter table. I've updated the pattern to include this modification. The original table cover for the black 221 machines is still included in the pattern. I also just generally refreshed the pattern, giving it a layout similar to my newer patterns. I'm glad I took the time to do that!


On 221K machines the power cord and foot pedal are permanently connected to the machine. This makes the drawstring bag even more needed! We don't want them to scratch up the machine bed.


The accent and lining fabrics I used were all from my stash, all chosen to coordinate with the main floral.


This is the fourth travel set I've made! See the others here:
Nordika Sew Portable Travel Set
Dreamin' Vintage Sew Portable Travel Set
Sewing with Singer Sew Portable Travel Set

Pattern: Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern by me
Fabrics: thrifted quilting cotton, mauvelous pure solid by art gallery fabrics*, peppered cotton by studio e*
Notions: 1 1/4" cotton webbing, binder's board*, cotton twill tape

Happy Sewing!

Using Tucks to Add Structure to Your Bag

Happy Thursday! Today I'm sharing a video of the tucking technique used to add extra structure to your tote bag and a more boxy shape!

This was originally posted as part of the Workshop Tote Sew Along. Want to make a tote too?
Find all the posts here: Workshop Tote Sew Along
Pick up a copy of the pattern here: Workshop Tote Pattern
Share your progress here: #workshoptote on Instagram

This technique is also used in the Sew Portable Travel Set Tote.


Half-Square Triangle Workshop Tote made using Mariner's Cloth and Kaleidoscope by Alison Glass.


This is the last step in the Workshop Tote Pattern, and it's totally optional. You'll still have a lovely bag without this step!


Happy Sewing!

Sew Portable Travel Set: Sewing with Singer

Earlier this year, I was approached by Robert Kaufman to stitch up my Sew Portable Travel Set in the new prints coming to their Sewing with Singer fabric collection in June 2017. I mean how perfect? I travel set for a Singer Featherweight, made from fabric that has Featherweights on it! I had to photograph the set with my white Featherweight of course.


The set features a sturdy tote bag with a hard bottom to carry the machine in. There is room on both the front and back of the machine to carry projects, which also helps protect the machine. The exterior is quilted, with a layer of canvas to add extra structure.


Heavyweight handles are made from cotton webbing and a layer of quilting cotton on top. They're sturdy and wide enough so that they don't dig into your shoulder.


The second piece in the set is a drawstring bag. This is the everything size, which is also in the Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern. It holds the foot pedal, keeping it from scratching up the machine bed.


The last piece in the pattern is the extension table cover. It still helps to protect the table from getting scratched by the machine head! It's quilted and has the same layers as the tote.


The Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern is available in my online shop, here.


Interested in sewing more with your Featherweight? Check out my Vintage Singer Featherweight Tips and Tricks.


Bonus: Make a matching mat to sit under your machine: Sew Portable Mat Tutorial.

Happy Sewing!

Sew Portable Travel Set + Mat Tutorial

Happy Wednesday! This summer I have been trying to tackle works in progress and one of those projects was another Featherweight travel set! Shortly after I released my Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern last year, I started this set made from my Dreamin' Vintage fabrics. My original set is made with prints from Nordika, and is a perfect match for my black Singer Featherweight. For my celery/white Featherweight I wanted to use colors that were a little more summery.


The set features a sturdy tote bag with a hard bottom to carry the machine in. There is room on both the front and back of the machine to carry projects, which also helps protect the machine. The exterior is quilted, with a layer of canvas to add extra structure.


Heavyweight handles are made from cotton webbing and a double layer of quilting cotton. They're sturdy and wide enough so that they don't dig into your shoulder! I quilted the exterior with light blue thread from my Aurifil thread collection.


The second piece in the set is a drawstring bag! This is the everything size, which is also in the Lined Drawstring Bag Pattern. It holds the foot pedal, keeping it from scratching up the machine bed. For my last set I used the same prints for each piece, but for this one I mixed it up a bit, using different prints from the cool colorway.


The last piece in the pattern is the extension table cover. For this particular machine it's not quite as crucial because the table is half size and isn't at risk of hitting the screw on the machine head like most Featherweights. All the same, it still helps to protect it! It's quilted and has the same layers as the tote!



I made an extra piece for my set this time around. A small quilted mat to rest the machine on! It came together super fast! It also makes a nice little cover for the machine inside the bag too! Want to make your own? Here is a quick tutorial:

Finished size: 9.5"x12.5"
Use a 1/4" seam allowance.

Materials:
(12) 3.5" squares
(1) 16.5"x13.5" backing
(1) 16.5"x13.5" batting
(2) 2.5"x42" strips for binding

Lay squares out in a 4x3 arrangement. Sew squares together in each row. Press seams in one direction, alternating direction every other row. Sew rows together, press seams open. Layer backing, batting, and top. Baste, quilt, bind.


Of course I had to make one to go with my other set too! :)

You can find the Sew Portable Pattern as a PDF and Paper copy in my online shop. You can find my tips and tricks for sewing with a Singer Featherweight here.

Happy Sewing!

Nordika Sew Together Bag

Happy Tuesday! With summer coming to an end, I've been looking back through all the things I made this summer. There are quite a few I haven't shared here yet, so I'm going to try to play catch-up and fix that.  The first project is another Sew Together Bag. I made a pair of Dreamin' Vintage Sew Together Bags earlier this year, and found I needed to make just one more!

Sew Together Bag pattern by Sew Demented can be found here



This time around I used prints from Nordika. I quilted the outside panel the same as my last pair, with simple straight lines using the dark gray 50wt thread from my Favorite Things Aurifil Thread Collection. I used an extra long (22") gray zipper for the outside.


For the inside I used three coral zippers and a number of different Nordika prints from the Frost Valley colorway. It came together without a hitch!


Around the time I released my Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern, I realized that a matching Sew Together Bag would be the perfect addition to my set. So naturally, I immediately made this one! It's so matchy! I love it!

You can find the pattern here: Sew Together Bag Pattern by Sew Demented

Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern

Happy Tuesday! Thanks for your support of my new patterns! I'm excited to chat more about the Sew Portable Travel Set pattern today!

Featherweight Travel Bags, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

As I mentioned yesterday, this pattern was designed to help you create the perfect travel set for your Singer Featherweight 221. I have been using my set for over a year, and I can say with confidence that it fits the bill.  I have the original hard travel case for my machine, but I find it too heavy and don't trust it to properly protect my machine. Since I take it to The Sewcial Lounge and retreats relatively often, I wanted something more reliable. Plus, this is prettier! Now, let's dive into the individual pieces!

You can find my tips and tricks for sewing with a vintage Featherweight here.

Featherweight Travel Tote Bag, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

First up is the heavy duty tote bag. Whether you have a vintage machine or not, everyone can use a nice sturdy tote bag.  Before it is assembled, the panels are quilted (with batting and canvas) to give it extra strength along with an interfaced lining. Reinforced webbing handles that extend all the way around the bag mean you can carry heavy loads in this bag without worrying about it! The straps are long enough to go over the shoulder if you'd like.  Tucking at the sides gives it additional structure and shape.

A removable flat bottom makes it easy to carry a machine in it. I used a piece of very stiff compressed cardboard from a package I received, but anything strong will do. Binder's board is the closest thing I can find to what I used. This would do perfectly! Even a thin piece of wood cut to size would work! It just needs to be a material that won't bend with the weight of the machine.

Featherweight Extension Table Sleeve, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Next up is the extension table cover. There is a small screw on the side of the head of the machine, and it can ding and scratch the extension table when it's folded. This cover protects the table. It is quilted just like the tote bag and is a tight fit to ensure it doesn't move around when in transit.

Featherweight Foot Pedal Drawstring Bag, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Finally, the Everything Size of my Lined Drawstring Bag is included in this pattern to be used as a foot pedal/power cord holder. It fits nicely inside the harp of the machine. It may seem unnecessary to contain it, but not only will your bag be neater, but it will keep the pedal from scratching the bed of the machine. These bags are handy for all kinds of things from notions and tools to sewing projects!

Featherweight Travel Bags, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

There is some wiggle room in this tote bag, so that there is room for projects, rulers, or whatever you're traveling with. The bag can fit other vintage or small machines up to 11" long. It's the perfect excuse to pick up a Featherweight of your own! ;)

I used my Nordika fabric collection for this set, along with Pure Element solids by Art Gallery Fabrics. The interfacing I used is Pellon SF101. I used natural colored cotton canvas and cotton webbing both form JoAnn. Everything was constructed and quilted with my favorite dark gray Aurifil 50wt thread, which is in my Favorite Things Thread Collection.

You can find the PDF and paper versions in my shop here!

New Patterns

Happy Monday! I'm here today to share three new patterns with you! I've been working on getting these ready pretty much non-stop for the last few weeks, so I'm happy to finally have them done! The PDFs and paper versions are available now in my shop.  I want to simply introduce them to you today, and will spend a post on each one this week to talk about them in detail!


First up is the Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern! I have been trying to find time to work on this pattern for ages! This is the travel set I use for my Singer Featherweight 221. You'll find instructions for the tote bag, extension table cover and drawstring bag in this pattern. Even if you don't have a vintage machine, it's a super sturdy tote bag, and I use it all the time! It's designed to fit the Featherweight but will fit other vintage or small machines up to 11" long.


Next, is the Triplizip Zipper Pouch Pattern! These are the pouches that I teach at The Sewcial Lounge in the Zipper Pouch class and Laminated Zipper Pouch class! If you've never tried zippers before, this is the pattern for you.  There are three pouches in this pattern, a simple lined pouch, a cosmetic pouch with gussets, and a boxy pouch. They are fun and easy to customize!


The last one is the Simply Sampled Pattern. This is a a skill-building sampler I designed for the Block of the Month club I teach at The Sewcial Lounge (we have one spot left in our Sept-Dec session!). It's perfect for a quilter who is ready to tackle basic quilting techniques. From strip piecing to flying geese and quarter square triangles there are lots of different things to learn.

I'll be back tomorrow to chat more about the Sew Portable Travel Set! Have a great day!

Vintage Singer Featherweight Tips and Tricks

Happy Wednesday! Today I want to share a few of my favorite resources, tips, and tricks for Sewing on a Vintage Singer Featherweight 221. I was very lucky to find a featherweight under the tree this past Christmas from my parents. It is in beautiful condition, and had been picked up with it's original case, accessories, and even the loan agreement. You can read a bit more about that story here.

I had it cleaned and serviced at my local sewing machine shop after I got it, wanting to make sure it was in true working order between I started using it. I don't regret having it serviced that first time, because I really felt like it needed to be seen first by a professional. However, since that first cleaning I've serviced and cleaned it myself. Now that I've been using it pretty heavily for the past 5-6 months, I want to share my experiences with you all!


Ever since my machine returned from it's first tune-up, I've been using it almost exclusively for piecework. Nearly anything that was just simple piecing, since March has been done on my featherweight. That includes the majority of the projects that I made for my Quilt Market booth this past Spring!

I continue to use my Janome Horizon 7700 for anything that requires a walking foot, like bags with interfacing, shirring and for all my quilting. I wouldn't trade it for those things for sure. But for pretty much everything else, I'm preferring the featherweight. It is so easy to use for piecing, and creates amazing stitches. In addition, it is so lightweight and it takes up such little space so it's great for traveling.


Two resources that have been really helpful for me is Featherweight 221: The Perfect Portable And It's Stitches Across History by Nancy Johnson-Srebro, and The Featherweight 221 and I by David McCallum. Nancy's book is all about the history of the featherweight, the different models and accessories. There is part of the original manual in it as well, but in general it is more of a commentary on featherweights rather than a how-to manual. It was really interesting, I read through most of it in one sitting!

David McCallum's book is a true how-to guide. It is a comprehensive guide to care and also repair. I turn to this book every time I need to oil my machine. It has very clear, easy to read diagrams for where to oil and how often each spot should be oiled. Only the front of each page is printed, so you can use the backs of the pages to take notes. I keep track of each time I oil my machine to make sure I don't oil it too often or not enough.

I highly recommend both books, but if you only buy one, buy The Featherweight 221 and I by David McCallum.


You don't need much to take care of regular maintenance on a featherweight. These are some of my favorite tools:

I always have compressed air on hand to use on all of my machines. It's great for getting dust and lint from hard to reach places, like under the needle plate and in the bobbin case.  I seem to keep buying this one by 3M, it lasts a while. Early on I picked up a non-abrasive car wax to protect the surface of the featherweight and keep it nice and shiny. This butter smooth wax has worked great and doesn't have a strong smell. Make sure to test any wax on a hidden place first.  I buff it on with a microfiber cloth.

Unlike most of today's machines, featherweights need oiling on a regular basis to make sure it's running smoothly. I oil mine after every 8 hours or so of use.  Not all parts of the machine need oiled that often though. Once you get used to your machine, you'll be able to hear and feel when it needs oil.

I really like the Zoom Spout Oil*. It has a thin spout that comes way out of the bottle, making it easy to get hard to reach places. You only need a tiny drop in each spot, and this oil makes it easy to control the oil. I use q-tips to clean up any excess oil. You'll also need Singer Motor Lubricant for the gears and motor.  Before you start sewing again, sew through some scrap fabric to make sure everything is running okay and to let any excess oil run onto the scrap instead of your project.

*Update: I recently started using this oil pen, which makes it even easier to deliver one drop at a time. I absolutely love it, and it's refillable!


Once the machine is all nice and clean, it's back to sewing! I use Schmetz Universal Needles in my featherweight. They work great in all my machines, I like not having to order anything special.  The needles go in sideways and you thread it from right to left. I only use Aurifil cotton thread in my featherweight. It feeds so smoothly through the machine, and it only seems right to treat it to the best thread!


Like all machines, featherweights have their own quirks when it comes to actually sewing. I like to use the stock foot that came with the machine to do all my piecing. It's super skinny which makes top stitching really nice and the 1/4" guide is easy to see. You can buy a 1/4" foot for your featherweight, but I don't have one for mine.  I don't ever use the 1/4" foot I have for my Janome, so I probably wouldn't use one for this either. I'm not sure why, I just don't like using them!

One of the biggest tricks that helped make things easier for me, was learning how to loosen the hand wheel so that the needle doesn't run up and down while you wind a bobbin. Before you start winding, hold the large wheel in place with one hand and turn the small wheel towards you until it loosens.  Wind your bobbin and turn it back until it locks in place when you're done.


I do have the original carrying case for my featherweight, but I decided to create my own set of accessories for travel and storage.  I wanted something cuter and also a little more functional. You can read more about my featherweight travel set here. Want to make your own set? Check out my Sew Portable Travel Set Pattern! I also have a tutorial for a patchwork mat to match!

I'm not a featherweight expert, but I've definitely learned a lot using it these last few months. I'm looking forward to stitching up lots more projects with it!

I hope this was helpful to some of you! Do you sew on a vintage machine? What are your favorite tips, tricks, and resources?

Nordika Launch Party!

Nordika, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Happy Wednesday! It's been a slow week around here, and that's just fine with me. It's nice to have a little quiet, although it would be nice if the weather would be a little more cooperative. Looking forward to a little break from the heat this weekend!

In better news, Nordika is hitting stores this week! I've been updating the Fabric page (found in the tabs above), with a list of shops carrying it.  Let me know if you're a shop that's ordered Nordika and I'll list you there too!

Nordika Launch Party, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Last Friday we had our Nordika Launch Party at The Sewcial Lounge! Thank you to everyone who came, it was a lovely time! I managed to remember to take some photos!

Nordika Launch Party, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Nordika Launch Party, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Nordika Launch Party, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Nordika Launch Party, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

To see lots more photos of Nordika projects, see the flickr set here.

Nordika Launch Party, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

Nordika Launch Party, a photo by Jeni Baker on Flickr.

A big thank you to Sara of The Sewcial Lounge for hosting this party! You can find Nordika in stock in her online store and local shop!

Happy Sewing!