Frister & Rossman Sewing Machine

Usually when I am looking to purchase a vintage sewing machine, I'm looking for a machine that looks good and stitches well. Occasionally I get caught up in other details about a machine and I just have to have it (okay, I'm like this with lots of things I want, but that's another story!).

A few months ago I went to check out some vintage sewing machines that I found through a kijiji ad. The gentleman had a lot of machines that he had picked up at an estate sale and was trying to sell them for whatever he could get. I got some good deals on several vintage Singer models, including a 99 and a 128. While there I noticed this older sewing machine that wasn't in great shape (my hubby thought it was ugly and not worth his attention), but something about it caught my eye. I went back to pick up another machine and this poor mistreated Frister & Rossman sewing machine was still there and this time I bought it. It isn't pretty, but there was just something about it that called out to me and home it came.

I haven't spent much time working on this machine –yet. I've been spending more time trying to figure out how it works and gather information about it. It didn't come with a manual, so it's been a bit tricky figuring it out, but I will persevere.

While this machine will always have faded decals and a pitted and peeling finish on it, I hope that I can get it back into working condition. If not, it will be an interesting decoration in my quilt studio.

Watch the video belowto see more of my oldest vintage sewing machine.

If you've got a Frister & Rossman sewing machine or know a friend who does, please contact me to help me figure out the workings of this vintage machine.

Creatively,

Singer 128 with La Vencedora Decals

While I already have a Singer 128, I was drawn to this machine due to its beautiful intricate decals. I've seen other models of this machine before in other venues, but never have I seen one in such good condition and at such a great price!

This machine reminds me of my Singer 66 Red Eye, but it is a bit different. First, the Singer 128 is smaller than the Singer 66 – something you instantly notice when you see both machines together. The Singer 128 is about ¾ the size of the Singer 66 model.

Can you tell the difference? The Singer 128 with the La Vencedora decals in in front of the Singer 66 Redeye model

The decals are also similar: they're both intricate and in gold, red and green colours, but on closer inspection you can definitely see the difference. 

Although the decals on my Singer 66 Redeye model aren't in the best shape, this gives you an idea of what they look like.

My Singer 66 has a drop-in bobbin, whereas the Singer 128 is a long bobbin or shuttle machine. The Red Eye model is non-electric and is in a treadle stand. The new (to me) Singer 128 is an electric model and is in a wooden base. So really these machines aren't that alike – other than they are both made by Singer and look gorgeous!

I haven't yet had time to clean the Singer 128, but am looking forward to seeing how this machine shines with a little TLC.

To see more of my latest vintage sewing machine, watch the video below.

Creatively,

Telecast Thursday - Ruler Foot for the Janome Horizon Memory Craft 8900 QCP

Welcome to the last Telecast Thursday of the year. I'll be taking a break for the holidays until January 2016, but will be back then with new videos and tutorials.

I've recently been exploring doing ruler work on my Janome Horizon Memory Craft 8900 QCP sewing machine after enrolling in Amy Johnson's Craftsy class, Quilting with Rulers on a Home Machine. I don't know why I haven't already been doing this - it's really not that hard.

You do need one thing to do this type of quilting on your domestic machine: a ruler foot. Find out what type of foot you need to quilt with rulers on a Janome 8900 sewing machine.

You can watch the video below or on my Youtube channel.

Subscribe to my Youtube channel to receive automatic notifications when new videos are posted. You can also click on the Chatterbox Quilts logo in the lower right corner on the video itself to subscribe. If you like what you see, please share my videos with your fellow creatives.

If you'd like to purchase this foot so you can also quilt with rulers on your Janome sewing machine, you can find it at http://amzn.to/2fvUqlI.

Creatively,

I am an Amazon affiliate and as such will receive compensation if you purchase through the links on my website. Thanks :)

(Don't) Be Afraid...

I had an interesting comment from someone who was concerned about free motion quilting on their sewing machine because they were afraid of damaging their wonderful vintage machine. This person did eventually do some quilting and was presently surprised at how well it worked. I was glad she took the chance because I know how sturdy these older machines are and I would have no qualms about using them to sew in really tough conditions.

Singer 201 has a large harp space, perfect for free motion quilting - and the feed dogs drop too!

This led me to question how many opportunities do we miss because we are uncertain about the outcome. This is where additional knowledge can be a big help. By reaching out to someone who has experience, or reading a blog or taking a course you can alleviate some of that uncertainty and take a chance on more opportunities....

I've always shied away from trying monofilament thread on my quilts. I know that lots of quilters like to use it in quilting, especially when quilting in the ditch where it just seems to blend into the quilt. I had tried to use a monofilament thread years ago and had nothing but problems with it - stretching, snapping - it wasn't a good scene.

Love Superior Thread's MonoPoly thread! Photo courtesy of www.superiorthreads.com

I was recently reading about using Superior MonoPoly thread and thought that I would pluck up the courage to give it a try with my Janome Horizon Memory Craft QCP8900. I wound a bobbin with some 50 weight cotton thread and tentatively placed the spool of MonoPoly into my machine and threaded it up. I took a deep breath and started to stitch. Surprise! I didn't have any problems with this thread at all! I couldn't believe how easily it ran through the machine and how well it worked for me. I loved this thread for stitching in the ditch and for doing the quilting on the rest of the wall hanging. What had I been missing out on all these years? Stitching with a monofilament thread, that's what! Taking a chance and trying something new can turn out really, really well. 

Next time you're afraid to try something new with your sewing machine, just take a deep breath and give it a shot. Like trying a new thread - or quilting on your vintage sewing machine.

If you've ever been hesitant to try something you were afraid of, but went ahead anyway, I'd love to hear how it turned out for you. Leave me a comment in the area below.

Creatively,

Is it a Singer 15 Sewing Machine?

I typically purchase my machines from ads I see on kijiji and you know how difficult it can be to tell what model the poster is selling from the tiny pictures that are on the site. I can usually figure out which model of Singer I'm going out to see, but this one almost stumped me. While I thought it was a version of the popular Singer 15 model, it turned out to be something else, a Singer 115. I'll show you how to tell the difference so you won't be fooled too.

You can watch the video below.

If you are thinking of buying a vintage sewing machine you may be interested in my eBooks for buyers (click here). If you are thinking of selling your machine you may be interested in my How To Sell a Vintage Sewing Machine eBook.

Creatively,