Managed a great score!

[JediJaida]

I had put in a bid for some decorative stitching cams for my Singer 401a sewing machine. The cams can be hard to get, especially since this was a machine that came out in the 50's and 60's.

The machine runs beautifully, but I wanted the cams too.

I saw a lot of 22 for sale on ebay, and thinking I could score a bargain by only bidding, I bid the asked for price, and held out for the past six days.

I ended up losing the derned thing, due to someone else being faster on the 1 click bid than I am.

However, I found a lot of 23, for a LOT less than the original buying price of the first lot.

The original buy it now price was 79.95 plus shipping. I had put in my bid for 39.95.

This set of twenty three was about 59.95 plus shipping.

With the s&h included, I only paid 69.90 for the whole thing, including the storage box!

So, even though I lost out on my first lot, I still managed to get another, and it was only about 10 dollars cheaper than the original buying price.

Yay for me!

[thunderbolt]

cool, so what will they do for you? Sewing wise?

[JediJaida]

Basically every decorative stitch. Domino, blind stitch, basting stitch, arrowhead, scallop, etc.

This was waaaaaaay before computerized sewing machines were even thought of, and the cams, usually purchased one at a time, were a way to extend the machine's decorative sewing capability.

I love watching the old Singer commercials that are on Youtube, from the 1940's and 1950's. The machines that are featured go for a pretty penny, as they were built to LAST. The one I have was built in the 50's, is SOLID metal, weighs a TON, and yet works better than most computerized machines.

A lot of the more modern machines were built with obsolescence in mind, and need to be repaired almost constantly.

I've heard a lot of complaints about the so-called 'modern' machines, and how much they cost in upkeep, whereas with the older machines, as long as you kept them clean of lint, and oiled them properly, were kind of like the Energizer Bunny.

They kept going, and going, and going.

My grandma had an old treadle machine that still worked, even after having it for more than forty years.

Neat, huh?

[thunderbolt]

My Grandma still has one, that I guess I'll end up warehousing someday. We've got my Mother-in-law's and its a newer machine but can't figure it out. Sounds like you are going to be having some fun. I have this one embroidery project and was wondering if any of that stuff you just got did anything like that.

[JediJaida]

If you know the model number, you can look it up online and get an operator's manual for it.

That should give you an idea where to start for your pattern.

Now, I'm NOT an expert at the embroidery stitches; but give me an idea of what you want to do, and maybe I can give you an idea of how to accomplish it.

[thunderbolt]

something like this, just seems that embroidered would be the way to go as opposed to a decal
http://images.wikia.com/hellboy/imag...x-Rasputin.png

[JediJaida]

A five pointed star shouldn't be too hard to do.

Are you planning on using a knit or a woven?

If you're going to use a knit, make sure you use tear away stabilizer on the back of the embroidery.

If it's for something Mego sized, you're going to have to be REALLY careful about the sizing.

I suggest doing a practice run first.

Use a fade away fabric marker, and carefully draw the outline of the pentagram.

Then, using a ball point needle for knits, set your machine for a satin stitch, with a narrow stitch width and short stitch length.

Then, VERY slowly, follow the outline of the pentagram. When it comes to turning the corners, always leave the needle in the 'down' position, lift the presser foot, pivot the needle in the right direction, lower the presser foot, and keep on going.

Pivot at each point until you get back to the starting position, sewing as you go.

As I said before I wrote all this, I am NOT an expert on doing embroidery of any kind.

If it turns out that you can't do it by machine, try doing it by hand.

There are loads of videos on youtube that will help you out with doing this.

[jimsmegos]

Congrats on the score!

[JediJaida]

Thanks dude.

[emeraldknight47]

Glad to hear your score. It's always nice when you can finally get something you've wanted for a long time. Enjoy!