I bought this gorgeous machine at the bins 2 days ago. They don’t let you plug things in at the bins, so I just tested it by moving the flywheel.  It seemed to stitch OK.  I brought it home.



The machine is the older style with two plugs – one for the light and one for the motor.  They both plug into the cord attached to the pedal.  The outlets are marked, one for “light” one for “motor.”



When I plugged everything in, the sewing machine sprang to life and sewed as if I was putting the pedal to the metal, but I wasn’t touching the pedal.  OH NO!

Then I took the pedal apart…it looked fine.

Then I took the electrical box apart…it looked fine.

Then I took the motor apart.  I cleaned the commutator with 400 and 1500 grit sandpaper like I read about in this very helpful guide: HOW TO OVERHAUL YOUR SEWING MACHINE MOTOR.  Otherwise, it, too, looked fine.

I plugged it back in.  SAME PROBLEM!  Oh no.

Then I talked to Ed Lamoureux over at Vintage Sewing Machines and he wanted to know if I was SURE I had plugged everything into the right socket…light into “light” and motor into “motor”…I HAD, Ed!  I double and triple checked.  Yes, definitely in the right plug.

I slept on it.  (Remember I told you awesome things happen in your sleep?)

Then it struck me: what if I plugged it in WRONG intentionally?  Maybe, by some miracle, that would be right?  I put the motor plug into the “light” socket and the light plug into the “motor” socket and braced myself.  Sure enough, it started acting like a well-behaved sewing machine, waiting for me to push the pedal and then running like a champ.  YAY!

<3 Erin

You might also enjoy:

  Found this estate sailing last weekend and told you all I would post it.  Here it is!  



Love it.



I tried to look up MME. DU PARQUE but I couldn’t find much.  Have you ever heard of her?  I want to know more!

Look at everything you get for 10 cents!  Not bad, not bad at all:

Hope you’re having a good weekend!

<3 Erin

You might also enjoy:

I was stoked to see that my Button Flap Belt pattern is today’s featured pattern at Interweave’s online pattern store!  Only 4 bucks, people!



I wrote this pattern for Stitch Spring 2011.  I was sad to hear that Tricia, my editor at Stitch, is no longer with the magazine!  Tricia, come back, we miss you!!

The folks at Interweave sure have been busy making all of the projects from past issues into digitized patterns available for purchase on the interwebs. Looking great, guys! They were so quick with it that I actually missed a bunch of my pattern release dates. You can see all of my patterns that they have digitized so far (all 8 of them!!) here.

<3 Erin

You might also enjoy:

I went to Fabric Depot in Portland today and check out what I found in the book isle!



Yes, that is my book, Stripped Down Patchwork.  Wooo!  My partner, Julia was there to celebrate, too:



Doesn’t she look proud?

I can remember all the hours I spent stalking that isle, evaluating other people’s books, shopping for publishers and generally day dreaming about getting my own sewing pattern book published.

And now…look who’s on the top shelf!!!!!  What an exciting day.



Have you seen Stripped Down Patchwork at your quilt, sewing or book shop yet?  If you have, take a pic and send it to me!  I’d love to see!

<3 Erin

You might also enjoy:

  Just because I love you: <3 Erin

You might also enjoy: