Wednesday 25 April 2012

WOYWW - Fabric, Phoenix and Friendship

It runs like a dream!

Well, look what's on my workbench today (well dining table actually).  Yes, Whats on your workbench Wednesday has come rushing round, just when I borrowed an overlocker.

I'll try and keep this brief:
Remember I burnt out baby blues foot pedal?
Well, when my heart beat had slowed (about 2 days later), I took the pedal to pieces and realised that although it was very simple inside I would never trust it again.  I couldn't decide what to do, so visited Helen Sutcliffe of Eleanor's Attic for advice.  (Just over 12 months ago, Helen was a one man band making bags for 6 shops, now she supplies around 100 shops and owns one herself!).

introducing ...Boring Brown.
I knew Helen had a replacement motor (and pedal) so borrowed it to see if it fitted, but I also borrowed a broken (but similar) Singer machine to cannibalise.

Well the motor didn't fit, but the Singer used the same motor.  I decided to cannibalise baby blue instead (shame, but much simplier process).
So out of the flames a new boring brown machine has risen.

Anyway, back to the overlocker. I decided I needed an overlocker and I have been trawling ebay for weeks now.  But I couldn't settle on my budget because, well, actually I have never used one before.

Eventually, yesterday morning I phoned Helen and asked if she had one I could borrow.  And so here it is.  But not only did she say I could borrow it (and no rush to return it), but she also told me of one for sale (from another friend).  So I now have a local overlocker waiting for me to go and try out.

oh and for the papercrafters: this is what an overlocker does.

26 comments:

  1. You will be wondering what you ever did without an overlocker by now I'm sure :-) I couldn't do my job without mine :-)
    Hugs,
    A x #38

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  2. Hmmmm, that looks like a good beast of a machine - I bet you'll end up using it all the time! I can't justify one though would dearly love to have one....you'll never have frayed edges again :)
    Hugs, LLJ # 33 xx

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  3. LOL!! It's only short because I put a lot of pics in the previous post!! It all depends on how much the overlockers are. If you do see one on ebay, I'd be very grateful if you could give me the heads-up on it. I hate seeing frayed edges, so consequently line everything. Julia has told me about French seams, but I can't get the hang of them..so a secondhand overlocker might be a good birthday prezzie :) Well, it would make a change from choccies and flowers!!!
    Hugs (again!) LLJ #33#xx

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  4. I bet you're a dab hand when it comes to repairing your car engine too. I'm in awe that you can take sewing machines to bits and build new ones!!! Not sure what an overlocker is but it looks like one big beast.
    Happy WOYWW
    Hugs Lisax #74

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  5. I bet once you get the hang of it you will wonder how you managed with out the overlocker for so long, enjoy it and have fun :)

    Have a great WOYWW and a fab week, Luv Karen xx #75

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  6. A girl after my own heart as they say, I love pulling things to pieces and fixing them so much that I went and got my electrical license, yep and Im blonde too. LOL
    Now I volunteer as an electrical worker for a charity group every wednesday and play with more stuff, it is so much fun being doing it for years. I also read the earlier comment about fixing cars, love that too.....

    You are going to love that overlocker and never want to give it back.

    A girls gotta have fun..........


    Eliza #26

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  7. Ooh! I have no need whatsoever for an over locker, nor do I have the space.. But I want one! So jealous!

    Happy Wednesday!

    Zoe #49

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  8. I so need to get sewing again. I have an overlocker but my sewing machine had broken down. Daughter just had it all fixed think she wants a few pairs of jeans hemmed. I have been looking at a lot of cool projects and now I'm itching to have a go. Have fun you will wonder how you ever did without it :)

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  9. Now that is some piece of kit you have there! Wow, hope you gets lots of use out of it - have fun. Anne #61

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  10. Hi Polly, if you look on my blog, last weeks woyww was the progress of my hand pieced quilt and it is too big to go on the desk. thanks for your visit x

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  11. I have never used an overlocker either but just muddle along with my little Bernina! It looks very exciting though! Thanks for sharing - Sunshine Girl No. 20

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  12. You will love your overlocker - it leaves everything so neat and tidy! Threading up can be a pain so treat it with care so it doesn't snap threads. I had one for years and never used it until Annie showed me how fab it is. What it is to have a clever little sister! lol Have a good week. x Jo

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  13. LOL, I LOVED the last picture for us papercrafters, you must have known I was reading your post with a "confused but not really trying to figure it out" look on my face! Glad you're happy with the over locker, sorry to hear about baby blue though, may she rest in peace! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :) #139

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  14. Oh poor baby Blue..and welcome,more buxom brown!! As long as it's working and it's safe to use, it's good! Love the overlocker picture for us paper crafters, made me LOL! Think of all the quick hems and t shirty type things you can sew with that green giant!

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  15. Oh, enjoy the new machine!

    Happy WOYWW!
    Nadia 117

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  16. you must have watched lots of Mc Gyver episodes, wow, i'm impressed!
    have a happy week :)
    france
    #148
    xx

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  17. Super looking machines, but I wouldn't have a clue where to start with them! Enjoy WOYWW, am working through the list in shifts! Take care Zo xx 77

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  18. Oh my, it looks very high tech and what an amazing colour! Hope you have lots of creative fun with it!

    Happy WOYWW #34

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  19. When I used to sew a lot, my overlocker was my favorite tool. Just don't let my machine hear my saying that. dani138

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  20. Dear Polly Polkadot, Thank you for showing me what an overlocker does. Love, A Papercrafter.

    Seriously! I wish I had one! That's the part of my clothes that always falls apart is that nice edge finishing. Okay, I can't really sew but I totally see the necessity of one of you are a big sewer... wait that looks wrong, a big sewing person. Meaning you sew a lot, not that you are big, not that being big is bad but... I'm shutting up now.

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  21. Glad you got to borrow the overlocker and hope you get a permanent one of your own soon - (Hazel, #173) x

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  22. I love the way you 'borrow this' and 'canabalise that' and 'fix' and 'recycle' that - you are a girl after my own heart. Never used an overlocker but think they must be so useful. Very tidy workspace - perhaps the other was too piled up to see?

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  23. Love your boring machine. Have had one for 40 + years, made wedding dresses, curtains, sewed leather with it, done just about everything except embroidery. Much more robust that modern machines.

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  24. Very interesting machine you have there
    Bridget #1

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  25. That is a serious looking piece of equipment :-) x

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  26. Hey Honey. Are you ok? Not heard from you for a while!
    Concerned of Powys! xx

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