Manalto

I stumbled upon this Singer 99 on Craigslist and, although I need another sewing machine like I need a communicable disease, the idea of a 3/4-size machine in a cabinet (with matching bench!) intrigued me. I've never been a fan of blonde wood but I'm softening towards it for the way it evokes that optimistic era of the 1950s. This needed a good scrubbing with Murphy's Oil Soap for its bright finish to shine again.

Cleaned up, the machine itself had that wonderful gloss the 99s always seem to possess but when plugged in, sounded like dragging an empty galvanized trash can across the driveway. I dabbed away at its innards with a stubby natural-bristle brush and kerosene, oiled carefully and she's humming again. The upper tension had been re-assembled incorrectly, but worked fine once that was straightened out. The lower tension needed a little tweaking too; I like to get the tension as loose as possible and still have the stitches neat, so multiple rows of stitching are less likely to stiffen my project.

Time to put the little one through her paces. (I don't think I've ever made anything on a 99 before, although I have a few of them.) I made a kitchen towel with four layers of muslin and tried out my new Olfa chenille cutter, put a couple of buttons on top and hung it in the kitchen to dry hands. The 99 performed like she just came off the showroom floor. I think the glossy black machine against the light wood looks snazzy.
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Does anyone else use a 99?