I would absolutely LOVE to make jackets with some of my woven fabric. I know just what you mean - the woven textiles just seem to get tougher and softer at the same time as they’re worn in. That and leather bottom bags are my goal this year. I know I need to learn how to use interfacing, so that’s where I’m hoping learning quilting will really help.

HI kate, welcome from central Ohio. I learned to sew on my mother's treadle sewing machine and have an old treadle machine in my basement. It's been down there at least thirty years and I have no idea which auction it came from. I'll never use it since I have two vintage Sears machines and a Janome which I use all the time. The treadle also needs refinishing badly and my refinishing days are far behind me.
I can remember my mother doing some kind of maintenance on the belt on her machine but what it was I have no idea now.
My only pet peeve with her treadle machine was the bobbin winder was either broken or missing. Winding all those bobbins was a real pain but the machine had a beautiful stitch and just purred along without any problems on all my 4-H projects through the years. I'm sure you'll love it when you get it going. I haven't been in this group very long but it seems that everyone is nice and willing to help in anyway they can.

You're very competent to be able to upload photos. I have no idea how to go about it.

Welcome to the board from NE Ohio.

Hi Seneth! I love how many people I know have been telling me they learned to sew on a treadle machine. My husband's grandma lit up when I sent her some photos today, and my sister in law just realized she's had one as a TV stand in her house for years. We're going to try to find someone to service it soon :)

It looks like this one has the bobbin winder intact and I'm incredibly happy for that! If not, I do have a very cheap (basically toy) sewing machine that I could wind bobbins with. I don't use it to sew, as the last time I did it just wouldn't stop making little spider nests... but I use it to spool my weaving bobbins! This makes me wonder if I can make an adapter for winding my weaving bobbins on the treadle lady.