Blockhead

Good question rdem - finding the fabric was tricky. I picked up black and white fabrics wherever I could find them. And because I changed the pattern and had no idea what I was doing, I kept running out of fabric! Be warned, the pleated log cabin takes a lot of fabric (which is why it doesn't need batting)

Of the quilting stores which do stock black and whites, the selections are small - btw it is more common to find black on white than white on black. I picked up pieces from :

Eddy's Sewing - Hobart
Quilting on the Edge - Howrah
Picture Patchwork - Latrobe
also bits and pieces from Spotlight
the sewing machine fabric which I fussy cut (and the centre panel) is a Loralie Harris design which I picked up on an auction site.

I would suggest looking at buying from an overseas site as the selections are larger and the prices cheaper. That's what I would have done had I known better.

Jingle

I know a lot of people still use treadles, it is mind boggling to me with all the great electric machines offered today. To each their own.

omak

One should never assume that you will always have electricity will be available to you <g> ... I doubt I will ever go to a totally electronic machine for just that reason ... I figure I can figure out how to turn a manual machine to treadle (pulleys and straps) ... but, I will never be able to make an electronic machine all it was designed to do if we start going into power shortages because some "brainiac" decides - - we don't NEED electricity - - or starts rationing it ...
besides that, the newer machines are not as durable and well-made as the old machines were/are ... a hundred years from now (fifty years from now - - heck!) I will be amazed if any of these electric "marvels" are around if fifteen years!
The treadle experts can correct me if I am wrong, but just as with classic automobiles ... a do-it-yourself person would be hard-pressed to be able to manufacture parts for "modern" conveniences ...

Lostn51

For what you pay for a really nice electronic do everything machine I can buy a dozen or more REALLY REALLY nice treadle machines. And in ten or so years after all of the consumables wear out like the motherboards and electronics, all that you will have left is a parts machine at the best. Meanwhile mine are still going and hopefully gained value and are worth more than I paid.

Also if they ever need work I can do what ever needs to be done to them without any problems. The newer ones you have to take to the "Doctor" and you spend several hundred dollars fixing it if you are lucky. (And with that money I can buy a few more nice treadle machines. :D )

I will be the first to admit that all the bells and whistles are neat to have, but mostly I can buy attachments that can do the same things.

For me using a treadle is very relaxing and therapeutic. It is like the world stopped and I stepped back in time and I am actually living a part of history while working on a quilt. But the thing I like the most about doing a quilt on a treadle is the look you get after you hand it over and tell them that it was made on a 100yo machine. For the recipient it seems to make the quilt more special, and the fact that they can actually hold a piece of Folk History in their hands.

To me that is the best part about making a quilt.......


Billy

cricket_iscute

Yes, Janome does have a treadle machine. They have Amish customers who buy it. I think it is around $200 or a bit more, and it does straight stitches, zig zags and button holes. It cannot be made into an electric machine. I've been considering it, too.

Cricket

cricket_iscute

I love your quilt! And the fact that you did it on a treadle is so cool.

I have two treadles. One is a Singer 127 from 1906 and the other a New Home from 1912. I have meched both of them. (I am a certified sewing machine mechanic, but it is not hard to do.) The Singer had not worked for at least four decades when I got it and the decals were worn, although the cabinet was great. In two evenings, I got that baby purring. The New Home, on which both decals and cabinet is in great shape, is running great after maybe 6 hours of work.

I have the Singer 127 in the living room, in front of the window. You have inspired me to make my next quilt on it. I believe I could put a walking foot on it and quilt it as well. I haven't tried free-motion quilting on it yet.

Which brings me to a tip for you: You can free-motion quilt on ANY machine with a Stoppax attachment. This was made in Denmark 50+ years ago and is a heavy gauge wire which you attach to your machine. The only source I have for these is e-bay, usually under darning attachments. Thy usually go for $40-$60 each.

Now for the person that has a Singer 27, a Singer 66, and a Singer 15 and was wondering which to fix first? The 27 is a good straight-stitch machine on which you can zig zag and do other things with the right attachments. The 15 is excellent for piecing and quilting and is a wonderful, adaptable machine. You can use attachments there, also. It is an excellent quilting machine and can be used on a frame, such as John Flynn's frame. It sews nicely. The 66's value lies in the fact that it has more power than the other two and can generally sew through thicker things. Again, you can use attachments, but if it is a 66-1 model, they will be hard to find as they attach in the back and are specific to the model. My vote is, fix the Singer 15 first.

Cricket

omak

I went looking for one of those machines and can't find anyone selling them. Do you by any chance have a supplier that you know of? <wave>

omak

Also ... my mom found a treadle stand at a garage sale a number of years ago ... I keep it because I have two old singer models (don't ask the models, cuz I have them packed up and don't know :oops: ) anyway, I just always remember that my grandfather turned my grandmother's treadle into an electric and I asked him if I could convert it back.
He said "yes" ... so I hold on to the treadle stand just in case I ever need it ... I couldn't believe that ANYONE would sell those things - - but, then ... my SIL was not a quilter at the time (and, no, I have NOT asked her if she wants it back :thumbdown: )
but, I thought it was a good thing to have ... what to y'all think?

Blockhead

Hi Jingleberry

I have a few treadles and I love to use them, but I also have a whizz bang Pfaff with all the bells & whistles and I love that too. I do all my garment sewing on the Pfaff but I want to quilt on a treadle for a few reasons - including relaxation, a love of old things and also a respect for those of the past who had no choice.

The black and white quilt was made for those reasons above but I am a beginner and have gone back to the Pfaff while I learn the basics - yes all the do dads make it easier. But I will continue to treadle quilt if for no other reason than who said quilting was supposed to be quick and easy? It wasn't easy in the past - are we all getting lazy?

Blockhead

Thanks for the tip - I'll do a bit of digging on the Stoppax. I was also wondering if the feed dog cover from a buttonholer would work. The buttonholer I have is not made for Singers, and the cover doesn't fit. Have you tried this?