As a person who enjoys the experience of the journey as much as the final destination, Miss Ocean Pink simply loves all the time spent on her sewing processes. Sewing for her is not just about the finished garment, its about all the pleasure gained while using her sewing time, such as, design and fabric choices, construction along with closing methods, what sewing machine will she be using and why? (Ha! And she has a lot to choose from), and it is with regards to some of her sewing machines that over the years Miss Ocean Pink has managed to retain a sound colourful peaceful mind, a richness of self worth and being, not to mention a youthful glowing, radiant complexion.

Miss Ocean Pink is quite excited at the thought of sharing some of her beloved eco sewing treasures here in her Sewing Ambience, in particular her hand crank sewing machines, vintage and retro models that she uses to create her little fabric gems from time to time. Not all of them started their mechanical life as hand crank manual machines, some have been crafterly adapted from being electric driven to people power stitchers, by non other than Miss Ocean Pink herself. XXX

Miss Tilly

Meet Miss Tilly, she is a low shank Singer model 28 born in 1907, ¾ the size of the average machines of the era she was made in, and is a vibrating shuttle type, her bobbin case is shaped a little like a bullet. Tilly was a gift some 5 yrs ago and has been a very useful aid in sewing a multitude of garments. Very easy to sew with, although she does not like to sew with some dark threads, this could have something to do with the dye affecting the quality of the fibre strands, “so we have been told” but apart from that little issue, as long as she is oiled and cleaned of lint build up, she is a fantastic little hard working, peaceful machine to work with. She has her own little set of sewing machine accessories (will talk more about in next blog entry) and is able to use some other low shank vintage sewing machine attachments such. button holers, zig zaggers, blind hemmer ect.

Ava,

Introducing Ava, who is a singer 221 also known as a Featherweight, she arrived in this world in 1950, Just like a Hollywood movie star, she oozes style, class and sophistication, all rolled into her tiny shiny frame, as she is only ¼ the size of other popular sewing machines at the time. But don’t let her small size mislead you, for this little hunny is a fully functional top quality sewing seamstress. Originally she run on electric but her little vintage motor had all burned out, her timing was all out of sink and her rubber stands needed replacing when she first arrived, so Miss Ocean Pink quickly set about repairing this stunning 50s vintage beauty, by taking off the motor and replacing Ava’s fly wheel with another that had a small handle in it, readjusted the timing, fixing in place new rubber stands and “hey presto” Ava was back in the lime light once again. Although Ava is only a straight with reverse stitch machine, she is quite capable of achieving a vast array of sewing tasks. As a very portable machine she often pops into a hand bag and accompanies Miss Ocean Pink on trips and outings, sometimes to the local coffee shop, on train journeys and river cruses. A very rewarding stylish but practical sewing companion.

What does the future hold for Ava? Well over the next coming months Ava will have a light fitted along with a battery compartment to hold rechargeable batteries to power her light.

“STAND BACK EVERYONE !

XENA PRINCESS ECO WARRIOR HAS ARRIVED”,

Xena is a large and heavy, chunky sewing machine, with lots of knobs and leavers that offers strength to her overall enchantment and character. Her name tag says Concord and she looks like a clone of known models around the 70s era, not much information is known about her prier to the time she came to stay with Miss Ocean Pink, however she does have an electric motor that can be quickly reconnected and when in electric mode, boy is she noisy but super fast and speedy. As her motor is an external one that clips on at the back and the bobbin winder is on the top of the machine, it was very very simple and easy to take her motor off, change the fly wheel to one with spokes, pop a handle on and this wonderful eco power horse was galloping away and what a strong girl she is at that, with the right needle and thread Xena can sew through multi thick layers of fabric manually, ha ha if you can turn it she can sew it. She is sew very dearly loved,

Here is a list of some of what she has to offer

  • she is a high shank

  • lots of two way zigzag pattern variation stitches, plus the pattern cams to allow her to do so

  • reverse sewing

  • three drop feed dog positions,

  • three needle positions

  • twin needle sewing

  • push button, quick release presser foot pressure gage

  • three levels of presser foot hight

  • roomy harp area for larger projects

  • large selection of machine feet

Lady Andrea,

We welcome here Lady Andrea, that is a low shank Singer 99, she began her days way back in 1937 and has the same bobbin system as the singer models 66 and 201. It must be said that she is a very smooth and shiny operator and very comfortable to work with. Being a ¾ sized machine she has a small harp area as apposed to the 66 and 201 but that does not take away any of her reliability and stitch quality. Miss Ocean Pink often employs Andrea when using sewing gadgets such as the rug makers or button holers as she is so quick to set up and never complains.

CLEO

Great aunty Cleo is sew unbelievably reliable its amazing. She’s a low shank singer 127 and like Tilly (Singer 28) has a vibrating shuttle mechanism. Still loyal since 1914 and a dream to sew with. What is loved about aunt Cleo is her ability to sew a vast range of fabrics of different textures and thickness’s from the word go, with only the slightest adjustments needed i.e. tension or pressure clamp. She still has some of her original accessories such as Pin tucker, Ruffler, narrow hemmers and Darning/embroidery foot.

JOSEPHINE

“OOo La La! Madam Josephine we all love your Lotus decal its still very eye catching and beautiful since your first appearance in 1917″. Josephine is low shank singer 66 but unlike the singers 201 and 99, the 66 has her own unique style of feet, that are called back clamp (see pic) and has a full set of different ones to help her achieve different sewing tasks just like the other low shanked side clamped vintage machines from that era, that is apart from the gathering foot. Miss Ocean Pink is not quite sure if any back clamped gathering feet where ever made, but she will still endeavour to continue looking for one on behalf of Josephine. When Miss Ocean Pink first rescued Josephine from the scrap yard, she was in a poor state in deed and did not have a handle or carrying case, there was however signs to show that Josephine had once been a treadle head but with some TLC along with a new handle Josephine is very contented to be cranked rather than treadled

BABE

Aar! Babe is a new arrival to Miss Ocean Pink’s house hold, its only been a week since she was delivered to us and not much information as of yet, is known about Babe, She is an early chain stitch and Miss Ocean Pink thinks that she is a toy machine, but L@@K at her isnt she sew cute? When Miss Ocean pink finds out more about Babe, she will share it here with every one.