Beauty and the Beast

I have been thinking about an industrial sewing machine for some time.  But there have been two factors that have put me off: price and size.  The space issue was resolved during my clean up of the studio.  The price was the next factor.

I had been watching an industrial machine on e-Bay for the past week and Stephen said that it could be an early birthday present.

So Saturday night I was watching the auction and put a bid on - and it was mine!  Hooray!  Stephen and I collected the machine Sunday and lugged it to the studio.  So here it is in all it's glory.  The Beast



It isn't a new machine but it all seems to be present and correct.  The lady showed my how to use  it, but I will have it serviced just to make sure that it is OK.  Apart from giving it a wipe over, I have re-painted the legs with Hammerite, so that it does look a little tidier now.




I have never used and industrial sewing machine before and the difference in speed is amazing.  It's about 3 times as fast - almost too fast.  But I have plans.  The first being these vintage barkcloth curtains that I won from e-Bay last week.



They are 1950s curtains and are so pretty.  I wasn't disapointed when they arrived from France. 


Stephen doesn't know it yet, but they are destined for our bedroom.  They are unlined, so I will need to take off the curtain headiing, line them and shorten them as well.  Pot of white paint for our bedroom walls and St Theresa, hang the curtains and voila it will be finished.  I know that Stephen won't like them, but I am determined to have some feminine touches in our bedroom.  And have them I will.



But before that, I have to transform this gingham into 30 washing up liquid aprons for a wholesale order.  It'a all about priorities.  Something tells me the Beast and I are going to be having a long and meaningful relationship.

Comments

[Jayne]

I do miss sewing on industrial sewing machines. My parents had a clothing manufacturing factory so I learnt to sew on industrial machines. Domestic machines seem like toys to me - so slooow in comparison. Plus all that fiddling around changing settings when we had machines for every process like buttonholes, hems, binding etc.
You are going to love using it.

[saraeden]

oooooh you lucky thing ... ive been trying to win a overlocker on ebay but i keep being outbid at the last minute !!!!

Sara x

[Jools]

Industrial machines scare me (along with overlockers)! But, speed is good. I recently put my foot down on my machine in the hopes that it would go faster on the long straight, but it couldn't. :(

Those curtains are nice. I'm sure Stephen won't notice them after the initial shock!

[Kim]

Beautiful curtains. I love that fabric. If Stephen really gets cross you know where to send them. Have you tamed the Beast yet?
Kim x

[Janice]

I too learnt to sew on an industrial machine. My mom was a machinist for several different garment factories over the years(Marks & Spencers being one of the first she worked for) and she did all her sewing at home. Piece work. She spent hours and hours at that machine making baby dresses, suede coats and everything in between. I spent many evenings sitting on the floor turning piping and turning collars using a knitting needle!!

[nichola]

Oooh i like your beast! Let us know how it goes, i'm interested in buying one in the future.
Love the curtains.

[Gill]

I've just popped in after a week away and haven't you been a busy girl! I love your studio, lucky you to have that space. And a new sewing machine (although it looks a bit scary)....let us know how you get on.

[ginny]

Take care Samantha, as they are pretty meaty things. Whilst working in the theatre years ago in, my previous life, my friend sewed in to her finger ... in went right through the top centre of her nail..oouucchh. She unwheeled it back and i got her some 'rescue remedy' but also had to have some myself! They are great though, especailly if you have lots of the same to do.. and saves your domestic machine. Have fun getting to know her.
ginny
x

[Alison]

It does look a bit of a beast!
Serious sewing!!!!
Alison x

[French Knots]

The Beast looks a bit scary to me! My machine is fast enough for me at the moment because I spent years with an old Singer whose handle you had to turn to coax it into action.

[thehomelyyear]

Wow, that really does look beastly. Bet it will sew beautifully though once you're used to it. It makes my little old machine look very inefficient (it isn't very good, but we go back a long way, so I'm quite fond of it ...we tolerate each other anyway).

[carolyn]

Well good luck with the Beast and with Stephen I think the curtains are beautiful but you may have a battle on your hands what with StT as well!!

[Lindy]

Both my aunt and mom have an industrial machines. All I can say is BOY ARE THEY FAST! Great machines though- good luck with yours.

[sarahsarah]

it does look like a beast, i love your new fabric, Sarah x

[claire]

Now the beast really scares me! I'm scared of my timid little machine!
LOVE the curtains. I think your bedroom sounds like it is going to be just perfect. . .I think Stephen will secretly love it. Us girls need to assert our femininity. Both our households are too male dominated!

[Gemma]

Glad to see I'm not the only one scared of the beast!

I've tagged you, hope that's ok?

[snapdragon]

When I needed a new machine last summer I got an industrial machine (my old machine met an untimely death due to trying to sew things that were too thick) - I was amazed by the speed and it took me a couple of months to get used to it but boy was it useful for Christmas!
Now I am thinking of getting something a bit slower as well for detailed work in case I want to do freehand embroidery - I would take my hand off if I tried it on my present machine.
I find that its main problem is that, as a horizontal surface, junk seems to accumulate on it.
The bark cloth is very lovely -= do you think we all bid each other up on ebay?

J
x