306k Dog Collar

One of the main reasons for buying a 306k was to use with leather. I have moaned for years about wanting to sew leather and thought I would need an industrial machine, but after some research I decided that a vintage singer would do the job. I liked the 306k as it has fashion disks to play with.

My first project was this dog collar for Beau, dead easy to make as it was made to measure (but a bit big still) martingale collar. 

I made some mistakes and the machine missed a few stitches, but other that that I am very pleased.

The Dogs Fancy Dress

For the past couple of years me and Beau have taken part in fun dog shows (see my other blog here as to why not proper dog shows), and I always love doing the fancy dress class as it makes so many people smile and laugh.

 In our first year Beau was a fairy and me a Princess, and last year we were both Dinosaurs. 

                       

So this year I wanted to go a little further,  as sooo many people says she looks like a Lion I decided to make her into a Lion from a children’s hat I brought from Ikea.

For her outfit I brought some caramel long fur that matched her ownfur colour, I added 2 panels to the hat, and then using brown paper made a pattern (I didn’t have any pattern paper). I had to hand stich it all as I was afraid it would all get caught up in the machine, I also had to add elastic to around behind her legs. I also made her a tail end, that keeps coming off.

       

For me I wanted to be a Safari man, so brought some beige linen trousers, brand new from a charity shop and decided to take the legs in as they were too wide. It was all going so well until I decided to be brave and take the waist band in. OH no, really shouldn’t have done that. I can just about fit in them and it pulls the zip out, so I made a waist band out of snow leopard cotton print to cover it up. I also had to use the same snow leopard material on my shirt and covered the cuffs and collar. I did a really good job with that.  Extras include, binoculars, safari hat and riffle.

We so far have won one and came third in another, not bad.

The sad thing is that now i look like a copy cat, as the ITV 2 channel has an ident with a chow as a Lion, and you can buy that outfit :\

Showerproof Dog Coat.

I had a lot oil cloth left over, intentional I might add, I know I can be stupid but didn’t think I would make that many mistakes with the sewing mat.

For a year now I wanted to make my dog Beau a dog coat that I could carry around on walks with me just in case of showers.

I used her existing coat as a pattern as it was such a good fit. The one issue was that I thought it would be a bit stuffy for her to wear so I decided to line it with 100% cotton.

Again I used my 306K. More issues with it this time, especially when their was oilcloth top and bottom, it just would not feed at all sometimes and the cotton would bunch up in the bobbin. Not good considering this was oilcloth and it actually pierced a hole. But generally very good when you got used to the feeder teeth pressure and tension, but having to remember all the time was a huge pain.

I did make 2 stupid mistakes.

1 – The strap was a bit too short and so instead of adding 2 equal sections together I added a 6inch bit on the end, that would sew together.

2 – The Velcro on the bag is not in the middle, so just the last inch actually sticks.

   Beaus carry bag

Button detail on the front. Her original

coat had elastic. 

Leg elastic to help it sit better on her  when she walked. 

                                           This was the best I could do with the strap. I know
                                       I could have hidden it in the lining but I know I would
                                                           have struggled with pins. 

The cock up on the bag.

First Singer 306k Project – Sewing Machine Mat

 When I Started sewing I joined Pinterest to see if I could get any good ideas for projects with regards to sewing leather, and I came across a sewing machine mat that had pockets. 

Here is the link 

http://kate-showandtell.blogspot.com.br/2011/11/bloom-sewing-machine-mat-finished.html?m=1 

I had to make this as I am always losing my scissors, pens, rulers ect, so I had to make it as my 306k was marking my table.

I had to decide how to make it, and I remember my mom using a felt tablecloth when ever she got hers out, but I also remember that it was my job to pick all the bits of cotton up as it stuck. Not the best job, so it had to be easy to sweep all the bits up.  It also used to slip everywhere, so I knew I had to have some sort of non slip matting underneath, so I used the stuff you put under rugs, off the roll from Dunelm Mill.

So my plan was to use oil cloth on the top, 2 layers of cheep grey felt underneath and white non slip matting on the bottom.

My singer 306k dealt with it really well, but there was one problem, the feeder teeth would get stuck, so I had to help feed it through. My other issue was the lack of needle available. I ended up getting a pack of 14s from the USA for around £8 and a pack of 16s from Australia for roughly the same price.

Since I made it, it really hasn’t moved off the kitchen table, and it fits perfectly. The husband said that it would make a good baby changing mat! No chance.

It also make are really good cutting/pattern mat.

Welcome

Welcome to my new blog, the main reason for starting this is for me to really keep track of all the little bits and bobs I make. I am relatively new to the sewing stuff, but I have always done it, more out of having to. Like holes in clothes, fixing the dogs toys or making the ferrets new sleeping hammock’s and bedding.

I do really enjoy it and would much rather sew than watch mindless TV. I have always been ‘arty’ as my mom would say and I get sooo bored if I’m not learning something new. So sewing seems a logical step.

I used to use my moms late 1970s machine but when I wanted to use it growing up my mom used to moan about gettin it out and sorting it out for me, so when she said I could have it I jumped for joy, my sister currently has it as she has the bug as well.

For a long time now I have always wanted to sew leather as I love leather jackets and it takes an average of 3 years to find one I like. So after some research I decided to get a vintage singer 306k. It is an amazing machine but not that straight in the straight stich, but a great machine to use and service. I then went to see a work friend who works in the fashion department of my college to go and grab some pattern paper. On the way into the room I saw an old Brother industrial machine and asked why it was in the store room, and to my amazement it was going to get thrown and that I can have it. However still waiting for the paper work to come through so that I can start playing. I the mean time however I decided to get  201k as my 306k needles are very rare and expensive. Even though the 201k only does straight stich it is an amazing machine to use.

My 306K

My 201K

The main reason I went vintage was as they are quite cheep and dead easy to fix. The best bit I have a fondness for is that is has little holes every where to drip some oil through, and parts are readily available.