Three Creative Things | no. 2
My workroom has been unusually quiet this month. I don’t mind. I took my time to finish a couple of small projects, did some business planning, and walked my favorite nature trails. It’s been a pleasant transition into spring.
Here are my Three Creative Things for March: kitchen linens from scrap, a vintage Necchi rehab, and a fabric that inspired ingenuity. Enjoy!
What I’m Working On
I continue to whittle down my fabric stash, using what I can to make useful items for my apartment. My one to three yard pieces of cotton, linen, hemp, and cotton-linen decorator prints are perfect for small projects. I’m turning some of them into kitchen towels and napkins.
Making kitchen linens from fabric scrap is one of the easiest sewing projects. I preshrunk the fabrics, cut generous size rectangles 19.5 wide x 27.5 long, and then stitched a double-turned hem all the way around — that’s it!
You can never have too many natural fiber towels and cloth napkins especially when they are home-sewn.
What I Found
Since I restored my vintage Singer 15-91 last summer, I found ten more sewing machines to repair! It was so much fun rehabbing them and learning more about functional restoration. Afterwards, I donated all of them to my community except for two.
One of the machines I kept is this Necchi 522 made in the 1960s. I didn’t know anything about the model when I purchased it (I paid only $20!) but I was aware that Necchi is known for their robust machines and excellent stitch quality.
I cleaned, oiled, made repairs, replaced parts, and gave the wood base a makeover. It was a lot of work but well worth the effort.
Now, my Necchi looks new and sews beautifully. The stitch quality is top notch! I was pleased to discover that this machine has a few different stitch patterns than my vintage Bernina. The wide zig zag stitch saved the day for this project.
Here’s what my Necchi looked like when I found it. It couldn’t sew a single stitch!
And here it is restored. Look at those pretty stitches!
What I’m Inspired By
Antique and vintage textiles have always been a major source of inspiration for me. Floral-printed feed sacks from the 1930s and 1940s are some of my favorites. Not because they influence my slipcover work or my decor aesthetic. It’s their story that inspires me.
Back then, American mills sold their flour and grain in cotton feed sacks printed with colorful designs. They were repurposed by frugal families during a very difficult time in our country when ready-made items and fabric by the yard were scarce or not affordable.
Equipped with a waste-not-want-not mindset, women reused the sacks to make their own clothing, quilts, curtains, dish towels, bedding, aprons, and even furniture covers.
I’m awestruck by their resourcefulness.
If you’d like to learn more about the story of feed sacks, tune into America’s Cotton Feed Sacks: And How They Changed the World, a podcast produced by Jo Andrews of Haptic & Hue. It’s eye-opening!
My feed sack quilt. I stitched the patchwork top from my collection of vintage sacks and had it quilted with alpaca batting and a leaf pattern by a talented long arm quilter.
Ah, you’ve caught the vintage sewing machine bug. My husband and I enjoy finding older machines and restoring them. So satisfying to see them all cleaned up and running smoothly. I love your quilt and look forward to listening to the podcast. I haven’t found any feedback cloth to sew with but I have a great book of quilts made with it. It’s finally feeling Springlike here in New England as well! Love your blog!
Oh my gosh, Jan – I caught the vintage sewing machine bug big time! Such a fun hobby. I made my FS quilt 16 years ago and use it for spring and summer bedding. I love the sweet floral prints. I’m glad I collected them when I did because now I rarely find them in my area. I hope you can find a few to enjoy. Thanks so much for dropping by my blog. Happy Spring!
The Necchi machine is beautiful….what a find! I would love to do a rehab like that but I’m sure my hands wouldn’t cooperate. I was born in the “40’s” and wore several feed sack dresses as a little girl. My Mother made them on a treadle sewing machine. Great memories….I still have her first electric sewing machine (Sears) my Father bought for her in 1950.
I always enjoy your posts.
Catherine, it’s wonderful you have those feed sack memories! Your mom must have been a talented seamstress especially sewing on a treadle machine. I love that you still have your mom’s first electric machine. Thank you for reading my blog. I’m glad you enjoy it.
You are extremely talented. Not only as a seamstress but also at repairing sewing machines! I wouldn’t have a clue how to work on my machine. Really enjoy your channel.
Thanks, Rebecca! I’m happy you enjoy my blog.
I love this email. Using leftover fabric for kitchen napkins, etc. is a great idea for gifts! Your vintage machine is amazing. I love the old machines. I had no idea about the feed sacks that were colorful like those you made your quilt from. What a beautiful quilt! I just inherited several vintage quilts that were my husband’s grandmother’s and I feel so blessed! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us!
Deana, think of all of stories and history passed down with those wonderful old quilts you inherited! What a lovely gift. I appreciate your kind comments. Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for another inspiring blog showcasing your skills and beautiful taste. My Mother’s Singer is sitting in its case waiting for a new home after creating clothes for four daughters and their dolls in the ‘50’s in Indiana. The roll of what looks like a Jacobean floral print behind your Necchi caught my eye. Could you share the brand and pattern name? It’s beautiful.
Hello Ann! The Jacobean print is a vintage Waverly fabric called Flanders Stitch. I got lucky and found it online a few years back at Laurel Leaf Farm. Thanks so much for visiting my blog!
Hi Karen,
Love this post. Especially that beautiful floral print you turned into a dish towel. I included a chapter about feed sacks in my book. Not sure if you have seen my book?!!? I will send you a copy. Love the Necchi too! I love to renovate vacuum cleaners. My current one I found in a bush and took home on the back of my bike. really works on the cat hair.
Nan
Nan, hi! Yes, I read your book. Really good! Clothing Goes to War: Creativity Inspired by Scarcity in World War II. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/C/bo123638395.html Renovating vacuum cleaners?!!? How fun!