Blue Jumper

I've been very busy with study at the moment but I do have two machines I keep meaning to write about.  Anyhow, I started knitting this jumper about 2 years ago, then I got RSI and didn't touch it for over a year.  Recently I picked it up again and have finally completed.  It is an old Patons pattern from about the '50's I think and knitted in 4ply.  Below are pictures.

Right, back to the books!

Water, Water, Everywhere...

It has been raining a lot recently.  It is also cold and at the moment blowing a gale.  Sewing machine wise there has been nothing recently and that overlocker is still doing my head in.  Anyhow, a few weeks ago I seem to remember promising to upload pictures of water droplets.  Below is that promise.

In case you're wondering, the first picture is water droplets on cactus spikes.  It has the longest spikes I've ever seen and I was rather anxious about doing my camera lens an injury with one.

Peace

Everyone finds a feeling of peace differently.  For me it's photography, being alone and considering the image, wondering how I can get a different effect, a shadow, a bright patch, translucency, mystery, sadness, loneliness, joy, freedom etc.  I don't get much time to just wander with a camera these days but here are some images from a week ago when I could do just that.

When one finds that peace, that comfort, one can analyse each thought rationally and carefully.  It reminds me of one of my favourite Dusty Springfield songs, although a lot of other people covered it too, 'Windmills of Your Mind'.
Windmills of Your Mind - Dusty Springfield

Janome Overlocker My Lock 234

I finally got to clean the Janome overlocker yesterday.  It was rather fluffy as overlockers tend to be.  I ended up taking the base off to get it clean and reach all the oiling points.

To get the base off, remove screws circled in red.

As can be seen from the above photograph there was a bit of cleaning to be done!  Once I had dealt with the bottom and oiled everything I took the top and side off.  I didn't do screw diagrams for these but it is simple, there is one screw holding the lhs on and two holding the top on, the top screws are under the handle.  There is an oiling point on the top of most overlockers and it feeds into a clever wick system.  I had an overlocker seize on me once and that was the problem, the wick was dry.  When you take the top off you can see the felt and wick system.

The tension is interesting on this at the moment and in the 10 minutes I had left to play with it I didn't get very far, with any luck I will manage better next time.  It does have a sharp blade though which is good.  From the front below:

I have some nice photos of water droplets from the most recent rain which will hopefully comprise the next post.

Roses

We have a vase of roses in the kitchen.  It had been raining all day and an hour before sunset the sun came out.  I was inspired to do a little photography of this vase of roses in the sunshine.  Very unusually for me I then spent some time manipulating the images in paint.net.  I present the finished results below.

I really love this one, it looks soft, almost like feathers.

This was the first one I took, sadly the roses are a little dark

This one is just plain odd!

Green roses anyone?

I know they are far from perfect but I do like playing with all the tools in paint!  With any luck I should be posting the promised pictures of the overlocker tomorrow evening.

Some Photographs

Four to be precise.  I was sick on the weekend and didn't get to work early enough to work on machines.  I was rather annoyed actually as I had a new overlocker to work on.  With any luck I will get to that on Wednesday.  I'm rather busy with studies at the moment which doesn't help!  Anyhow, below are four photos, two I took a couple of months back and two I took last night, if you look very closely you can see the moon peeking out from behind the branches in number four.

Husqvarna 250 continued

I finally got to sew with the Husqvarna 250 yesterday morning.  I have to say I wouldn't go out of my way to own one but I have certainly sewed with worse machines.  It certainly has a range of stitches, both functional and decorative.  My stitch sample can be seen below.

The tension isn't perfect, I know but after sitting in the shop for a few days so many children will have 'adjusted' the tension that there is no point in me perfecting it.

Much to my surprise this machine came complete with most of the original accessories.  All of the original feet, the brush and throat plate remover (in one), the light bulb holder, spare spool pin, spool holders, clearance plate and one bobbin were remaining.  And the instruction manual of course (if anyone would like a copy, let me know).

It also came with the hard cover and the flat-bed was still with the machine.  Flat-bed attachments have a frustrating tendency to go walkabout.