Archive for month: September, 2020

Sewing machines come in all shapes & sizes. Currently, my Tiger Lily sewing studio has 6 different sewing machines.

I know. I know. I can hear you now!

Holy Moly! You can only sew on one at a time, why so many?

Let me explain. :)

Well to a sewing & quilting junky…..fabric is our 1st “crack” addition. (Can we ever have too much? No, I don’t think so either!)

And for me, sewing machines are becoming a close 2nd place runner up.

 

The most recent addition to the Tiger Lily machine family is this beautiful Pink Atlas.

Picture it. Beautiful day, February 2020 (Pre-COVID crazy) at the local Goodwill is Leesburg, VA.

I’m doing my normal scouting for fabulous sweaters that need to live their next best life as a one of a kind Tiger Lily Gnome. After sweater hunting, I venture back into the furniture, household goods area…..because to be honest, I might have a little problem collecting project furniture that I will bring back to life with a few coats of Annie Sloan paint. Do I need another end table? No, I do not!  But, you just never know what gems you are going to find…..but I digress.

On the floor, back in the back….was this tattered old sewing machine box. After spending what seemed like 10 minutes to figure out the crazy vintage metal clasp thingy to open it…..I got her open. OH MY GOSH! It’s a PINK sewing machine. It was the cutest thing I had ever seen. Stickered at $24.99. I knew I had to have her in my life! My first thought was, I have a artist friend who made a lamp out of old sewing machine parts…how adorable would a pink sewing machine lamp look in my studio. YES!

She weighed an ever loving ton, but I got her paid for and loaded up into my car.

I was like a kid on Christmas morning when I got home.  I opened the box up and found out not only was she a gorgeous piece of sewing history, she came with her original box of attachments, instruction manual….AND when I plugged her in she started up. Oh my goodness, she’s not going to be a lamp….I can sew with this beauty.

Then became my obsession to find out all the things about the beauty. Google to the rescue!

The original Atlas sewing machine company lasted for about 40 years, from 1874 to 1914, yet there is very little information on the company. Then in the 1950s and 60s, there was another Atlas sewing machine produced by Brother. Those machines were famous for their bright colors. Manufactured in Japan, sold in the states by Brother. Made of all metal parts (not a piece of plastic on this beauty), she weighs over 30lbs.

She sold for $219.50 in the 1950s. Quite a pretty penny for 70 years ago.

Although, she did turn on and the needle would go up and down with the pedal….she was in dire need of some TLC before I could truly see what she was capable of.  Thankfully I’ve got a guy. A wonderful local sewing machine repair man who keeps all my machine running in tip top shape! He was excited for the the challenge to bring this beauty back to life.

2 weeks later he returned her to me and said “This is a workhorse! Industrial machine fast and super straight.”

OMG! She sews like a dream.

Doesn’t have the bells and whistles of the new modern machines with their automatic foot, knee bars, thread cutters..and so much more…..BUT she also doesn’t have a computer that thinks it knows better. I can set all the knobs & dials, and sew straight for hours and hours, not missing a beat.

When I first bought this beauty, I thought she was just going to be a pretty decoration…..nope, she works just as hard as my fancy machines AND she looks gorgeous doing it!  That’s 100% my type of girl!

What machine do I need next? What is your favorite?

Drop me a comment if you are here. (Or if you are shy, that’s ok too. Maybe after a few posts you can wave Hi 😊)

Until next time.

 

XOXO,

Kari aka Tiger Lily

 

For Fun – Here’s a full list of the Tiger Lily Studio Machines:

Husqvarna Lena

Husqvarna Sapphire

Husqvarna Serger

Babylock Coronet Long Arm

Bernina 790 Plus

Vintage Pink Atlas