This is what I spent MY $150 on.

[changeling]

I may not have a permanent account, but I do have this:


We managed to break the belt (oops) while trying it out in the shop, but that's OK. The belt was old and worn, and I can get a new one for $9 in the city. I used my l33t sk1llz to search yellowpages.com.au, and then pick up the telephone. Magic.

And guess what? It's lasted at least fifty years. I'm sure it'll still be around after livejournal.com goes under.

I still wish I had a permanent account. Maybe I'll renew my paid account soon.

Comments

[chn-breathmint.livejournal.com]

That's an old treadle-run sewing machine, right? I aspire to get one for myself, as I much prefer the organic nature of pedalling to get one's sewing done. My mother used to have one when I was a little girl - in her time as a seamstress she upgraded to an industrial model that was power-driven and moved VERY fast.

It intimidated me, and never did feel as friendly and natural as the treadle-driven Singer she had.

I'm very interested in finding one for learning to sew with. It'd be a little less scary to inch the cloth forward bit by bit when I'm just starting out.

- Mel

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Yep. I should take a photo of the whole wossname now it's been moved in to its home.

I've never used a treadle before. My mother's only ever had an engine-powered one.

[chn-breathmint.livejournal.com]

One of the tricks I picked up when learning to stitch straight lines is to grip the end of the treadle with your toes, curling them over, so you can pedal v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y for fiddly bits or thicker cloth.

It's funny what I retain from my childhood, and what I haven't. (Algebra, I'm looking at the vacant hole in my memory where you used to be.)

- Mel

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

Awesome. That'll be good to know.

It might be because memory seems to be stronger when it has a physical action or sensation to tie it to. There isn't really much physical action for algebra; at least, not one that is divergent from simply sitting and writing.

[chennpug.livejournal.com]

Cool! Does it have foot treadles and everything, or is it hand-cranked?

Totally worth the money.

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

A foot treadle. I'll have to take a full photo now it's settled in (it was in the doorway to our front room when I took the above photo – I was the only person home, it's very heavy and our corridor is long!)