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Helen Poremba

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Singer 66 K

They don't make them like they used to

April 24, 2016

The Singer model 66 K.  I have two of these machines, one powered by hand, and one by foot.

This model was first produced in Britain in 1907, and continued to be produced in the UK until 1940. At this point, the Singer factory was retooled for the making of ammunitions to support the war effort. After the war the assembly line for the 66 was not reinstated, and the model 66 was never made again.

Singer 66 (2).JPG
Singer 66 treadle (5).JPG

It is a heavy duty domestic machine, and one of the first to use the rotary hook bobbin, a very efficient and smooth running mechanism which is still used today.

Singer 66 treadle (1).JPG
Singer 66 treadle (6).JPG

This lovely treadle machine was probably the first machine I ever used. It was built in 1929 and belonged to my Grandmother. I am proud to be its custodian for now.  I can remember as a young child learning how to get the treadle going, to turn the flywheel on the machine in the right direction. Like riding a bike, once learnt never forgotten, and I still love to sit down to work with it.

In 1911 the Singer Manufacturing Company published a book, ‘Instructions for Art Embroidery’. This demonstrated how the domestic sewing machine could be used for all sorts of beautiful creative results. All examples in the book were made with a treadle machine by embroideress Dorothy Benson.

 I had a go at using the treadle to do some free motion embroidery. It works (a bit), the machine stitches quite well, even though I can’t drop the feed dog. I set the stitch length to zero, and use my normal embroidery foot. I definitely need a bit of practice with all the hand, foot, eye(and brain) coordination! 

← Textile Art CommissionThey don't make them like they used to (2) →

Hello, welcome to my blog. I am a textile artist based in beautiful Northumberland. I run sewing workshops, make commissioned pieces and create my own artwork from my home studio.



CONTACT ME:

hmporemba@gmail.com
tel: 07503 017678


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New work. Primroses. #newshapes  #textileart #spring #primroses #sodelicate
Hogweed in blue and silver. One of my new pieces I will have at Gallery45 tomorrow. #textileart  #blueandsilver #gallery45 #weedsandwilderness
Gallery45 Christmas Fair this Saturday. All the resident artists as well as many others. I will be there this year with all my latest work. Hope to see you there.
Another circular picture. A different and lovely way to compose a design. Late bramble leaves. #weedsandwilderness #hedgerowbeauties #roundpictures #freemotionembroidery
Have really enjoyed working a couple of pieces this year in the round. #nostraightedges #doesnthavetobesquare #intheround #freemotionembroidery
Update on the latest work in progress. #textileartcommission #fabricart #clematisflowers
Starting a new commission. Love how this fabric changes its tone when seen from different angles. #textileart #artcommission #colourshifters #beautifulfabrics
Working on it. Blue brambles. #singersewingmachine #freemotionembroidery #workinprogress #botanicalart #201k
My latest Clematis picture. Framed as a circle. At the moment in an exhibition at Newcastle Art Centre. #textileartexhibition #newcastleartcentre #pinkclematis #silkflowers #circulardesign

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