Halloween Projects

During Halloween my sewing machine is always very busy. Here are a couple of recent projects I made using my Singer Slant-o-matic 503A:

A simple lined trick or treat bag:

A surgical mask for a little surgeon:

If you're interested in instructions for either of these projects see my other blog, https://heartbeetboutique.blogspot.com/

Timmy Time Plush

I made this plush Timmy from the TV series Timmy Time using my vintage Singer Slant-O-Matic 503A. This machine can handle anything. 

If you are interested in my pattern and tutorial here is the link. 

Busy Book Project

I love my Singer Slant-o-Matic. It can do just about anything I want it to do. I wanted to make a project that showcases many different sewing techniques that are fun for a beginner or an expert so I put together this project: a Busy Book.

Making this project I used many different techniques and vintage Singer Slant-o-Matic feet and attachments.

Some skills and attachments used for this project are:

- button sewing using the button sewing foot

- buttonhole making using the Professional Buttonholer

- top stitching using the straight stitch foot

- quilting/stippling using the darning and embroidery attachment

- eyelet making using the Professional Buttonholer

- satin stitch using the special purpose foot

Here is a link over to my other blog, the HeartbeetBoutique, with the instructions and patterns.

Wright's Mail In Trim for Dolls

I love Love LOVE vintage tiny rick rack. It is so dainty and well made and lovely. I have stacks of it and it is never enough. I love the labels. I love the colors. I love making things with it. I love everything about it.

But here is a really fun thing they used to do. This is printed inside the label of a vintage package of Wright's rick rack:

Here is what it says:

"Does your child sew?
Send 3 labels and 10c to cover postage and handling for a generous package of clippings of WRIGHT'S products suitable for trimming dolls' clothes."

My mom told me about how she got this when she was little. She spoke very fondly of her mom sending for it and how excited she was when it arrived and she used it on her little doll projects as a child.

So wonderful.

I looked online and I was able to find a set, still in its package and envelope and got it for my mom for Mothers Day. Here it is:

Here is what it says on the envelope:
"This is the Doll Trimming Package you recently requested from Wright's. We sincerely hope that the little girl who is going to use it will find many uses for these pieces of trimmings when making her dollie's new dresses. No doubt you will get an equal amount of pleasure out of teaching her to sew, as well as a great deal of pride in her accomplishments."

Just lovely.

Here is the pile of trimmings:

There is eyelet, lace, picot edge bias tape, single and double fold bias, blanket binding, ribbon, many sizes of rick rack and more. It really is a generous pile.

Some of the pieces are just a few inches long but most are half a yard to a yard long.

I love this idea. What a great way to get the next generation interested in sewing and using Wright's products. Unfortunately Wright's has since discontinued it. 

I would really love to send away for a set for my kids. 

And for me. 

Slant-o-Matic Accessory Storage

One of the challenges I came across when collecting my Singer Slant-o-Matic accessories and attachments was finding a way to store them that was accessible and organized and vintage. I came across this beautiful little storage box while thrifting and found out it was an original 401 accessories box.

Singer had it all figured out. The manual fits perfectly inside:

Under the manual is a little tray that comes in and out. Here it is:

On the left side the tray has a spot for the straight stitch plate to click in and an indent just the right size for a vintage paper packet of sewing machine needles. Then the four boxes in the middle hold the button sewing foot, the straight stitch foot, the shirring/gathering foot, and spare felt spool pin washers and a spare bobbin winder tire. Tucked in next to that is the seam guide and on the right there are four little slots to hold four spare bobbins. 

Under the tray you find this:

On the left side you have a spot for the ruffler, then under that the zipper foot and hemmer foot or edge stitcher, then the multi slotted binder. In the middle is the oil tube, large screwdriver, and the small screwdriver fits into a little groove at the bottom. The right has 2 pins that each hold 2 fashion discs. You can keep your lint brush on the right edge or you can tuck it in under the oil tube in the middle.

I love this accessory box. It is cute and functional and I love that it is original to a Slant-o-Matic. There are a couple of problems that can happen with these little boxes but they are easily fixed. One problem I have seen is that the gold Singer label on the top can come unstuck but it is easily fixed with a bit of glue. The other problem that I have come across is the hinges pop out of their place but they can be tucked back in and re-glued very easily.

I found this box for a great deal. The set of accessories was nearly complete, including a manual for a 401, at a thrift store for $10.00! A steal!

As a side note, I understand this box slides into one of the plastic carrying cases you could get with your machine. I will have to dig out my cases and see if I have the right case. I will get a picture if I find one.

Original 401 Accessories

The Singer 401 originally came with a full set of accessories:

- manual
- straight stitch throat plate
- paper packet of needles
- special purpose foot
- straight stitch foot
- button sewing foot
- general purpose foot
- felt spool pin washer
- spare bobbin winder tire
- fashion disc #1 (arrowhead)
- fashion disc #2 (scallop)
- fashion disc #3 (solid diamond)
- fashion disc #4 (domino)
- fashion disc #5 (banner)


The original accessories for the Singer 401 came with a lovely plastic box. Here it is:

Original 301 Accessories

The Singer 301 was the first of the slant shank machines. This awesome little machine came with a full set of accessories.

The box of accessories is part number 160623 and came in a green cardboard box.

Here is a list of the original accessories (with part numbers):
- ruffle (160629)
- adjustable hemmer (160626)
- hemmer foot (160627)
- shirrer (160628)
- edge stitcher (160625)
- binder (160624)
-felt spool pin washer (8879)
-black screwdriver (25537)
-small screwdriver (120378)
-extra bobbins

Additional accessories available for the 301 were:
- cording foot - left (160687)
- cording foot - right (160688)
- flange hemmer (160753)
- gauge foot (160755)
- quilter (160691)
- tucker (160692)
- zipper foot (161166)
- automatic zigzagger (161103)


If you are looking for a set of accessories for your 301 you can look for them one at a time or you can often get a good deal if you get the whole set by searching for part number 160623.

Singer Tucker

The manual for the 503 has this to say about the tucker:

"Since the beauty of tucking lies in explicit accuracy, the Tucker will contribute greatly to the attractiveness of this work. 

Tucks up to 1" may be stitched and marked in one operation.

Two adjustable scales are provided to gauge the tuck width and spacing.

Use either straight or decorative stitch setting."

Singer made two different slant shank tuckers. The first is part number 160692, the singer tucker made for class 301 machines.

Mine is a lovely blackside tucker. Here it is:

Since the 301 was a straight stitch machine, the hole for the needle on this tucker is only set up for a straight stitch so you can't do zig zag tucks or change your needle position when using it. 

The second slant shank tucker is part number 161226. Mine has a copyright of 1962 in the instructions. It was made for zig zag machines so the hole for the needle is wider, allowing you to zigzag or change your needle position. 

Here it is:

I haven't done much with either of these attachments but I had to have them for my collection.

Singer 503 Original Accessories

When I first fell in love with my Singer Slant-O-Matic I realized I wanted to collect all of the original accessories that came with the machine. Here is a list of the accessories that came with the Singer 503, according to the manual (and their part number):

- general purpose foot (172075)
- straight stitch foot (170071)
- straight stitch throat plate (174529)
- special purpose foot (161167)
- button sewing foot (161168)
- zipper foot (161166)
- foot hemmer (161195)
- multi slotted binder (161174)
- seam guide (161172)
- fashion discs:
#1 (arrowhead)
#5 (banner)
#6 (crescent)
#7 (icicle)
#8 (blind stitch)
#9 (multi stitch)
#10 (ball stitch)
#11 (ribbon stitch)

Some additional fashion aids listed in the manual that were available to purchase:
- darning and embroidery attachment
- edge stitcher (160625)
- gathering foot (161169)
- tucker (161226)

Additional fashion discs:
#2 (scallop)
#3 (solid diamond)
#4 (solid scallop)
#12 (domino)
#13 (faggoting)
#14 (comb)
#15 (thunderbird)
#16 (shag)
#17 (curlicue)
#18 (solid pyramid)
#19 (block)
#20 (walls of troy)
#21 (chevron)
#0 (zig zag)


If you are looking to get all of the original accessories they are available online. I have purchased a few sets of 503 accessories in the original green and red box. You can usually find them for pretty cheap online. I have paid as little as $15.00 to $20.00 for a set.

Singer Sewing Library

In the '60s Singer put out a line of sewing reference books. They were 25 cents or 29 cents and were available at the local Singer Sewing Centers. The first was dated 1960 and the last one was dated 1962. They were available with a staple binding or comb bound:

I have been collecting them from yard sales and thrift stores and online. I just need one more to make my collection complete.

The series is pretty fun. I love to look through them. Part of the delight is the snapshot of the past that they give you about life then. Another part is that there are actually some pretty fun projects, techniques, and ideas in some of them.

Here is a full list of the series and their numbers:

101 - How to Make Curtains
102 - How to Make Draperies
103 - How to Make Valences
104 - How to Make Bedspreads
105 - How to Lay Out a Pattern and Cut
106 - How to Measure, Alter and Fit
107 - How to Make Seams and Finishes
108 - How to Make Sleeves
109 - How to Make Buttonholes and Pockets
110 - How to Make Collars, Finish Necklines
111 - How to Make Zipper Closures
112 - How to Make Belts and Hems
113 - How to Make Slip Covers
114 - How to Make Café Curtains
115 - Things for Little Girls to Make
116 - Creating Charm When Sewing for Girls
117 - How to Mend and Refit
118 - How to Do Dressmaker Tailoring
119 - How to Make Aprons
120 - How to Make Cushions, Pillows, and Bolsters
121 - How to Sew for Babies

Really it seems like some of these are essentially the same: Curtains, Draperies, Valences, Café Curtains. But some are super fun like the Aprons, Creating Charm When Sewing for Girls, and especially Things for Little Girls to Make. 

I will be trying some of the projects and techniques and I will let you know what I think. 

I do recommend the series though. It's a fun read if you are into sewing techniques and the past.