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.

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 Reference and Kit

My mom found this treasure at the thrift store. It's the book from a series of sewing classes they did at the Singer Sewing Center. The book is dated 1954.

The book has some pretty useful information in it. It's got all the things you'd need to know about how to make your own clothes and clothes for your family. It also has some more advanced information in it. Some of the techniques are so advanced I don't even know what is going on. Seriously, some of it is pretty intense.

As an added treasure my mom also found the "Project Material Package" that went along with the classes!

It's pretty beat up but it is nearly complete! It's amazing. It's still got the practice sheets and the fabric swatches and some of them aren't even used! I'll show you the inside later. 

The Project Material Package was available only to people who signed up for the classes. From the description on the kit: "Singer Sewing Skills is a comprehensive course in effective sewing machine usage embracing the secrets of beautiful sewing."

And "Fabric for learning how best to handle the attachments that are part of every sewing machine, as well as those you may wish to add to your equipment."

It sounds like another part of their plan was to have you try out all the sewing accessories in the store during your class so you would fall in love with them all and end up buying them. I do have many of these accessories in my collection but some of them are super rare and I haven't found them yet (such as the underbraider and the flange foot). But honestly I probably won't have an occasion where I need to sew a bit of braiding on the underside of something. Still, I would love to have them all in my collection!

Some day.

Anyway, another fun Singer Sewing Reference that is worth checking out.

Plush Felt Kitty Craft using Fashion Discs

I have decided from time to time I will be showing a few little projects I have done with my Slant-O-Matics. These will be anything from simple crafts to Halloween costumes to formal wear.

Here is one of my projects: Plush Felt Kitties.

I made these little guys for my niece's birthday. They are a fun way to actually use those fancy stitches the Slant-O-Matic is so good at.

If you are interested in a tutorial it can be found at heartbeetboutique.blogspot.com.

I used the Singer Fashion Discs to do the kitties' stripes. Pretty adorable.