Beer

 A few weeks ago I cleaned the house.  This was a momentous occasion.  Steven  seized the opportunity and invited some friends over for dinner.  He cooked (i.e. ordered take out from the Chinese restaurant).

K. brought over a beer that had been given to him.  It came from Middle Ages Brewing Company in Syracuse.  http://middleagesbrewing.com/content/view/69/39/

Now,  I am a wine drinker and had started on a glass of a very nice Albarino.  But I tasted that Dragon Slayer Stout and LIKED IT.  K. and Steven liked it too.  D. and I were jabbering away about sewing and machines while they were slowly sliding under the table.  The stuff is STOUT. D and I were oblivious to their increasing inebriation.  Turns out, D. learned how to sew on a 201 and was thrilled to see mine in the sewing loft.  Long ago her 201 disappeared.  She said she would like another. ( I wonder where she would ever find one?)

Tuesday Steven and I were reminiscing about that dinner and about that beer.  I looked up the brewery on the internet and we decided that we should go over for a visit one day.

"All we have to do is find a sewing machine up that way and we can go." he said.  Oh the enabling..

I needed no more encouragement.  I immediately checked Craigs List.  Whoopee  There was a 201-2 for sale in Liverpool.  I responded right away.

"Can you go tomorrow?" I asked him.

"Nope, I have to show the apartment."

"Thursday?"

"I have to work."

"Friday is out for me, I have a hair thing."  (I might add that it is sacrilegious to EVER cancel a hair thing with my hair dresser.  It just isn't done)

"Well, you know, D. wants a 201-2.  This looks like it might be a good one for her. If its available I may just have to go by myself."

 I did and came home with a 1947 201-2 in a very nice Singer # 42 Cabinet.  You cannot tell from the picture, but the numbers on the SL regulator are legible.  The machine has been used but it is dry.  The motor leads look OK but I haven't checked them thoroughly.  I disconnected them with my good hand and the seller lifted the machine out of the cabinet and loaded them both into the Jetta.  Steven brought them into the shop for me.  This dependent damsel nonsense is getting to me. Not my style.

I am keeping this cabinet.  D. may get the machine.  She can have the library cabinet that I am using now or the other 42 I have.  Or I may keep this machine, depends on how it stitches.....

Oh how I love the 201-2

And to read what was originally said about the #42 Cabinet check out this link:
http://www.ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machine_company/42_cab.html

Bigot

My lovely 201 does not like thread of color.  Well, not red thread anyway.  It does great with white thread.  It did ok with brown thread too.  But red thread it hates.  The stitch is lousy and I have to mess with both bottom and top tension when I sew with red thread.  At least that was the case today when I made this.

 Who knows?  Sewing machines are funny things.  Just the same, I love the way this 201 sounds.  Once I gave up on red thread and switched to a project that accepts white thread, I was much happier.  Maybe I will just need to use a different machine for red projects.  It's not as if I don't have a choice.

UPDATE

Today (August 5, 2012) I used red thread again.  Similar problem, unless I cranked the top tension way up.  Then, a perfect stitch.  I think that I just have to get over the idea that the tension MUST stay the same and ALWAYS be somewhere between 2 and 5.  Why, then, would there be choices from 0 to 9?