I needed to find some motivation to return to quilting after spending a term teaching and studying and doing very little else, so a few weeks ago I took my Singer 201-3 in for servicing.  While talking to Brad at the Singer Sewing Centre in Burnaby, he showed me a Singer 500J that he was restoring.  Already in very good condition, the 500J, also knows as the Sew-o-Matic or the Rocketeer, was one of the last all-metal, gear-driven machines that Singer made, and is known to be one of the best sewing machines ever made at all.  So I bought it.

Singer 500J (front)

Singer 500J (left side)

Singer 500J (right side)

Singer 500J (back view)

The 500J is very different from the 201-3, despite the mere 9 years difference between their production date. The 201-3 (1952) is a classic black with gold accents; it looks like an electric version of the old-fashioned treadle machine your grandma had. The 500J, as you can see, is an aerodynamic design gem, beige with burgundy accents and gold lettering. The 201-3 is a powerhouse, a semi-industrial straight-stitch that will drive a needle through 8 layers of denim like a hot knife through butter. The 500J is a multi-stitch with a complicated system of switches, knobs and dials that select from dozens of stitch patterns.

If you happen to have a 500J but not the manual, click here.

I’ve essentially finished Quilt 7–all that’s left is binding the edges. I enjoyed the experiment but 3/4 of the way through I lost interest and motivation. I enjoy blockprinting and trying a whole-cloth quilt was fun, but I experimented with the quilting and the final result wasn’t really what I had in mind. I think it’ll go straight to the trunk of the car for roadside emergencies. This past weekend I found enough time to do some dyeing and I’ve got Quilt 8 percolating in my head. It’s time to get back to work.

Dyeing Supplies

Dyed fabrics for Quilt 8