After talking with a friend of mine, I have been starting to think about moving this to wordpress. I had issues with wordpress years ago, so when I started to think about starting up a new blog awhile ago I went looking for other alternatives. I noticed some people were using tumblr as a blogging platform as well and decided to give it a shot. 

When my friend asked me why I chose tumblr, I couldn’t really give a good reason besides “I wanted to try it out”,  ”it works” and “wordpress annoyed me”. She uses wordpress and likes it a lot, so I went back and looked at it again, and most of the things that tumblr does, they have now added similar features. So it isn’t as bad as the last time I used it. 

But is that enough to change? Is there anything really wrong with tumblr for the blog I am trying to do?

I really don’t know for sure. It seems that most of the blogs that are doing similar things are using wordpress. Which makes me start to think that I might get a better audience there. But I still have some followers here, and get a few every month or so. So I don’t really want to give up necessarily. But I am starting to be tempted, but I don’t want to switch just because “everyone else is doing it”. But I don’t know if I have used tumblr as most other users do, and many people have a way different impression of it then when they think of wordpress. Typical blogs is not one of them.

So many things to think about.

While looking up information on my newly acquired vintage singers (from my last post), I found this site: http://mysingerstory.com/

I was able to finally date my machines. You can also find the same information manually by going to http://www.singerco.com/admin-support/machine-serial-numbers. But later I also I found geographical area information at http://www.singermachines.co.uk/faq/where-was-my-antique-sewing-machine-made/ (Link to one letter information, but the page has link to page for 2 letter serial numbers as well).

The newer machine is from 1948, which had the 2 digit letter prefix “JC” in the serial number, seen above and below: 

Using that 2 digit letter prefix I was able to find that the machine was from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec, Canada.

The older machine was from 1914, which had a single digit letter prefix “F”, seen above and below:

Once again, I used this letter prefix to find that this one was from Clydebank, Scotland, UK.

Machines with no letter prefixes are pre-1900s, or at least that is the information I have found. Most of those were from the same area, where the Singer company first began. Later Singer started to get factories in more locations and so starting in the 1900s they began using letter prefixes to specify the location the machines were issued from.

I haven’t found any more real other information yet on the history of my particular machines besides the date issued and location. Nor have I found the approximate worth of either. But through the Singer site, I did find a page that listed the number of machines made of all models, which could help to the give an indication if they might be worth anything. Go to http://www.singerco.com/admin-support/machine-serial-numbers and select the one letter, or 2 letter. On the right side, there is a bunch of links to pdfs for the different series. Depending on the serial number after the prefix, it shows the quantity in one of the columns. For example for my F series machine: http://www.singerco.com/uploads/assets/pdf/SINGER_F_nos.pdf

From another site, on a forum post I found that they say that the pre-1900s (or at least pre-1920) are the ones that are usually worth anything. Past that time most models issued had a lot more made. But there seems to be some exceptions to that though.

I hope that this helps anyone looking for information on vintage singers. I had a long and hard time with mine because there were so many different websites out there with different information. Then most other blogs I found seemed to link to a page on the singer website that no longer existed (http://www.singerco.com/support/machine-serial-numbers which should now be http://www.singerco.com/admin-support/machine-serial-numbers).

I have so many post planned but no time to work on them. This time of year I also get really, really busy. Lots of stress with working on halloween costumes and trying to get them done in time. Plus I only have until friday when parties start, not until the monday.

This year I tried to finally do things right and not have a panic attack by trying to make a costume last minute. I planned on finally starting early this year. The bad things is…. I said I would make a bunch of other people’s costumes too. Sigh….. plus even though I “started” early didn’t mean I actually continued to work on it after I started.

Here is the original list of costumes for this year:

For myself: Paper Bag Princess.

I have a roll of brown craft paper that I am using as my “fabric”. Decided I wanted a bit more shape to the dress instead of just a paper bag so this is the pattern I decided on.

I will also thinking about making an identical one out of cotton, in case of rips or tears or any other accidents that might cause me to be “clothes-less”. Either that or wear a slip.

For friend #1: Skeleton. She wanted something more fitted as she could never find one that fit right, that wasn’t baggy. So thinking of making her a black catsuit (http://www.stretchy.org/ and http://www.patternschool.com/?page_id=642) and make skeleton bone appliques.

For friend #2: Melissa from Home Movies.

Found a couple good patterns on Etsy that might work for it:

But decided that with the time constraint she might be able to find something at a thrift store. She has purple leggings already so I said for her to find a good sweatshirt and that I could alter it and dye it if not absolutely correct.

For friend #3: Honestly I don’t even remember what this one is…. I know she told me but I can’t think of it anymore.

The only ones that have stayed to this point is my own, and the skeleton costume. I found a way to make “catsuits” based on a certain person’s measurements. Not just a store bought pattern. I will try to post about it at another point. It is going to look excellent (or at least I hope so).

Even though there is only 2 I am still stressed beyond belief. The skeleton costume is finally working but before it was being a real pain. Plus I still haven’t put on the bones on the fabric yet. Plus my own costume turned out to be using the wrong kind of pattern to use paper for. I will find a way though!

The other funny thing is I also have a list for next halloween already too. Including my own costume (which is shocking as I never have one even a month in advance prepared).

Having multiple brothers (2) is a pain sometimes. You say you will make a “special” Mario blanket for one, the other wants something extravagant as well. Have to be fair I guess….. sigh, am I too nice of a sister? Or just a pushover?

Brother #2 decided that the Dino Hat I was going to make for my cousin’s baby is what he wanted. But since my other brother gets this great, big, awesome blanket he wants to have LOTS of hats. TONS of hats. SOOOOO many different and awesome hats. (I could go on and on here…..) And I agreed to this. I am starting to think this will actually be fun too. I will probably feel more accomplished with these projects, as I can make one hat a lot faster then a whole blanket and at least this brother will get something even if I don’t get to do much.

I started to scour Ravelry for interesting hats (hours and hours of searching, but fun searching). I kept a list of every one that would be a possibility or just ones for fun even if he didn’t like them. Then I started to collect the images of each one and I sent him the list. It was kind of amusing to get his response, some I expected, some I had hoped for and was happy to see he liked as well, and others I didn’t expect but was a great choice none the less.

Here is the list I sent him (and link to corresponding pattern):

Chain Chomp Hat

Pokeball Hat

Shark Hat

Brain Monster

Alsace Le Monstre Hat

Goomba Hat

Yoshi Head Hat (Project not a pattern)

Portal Cake Hat

Snake Hat & Scarf

Pedo Bear (Project based on a pattern)

Where the Wild Things are Hat

Invader Zim GIR knit hat

Wolf Hat

Triceratops Hat

Fish (Dead or Alive) Hat

Kraken of the Sea Scoofie - Monster Hooded Scarf

Totoro Hat

Dino Hat

He decided on Pedo Bear, Alsace Le Monster, Kraken of the Sea, Brain monster, Portal Cake, Snake, and Shark. His favourite (and mine) is the the Kraken of the Sea. I am really excited about making that one. The Pedo Bear and the Portal Cake hats he choose just to bother my other brother. We both know he will be jealous. It was part of the reason I added them to the list in the first place. (We all love our internet memes!)

I am really looking forward to this adventure too now! Now to purchase patterns and supplies.

Oh! Also on a side note, here is the hat I am currently trying to make for myself! 

Deer with little antlers hat

So a couple months ago my brother made a request. I had said months prior to this I would make him something if he wanted. But when he first asked for a blanket, I said “F@$% no!”. Too big a project! As my last blanket is now in storage due to me being sick of it half way through.

But he tried again, this time he sent me this (which he found on reddit): 

I had mentioned that I would knit or crochet him something, so this quilt was a little unexpected. I thought why not, I will try it. But then I started thinking if maybe crochet would be possible with it. It was a really great blanket.

But then a friend told me about a crochet blanket of the levels from mario world. We searched and searched but couldn’t find it for me to look at it. I gave up. But weeks later, I tried again, and after almost as much searching as before, I found it (at least I am pretty sure).

From http://gegecrochet.blogspot.com/2009/03/mario-party-part-1.html

I showed my brother, and we both agreed, this was the better blanket. So this is the one I have to make him. But I knew this was going to take forever. So I told him “Don’t expect it until your birthday of 2013”. He is very understanding of this at least.

I put off starting this though as it has been awhile since I have done Tunisian crochet. Plus, it is a really big project for me. But I finally decided to start yesterday. I looked through images of sprites and then went through making grids for each sprite to be able to calculate a pattern. But after a couple hours I realized, maybe I should alter it. Maybe I should ask him which scenes he wants and do those ones instead. So I sent him an email, but as I was writing it I thought, what about Super Mario World instead? We played that as kids a lot. Our whole family did (well, except Mom). So I suggested to him changing it to that too.

He agreed with me on Super Mario World. We both loved it! It was the first video game we ever played and it held a lot of meaning to both of us. So I am now changing it. I will use the basic idea from the Tunisian crochet mario blanket, but use super mario world sprites and scenes.

I have already found TONS of sprite images of everything I might need. Plus lots of images of possible layout ideas.

Now to start planning out each of the sections out, how many, and how detailed. 

I am sure to post lots about this in the coming year(s), including my charts once I finish!