What about Anne?

Those who have been reading my blog for a longer time, for sure, remember Anne of Green Gables. You know Anne belonged to my granny. I found Anne on 2016. Still Anne has secrets that has been fascinating my mind and I have not found answer. Until now...

First of all, I have been quite curious about Anne because she really is a treadle sewing machine who can embroider and has electric lights. More you think about it the more you start to wonder why on earth she has electric lights but no electric engine. I really have started to think Husqvarna Automatic 51A was a great heureka-moment of a human mind "Hey, let's put electric lights on it". And when the prototype was finished they stared at it at the factory very confused and finally said aloud "Why on earth we didn't include the electric engine?!!" 👀

During these years living and working with Anne, I have tried to trace her family tree. I want to know when she was born. I know she was born in Sweden but when was that and why she is such an extraordinary girl.

I've asked it even from the importer and manufacturer but had no other replies than "no questions" or "we don't know". I am not asking to solve out Anne's value to sell her. No, not at all, Anne is not for sale. I am asking just because I am a bit obsessed with my sewing machines. You know also Husqvarna C.B. lives here. (I am not quite sure about her yet. She was actually given to YoungLady. We still wonder what to do with its cabin table surface...) And also Helga still lives here and is doing just fine. They, Anne and Helga, share the duties. Helga is very tired of everything so she does easy tasks. Anne who loves to be alive and have a home and not to be forgotten does all the hardest work like when she helped out me with my fur coat. 

So, I have been asking here and there. No result. Until I joined in a social media group and asked if anyone knows anything about her. And wow, despite of these hard COVID-19 times I found helpful people and was told Anne was born on 1960. She is a flat bed version of Husqvarna Automatic 21A.

 When I heard that, I wondered why on earth they did both but then I had my heureka-moment. Of course! Electricity was not reachable every where all the time. But why exactly my granny chose 51A instead of 21A? Think about it where I live. The same region where also my granny lived. Despite she lived even more rural. Electric breaks were a daily life challenges especially on the winter season when the frost and snow did the damages and it may last weeks until the company got it all fixed, especially if the damage was in the wilderness (through which the lines run). Of course she chose treadle sewing machine. Anything else would have been irrational! You can always use a candle to give some light for your sewing but if the machine has electric engine you just can't use it when there's the electric break!

To thank these nice and helpful people in the group I took some more pics of Anne to show her table and basin in a proper way. I have noticed there's not much the famous internet can tell about Anne, so also that's why I share more pics for people who seek information. I think I have all the pieces of her. So, lets' dive into Anne's secrets!

Anne's table cover is in a good fit if you think she's actually 61 years old and have been in use for decades. But she could look better if she had not been placed in my granny's kitchen for decades. My granny also painted and did all kind of crafts. Most of the marks on Anne's surface are oil paint drops etc. and caused by granny's painting and drawing hobby.

From my previous blog posts (which I linked right on the begin of this post) you can see more pics about Anne, so here we go straight into the point.

Anne has actually a key and locks. I must confess I didn't realize this proper until now when I took these pics for this post! By the key you can open the table lid and drawers. Now I also realized Anne's key doesn't fit into the lock, deep inside. My dear husband opened the locks to see what was wrong. He found out the key is actually too big! He tried to squeeze it gently a bit but it didn't work. I wonder if Anne's key has interchanged.

Under the table, at the left side of Anne, are two supports

Anne's table lid has two "hooks" which fit into these supporters. When you place the lid on the left side of the table, the table turns out bigger.

Anne has three drawers. That helps a lot to keep her stuff in safe. I've made bags for her guide book and power line which I store inside the cabin with Anne.

I was actually taking this pic when I realized Anne has locks!

Anne's very important little things are stored in the original box which I keep in her drawer.

Anne's cabin has a hole and a cover. I usually keep the cover away, stored inside the cabin, because it is a bit loose. I fear it to drop down and dogs to chew it. I am not sure was the hole made up to be it easier to use the bobbin. 

I am so short that it is hard for me to reach the bobbin through the hole. Instead and much easier I reach the bobbin from upwards by my tiny hands.

The cabin has plenty of space. Anne fits in well with her belongings.

The drive band ends have been fastened to each other in an interesting way. When learning to use wheel spindle at art college I was educated 😄 to do it otherwise. But if you sew the ends to each other there are two risks:

1) it doesn't stay and breaks up again and again

2) the joint gets too thick and it makes a bouncing way when going around the wheel, that disturbs of course and causes challenges in working

Anne's left side stand.

Anne's right side stand and wheel.

Anne's wheel.

The Logo.

HelgaHadHeadache

Today Helga had a headache. She could not stand up and take any single step. Oh, She was so poor. I went through all the adjustments and still after it this was all She could do! I was afraid of Her leg was broken.

I realized something was wrong with Her feeding system. I loosed the screws of the plate to see more.

If you are a first timer take a pic of  E A C H  part you do so you won't get confused with it all when putting loosed parts back. When you put the plate back it is not in the right place if the screws don't go in easily. Then you just need to move it a little bit; even if it seems to be on the right place -it is not if the screws feel difficult.

The reason for Helga's headache was obvious. Even with MyOwnEyes I saw the screws of Her feed dog were loose. I tightened them proper and that was all I did before closing Her up again.

Dear Helga started to sing again. At first I heard an extra sound. It was like a small knock every time when the feed dog worked but then it eased. I assume it was because I perhaps tightened too much or She is just old and She needed to cough a bit to get Her corset more loose.

SergerCare

I have talked a lot about Helga but only now I realized you have not seen proper pic of Her. She is Husqvarna Viking Hyskystar E20. I can not remember for sure when I got Helga because the dramatic lost of Poor Iris was so overwhelming that exact dates got lost in my mind. Anyway She is hardly 10 years old. As you know I have not been as satisfied with Her as I was with Poor Iris. But for some reason since Helga heard about Anne of Green Gables She has been doing so much better.

Today Husqvarna Viking sells My Hyskystar is H Class E20 machine but it seems to be the same; a bit improved model I guess.

I have also a serger. He is BrotherLock 929D. He doesn't have any special name because "brother" means "veli" in Finnish. And "veli" is actually official first name used in Finland. So we call Him just Brother. :) He is old too; about 15 years. He too has been hard working but during the past two years He has started to think about the retirement.

I like Him a lot and He is easy to use. I have been a bit sad when thinking about letting Him go.

Once more I tried to cheer Him up by dusting, proper cleaning & oiling.

For the first time we ended up opening Him all naked. Don't try this at home if you are not sure what to do. Opening the covers fades away the warranty. I do this only when MyMachines are too old for the warranty.

I was happy to notice there was no dust inside. It proves I have been taking good care of Him. But we oiled all the moving parts which contact another part. And TheMiracle really happened. Today He sounds like a young virile man!

Today I am very happy with MyMachies. Now when I got my first ever treadle sewing machine Anne of Green Gables with Her strong power, managed to tempt Helga to continue Her career and rose up Brother's manpower back to its magnificent level; I can do what ever I desire... in sewing! Not to mention about saving about 600€ when I didn't need to buy new machines. The service of Anne cost 70€. I needed to drive to Arctic Circle to get Her home but I was smart and arranged it to happen on our Theater Night so it didn't cause me any extra cost because we anyway had drove there and back. (She got in the service car in MyCity Kemi.)

Getting on with Helga

Since Helga found out Anne of Green Gables moved in she has started to feel better. I dusted her once again. It didn't seem to help her a lot and we still had some  disagreements. I opened her more and dusted even better only to found out I have been dusting her so well that almost no dust at all was deeper inside her. I oiled her and O O O P S ; one screw fell in deep inside her. I had to shake her upside down to get the screw back. I succeed, closed her up and I don't know which helped most; dusting, oiling or shaking her upside down but since that she has been working better. Until today...

...Helga's presser foot lifter had some troubles. It didn't got stuck, not at all. It just didn't work. No matter how I lift it up or down nothing happened despite the lift handle moved. So, it was time for another even more proper opening! Well, I got it fixed up. And yes, I am very proud of MySelf. I know nothing about the cars but sewing machines I can fix up. Well, I found out Helga indeed is made of steel, she just have plastic cover and few plastic parts. And I found out her embroidery system works similar like Anne's. Anne just has it all more primitive.

Don't you ever try to fix your sewing machine if you are not sure what to do! You can break it all up even more. If you dust it make sure all the electricity is off and the machine is not attached to the plug! Opening the covers usually causes the fact the guarantee is not valid anymore!!!!

Today at walk I had my camera with me and here's some pics for you from Kemi's spring time life by the sea. It's still a bit icy but so blue!

MyHusqvarna

Helga is getting old. She is my 2nd ever sewing machine. She is Husqvarna Viking Huskystar E20. She has got her name from literature; according to Hagar the Horrible's poor wife.

My 1st sewing machine was called IirisRukka (free translation = PoorIris) according to Finnish author Anni Sawn's story about orphan girl. I can not remember which type my 1st sewing machine was but it was the simplest available on 1996. It was the time electronic started to get into sewing machines more and more. Embroidery abilities and everything. I wanted just basic sewing machine so I got IirisRukka as my WeddingMorningGift which is traditionally given to bride so that she can earn her own living if something happens to her brand new husband. Still I named my new sewing machine PoorIris because I knew how hard she will need to work no matter will my dear husband stay alive or not. And I would feel totally orphan if something ever happens to my hubby. <3

Years after I needed new sewing machine because at the end -when my dear hubby was still very much alive- PoorIris just literally fell apart. I still miss her: peace to her soul...

So I ended up to Helga with whom I've been singing a lot. Helga has been chosen like PoorIris. PoorIris was the last iron based Husqvarna machines which still were produced in Sweden despite she looked all plastic. She had much plastic but more iron than PoorIris. Helga has not been as excellent as I wished. Too plastic, too light. And so she has started to give me a hard time. So, seriously, despite she is still working, I have started to consider to get another sewing machine.

I have always loved Husqvarna sewing machines. Why? Well, they come from Sweden so availability in MyWorld is great; also for the replacement parts. They are proper machines so I do just fine with them. But I've been seeking and seeking new machine. Even been considering to change the trade mark. I don't dare to buy it because I don't know what to get today. They all look plastic, promise this and that... but how can I know. Over 20 years have passed and Helga last must less than PoorIris... I need power, not pretty out look, from my sewing machines.

BUT... on the other day before Easter I was visiting my mother and realized I had forgot something about my grandmother. But when I saw IT I got flash back and immediately at the front of my eyes I saw granny very much alive. IT had started to be revealed under the piles of stuff stored and sorted out in her bed room. IT was breathless. I was holding my breath. We stared at each other and then I could only say with greed and love: "You still have IT here! Can I have IT?" Well, I didn't got HER so easy. At First I needed to tell why I suddenly want it despite I had been offered even more ancient sewing machine after the death of my mother's granny. Well, I was young and fool then and didn't understand these could be better than brand new ones. When my mother understood I am going to use it if we get it function she allowed Him to carry it out.

And so IT became SHE. I heard HER taking HER 1st breath after too many years. The story tells SHE should be just fine like SHE was before my granny had her stroke but He took HER to sewing machine mechanic to get oil changed, checked up and pampered before we demand anything from HER. The mechanic was enthusiastic and said SHE'll be doing just fine and is going to be a great worker. He'll call me by the arctic circle when SHE is ready to come home from her rehabilitation holiday. Hopefully in a month.

So, may I introduce... Anne of Green Gables!!! (Vihervaaran Anna in Finnish.) Yep, from Lucy Maud Montgomery's stories.

She is Husqvarna Automatic sewing machine from 50's I think. She has electric lights! WOW! I love her already.

She is as nostalgic as Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables. I wish her to be as everlasting and legendary too. At the moment I set all my hope on her and wish she will stay with me for years and last over the times, storms and disasters.

Anne of Green Gables, I hope you will be just fine. I don't mind you are people powered sewing machine; a treadle sewing machine... as long as you work proper with thick materials. I love you already. <3

Dusting my Helga

Today when I started sewing my Helga sounded so terrible that I thought that was it. Then I realized it's been ages since she had her dusting day. I do it always by myself. I used to take my machines to repairman; to several ones. But they never satisfied me and my needs. Sometimes the machine came back as dusty as left. So at the end I saw no reason to pay for it that someone just looks at it and says "job done". That's why sewing machine is still the only machine I can fix.

Usually proper dusting helps in every trouble. I remove some parts to get deeper. If you do it for the 1st time take pictures from every step so you can put it all back like it supposed to be. Proper dusting and vacuuming make miracles.

At the shops they sell all kind of aerosols that blow the dust away. More expencive they get if there is written sewing or craft on the bottle. Proper vacuuming by every women's best friend does the same. Just be sure there's nothing important that can dissappear into the depths of the machine... That is not fun.

Hot day's doings

For some reason when it has been hot summer days I have spent three days on the project sofa. Our IKEA Klippan sofa needed new cover so I had to do something about it. It is not so difficult as it sounds.

Because of the busy sofa project I had not yet time to read the latest issue of Novita magazine which arrived yesterday. I like about the magazine. The year subscription cost 29€ and it includes 4 magazines. 4 is good amount I think. Not too many but enough for each season. Novita manifactures yarns so it is easy when you have same trade mark instructions and yarns. :)

I also visited the local yarn shop despite of the heat weave. We were seeking hair for a new hobby horse. The girl spent a day on a floor with me. I guided her to drawn patterns by herself. She designed it, made the patterns, cut them out from the fabric and now she waits to be able to start the sewing. She was with me at the fabric shop when seeking the fabric for the sofa. She found a fabric and got inspired and told she wants to make a hobby horse of it. I promised to teach her how to. :) Yes, I found something for myself too -woollen sock yarn by Novita.

To be honest I must tell you I got a phone call from my sister in the middle of the sofa project sewing marathon. She wondered what on earth I was doing. She suspected me using a banknote counter! No wonder I feel my new sewing machine acts differently than the old dead one named Poor-Iiris who was born in Sweden. This Helga is born in Taiwan I think. And now I finally know -thanks to my sister- why Helga is not like Poor-Iiris even tough she also is a member of Husqvarna family. They must set in the engine of a banknote counter instead of sewing machine engine!

By to way, talking about sewing machines, I prefer the simplest models. I have simple sewing machine by Husqvarna Viking and simple 3-4 thread seaming machine by Brother. They are very enough for my needs even I sew everything from winter overalls to lace napkins. My seaming machine is about 12 years old and sewing machine about 5 or 6 years old. I have used many different trademark sewing and seaming machines -like Singer, Eva and Bernina. There's no huge difference between them nowadays. If you want advice which one to buy I recommend you to check out for which one you can easiest get equipment, adds, extras and spare parts nearby where you are living. That easies a lot your life.