This bag ended up being finished off on my 1930's singer treadle sewing machine because my Diamond & overlocker decided they didn't like the fabric.I decided to finish this UFO( 1 of 3 identical bags ) after husband lost another one of the shopping bag a few weeks ago.Now I realise why they were never finished ,the fabric is some sort of backed curtain or blind material which I've used before without any trouble but this time the backing kept on sticking to the machine needle ,even though I was cleaning the needle clean with metho & had the teflon foot on the machine.Using the overlocker to join the seams I ended up having a strip of newspaper under one side of the foot.Sewing the strap on using the Diamond the whole thing lifted up together- yes the presser foot was down- thats when the treadle came out.Even though it hadn't been used for years ,it sewed the strap on perfectly didn't stick ,I just had to get the treadling motion right.
I have two treadle machines, one very old on an old wooden chassis, not the wrought iron one that we normally see. This old dinosaur has the most perfect stitch I've ever seen and it goes like a dream, quiet and so easy to work. While I don't use it as such any more it is by far my favourite machine for machine piecing of blocks for quilts. It has only the straight stitch but that stitch works wonders and I have complete control of it. The only reason I don't use it now is because the machine also provides a lovely sideboard for my CD player/radio thingy that makes wonderful, soothing music while I sew. Better still, this old non-electric friend has been taken out onto the deck on a sunny day - not recently I hasten to add - and afforded hours of fun and pleasure for me.
My other treadle which is a normal Singer treadle machine really did sew leather goods by the previous owner. It, too, has a brilliant stitch.
I love the old machines and DHDon and I have a small collection of the oldies, hand-cranked and electric. I used one hand-cranked 'portable' Singer (one with a rounded wooden cover) for five months in PNG while I waited to get to a big centre to get a new modern machine. I put it on the floor and sat cross-legged, cranking away to make curtains for our aluminium house, and school shorts and dresses for the children.
AlmaG.