Kenmore 1217

A month or so ago, when my friend Cheryl, from Cheryl’s Teapots2Quilting blog came to visit, she brought two sewing machines for me to look at, clean up, and find new homes for. I am just now getting around to doing that. The first machine, a Singer 457,  probably isn’t going to make it unless someone wants to spend the money to have a new plastic bobbin drive gear in it. I can’t do that. It is beyond my capabilities. It also requires timing, which I also cannot do.

The second one she brought, a Kenmore 1217 is very very heavy, but a nice, Japanese made machine. It was pretty dirty, with what looked like gravel dust all over it. It’s previous owners must have stored it in a shed or garage with a gravel floor. It didn’t have any stuck parts, but did turn pretty hard, until I oiled it, and then plugged it in and ran it with the foot control. It loosened right up. This machine is a ‘left needle’ position machine, meaning that it was not designed with quilting in mind (with the 1/4” seam and center position needle). It was designed for garment making, with the 5/8” seam being common.

It did not have a case, or a base to sit in, but it sits on the table nicely.

It makes some very nice stitches!

I did have an extra suitcase, so now it can be carried and stored in this case. I’m not exactly sure which direction or organization this machine will go to, but it will be given to where it will be used to help make other’s lives better.

Thank you Cheryl!