Riccar 888: Rickey

This was my first vintage sewing machine I bought off of Craigslist shortly after I began collecting vintage sewing machines.  By the way, I've had nothing but great experiences with Craigslist dealings. This one, I bought from a very nice young woman who said she found this machine in the attic when she and her husband bought their home. She had no need for this sewing machine as she had a nice Kenmore herself.

I really didn't know what exactly I was looking for back then, but this showed up and it looked good, and the name Riccar made me feel nostalgic. I think one of the sewing machines I used growing up was a Riccar.  Riccar also seemed obscure among vintage sewing machine collectors as most people are interested in Singer, Necchi, Elna, etc., and no one ever mentioned Riccar.

It came in a nice suitcase.

Everything fits nicely inside. The extension table has a little supporting leg. The manual came with it and so did the warranty card. It was originally purchased in 1974. A service receipt indicates that the machine was last repaired and serviced in 1980.

Riccar was established in 1939 in Japan, and began making sewing machines in 1948. Riccar at one point had the largest market share in Japan, offering a unique layaway system to its customers. Riccar established overseas subsidiaries in US, France, UK, and in other European countries in the 60's ~ 70's and was expanding. However, the company eventually went bankrupt in 1994.

This machine is very heavy, with most of outer casing metal. The back side, where it's covering the motor is plastic.  There are some nylon gears inside.

It has this shiny round sliding door where it says RICCAR.

 It opens up like this and that's where a cam goes in.

Isn't that cute?! Fish stitch!

The machine actually didn't come with any cams. It just came with one bobbin and one presser foot on the machine, foot pedal, extension table, manual, and the case. No extra feet, no cams.

To tell you the truth, I had never operated a machine that required cams.  I didn't know what cams were back then!! When I looked inside the manual, I slowly understood that this machine required cams to sew anything other than straight stitch. It didn't come with any cams!

Now, this is when I say there is such thing as 'it was meant to be' when it comes to acquiring vintage sewing machines.  The very night I bought this sewing machine, I went on to ebay to see if I could find cams for this sewing machine -- totally unaware that Riccar wasn't all that popular. Well, what do you know.  Someone must have just parted out a Riccar 888. There was a list of parts from Riccar 888, and a box of cams listed on ebay that day.

So, I got this whole set of 24 cams in a box!

I have, since then, gone on ebay occasionally to see if these would come up, but I never saw them ever again. I think I was meant to acquire this Riccar 888. I found the machine and the cams for it on the same day. That's almost freaky.

When I first took the machine out of the case, cleaned it, and tried to sew on it, it unfortunately began sewing backwards.  I was very disappointed as it didn't respond to correct the problem to anything I did. I just put it away, and completely forgotten about it, many months later, until recently.

I took it out of the case, and gave it a try again.  This time, well, I don't know what the deal was, but it worked perfectly fine.

Look at how much fun I had!

The machine has low speed and high speed setting. When it's set on low speed, however, it makes this weird noise. High speed isn't really too high speed for me anyway, so I just keep it on high speed setting.  There is an option to drop the feed dogs. It sews smoothly, and it is rock solid.

The more I look at the machine, the more I notice it reminds me of the Bernina Sport 801 I have. The slimness of the design, the whole profile. Many Bernina models also have "Made in Switzerland" on the same place of their sewing machines.

Riccar was at one point Bernina's distributor in Japan.  Perhaps Riccar had secretly always admired Berninas and took inspirations from Bernina machines.........

So, that's my Riccar 888. I shall call him (it feels like a boy) Rickey.

Singer 221-K Featherweight: Esther

This is my first Featherweight.  It's a 221-K, says made in Great Brittain. My research shows that it was made in Clydebank, Scotland, at the Kilbowie Plant. Hence, the -K on the model number.  US made models are 221.  The motor is made in Canada.  According to the Singer Co. site, it was born in 1960. Searching for more detailed information resulted in a couple of sites showing that based on the serial number, it was made either in October 19 or November 3 of 1960, and only 2,500 of them were made during this period. Black Featherweights were made to 1961, so this was one of the last black ones made.

If it was indeed made on November 3, it is my parents wedding anniversary. I don't know which year it was but it's around 1960 that they got married. (My Singer 15-91 was born on the same year my mother was born. Interesting relationships I'm having with sewing machines....)

It came with the manual, foot pedal, and a few feet, a couple of bobbins, little screw drivers, and the key to the case.

It has a simple faceplate, unlike my Singer 15-91 which has a scroll faceplate.

Ever since I sew saw one at a garage sale, and I was amazed at how cute and small the machine was, I've wanted one.

It showed up one day when I wasn't even specifically looking for one.


I was learning back then that there was this interesting destiny dance when it came to looking for vintage sewing machines. "The right machine will show up at the right time."  It is really true. So I decided to wait, rather than actively looking for one. It sure came to me!

At this pristine condition, and the price was amazingly reasonable, I knew she was for me!












 Ooooo, and did I mention it has a Red-S badge? 

I read that Red-S badges are rare, though I don't know how rare. It sure is pretty.  I don't think this machine was used much.  All these photos were taken as I took it out of the case. I hadn't cleaned, polished, or anything. No obvious harsh scratches. Decals are perfect.  Shiny, shiny. All in all, in perfect shape!

 Here is the bottom.  When I removed the drip pan to see inside, again, I was surprised how clean it was. I wasn't sure if this sewing machine was ever used until I opened up the bottom, there it did have some old oil residue. (Well, maybe it was oiled but never used?! Maybe used just once?!)






It was owned by Ms. or Mrs. or Mr. Lennon.  John?!

The case was a bit scratched. So, when I first went to see the machine and saw the case, I wasn't all that excited. But you know, you can't judge a machine by its case! It has done a terrific job protecting the baby inside.

 The liner inside is in tact.

 A few more photos.  Just because.

I'm calling her Esther.  I made Esther an extension table cover so that the screw knob on the faceplate wouldn't scratch the table.  Great idea. I got that idea from Michelle of Life With Lou via Tammy's Craft Emporium.  (I've already shown this photo in my previous post, but, hey, you don't mind, do you?!)

By the way, it's interesting that I do want to name all my sewing machines, but I don't usually come up with a name until I start writing about her. My Featherweight was nameless until today.

I think just about everyone who collects vintage sewing machines eventually ends up with at least one Singer Featherweight.  I now have one, so I'm not looking for any more Featherweight. (well, unless it's the mint green one.... maybe..... definitely.... for sure) However, there is one courting with me right now. I shall see if it ends up with me.

If you are looking for Featherweight manuals and attachment list, here is a link to the ISMAC site with attachment list and free manual download. Download manuals are also free at the Singer's site. You can also buy printed booklet manuals there. By the way, not only you can date your machines at Singer's site with the serial number, if you go to My Singer Story, scroll down to the bottom and put in your pre-1970 Singer sewing machine serial number, you'll instantaneously receive a little 'birth certificate' of your sewing machine that you can print.  It's kind of cute. 

For those who have a Featherweight or two (or three), do you actually use your Featherweight, or does it sit in the case?  When and for what do you use it? Do you have and use a zigzagger with your Featherweight? (I want a zigzagger!)

Style Arc Linda Stretch Pants, Done.

It took a looooooooooong time. Mostly because I didn't have much dedicated sewing time. I had 15 minutes here, 30 minutes there, no time at all for a week, etc. (sigh) But Style Arc Linda Stretch Pants were very simple and easy to make. I used size 6, which turned out nearly perfect as far as the fit is concerned. I am right in between their sizing 6 and 8. This was with stretch fabric, so it was very forgiving.  

The pink  top I'm wearing is Simplicity 2283 that I made this summer. I tell you. The yoke on this was really tricky. I couldn't understand the instructions. My mother who happened to be visiting when I was making this also had trouble and she had to ignore the instructions and just figured it out. She is an experienced sewer. Oops, I just confessed that I didn't even finish the top myself. My mother rescued me on this one.

Back to the Linda Pants. I first bought the fabric on right in photo here. It's a two-way stretch cotton/poly blend, a little shiny satiny finish of Anna Sui.  It's beautiful. I don't know the name of this fabric. The fabric is stiff so I think it will hold the pants shape well.

But I thought I would make something a little more casual for everyday wear, and also make it a 'rehearsal run' with a less expensive fabric. The one on left.  It's also cotton/poly blend but it's a four-way stretch of much softer knit jersey.

The result was a super duper comfy pair of pants! I love them.  Style Arc patterns are made of quality paper, a bit thicker than the tissue papers used by Big Four.  Style Arc patterns give minimal instructions, assuming you have basic knowledge of sewing garments.  These pants are simple enough that the lack of detailed instructions wasn't an issue for me. Also, the patterns include narrower seam allowance of 3/8" than the typical 5/8"of Big Four patterns. I serged to finish the seams, so I gave just a bit more seam allowance than 3/8" when cutting the fabric.

I decided to add cuffs.


The Linda Stretch Pants are SO comfortable.  This fabric ended up working out perfectly. I love the color, I love how it feels against my skin, I love the stretch, it's so comfortable. (Did I say it's like wearing pajamas?!)  I'd love to make more with other colors of this fabric, but unfortunately this was the only color they had. I think I will look for more 4-way stretch cotton knit jersey fabric like this one to make more pairs of Linda Pants. I'm in love. Next time I fly on a long flight, I'm definitely wearing these. It's THAT comfortable.

And, here is the sheet blouse top on me.

Hmm. I'd like it to be a little more fitted.  But I love the neckline and the sleeves.

Oh, well. After all it was a dress, it was just a practice, and I made it with an old sheet. Good enough. It was Simplicity 3533 dress pattern.

 It's comfortable.

Oh, and on the Linda Pants,  if I were to change anything, the waist band position felt just a little bit too high for me.  I like the pants to be just a little bit more low-waist.  Perhaps I will make the hip to waist 2 inches shorter next time.  Oh, I should have had the photo of the waist band and where it sits.

My photographer was getting inpatient and he called it quits before I was ready! Here he is. My photographer. My cutie pie son, making fun of me trying to strike a pose during the photo shoot.

So right now, I think I'm in love with Style Arc patterns. Anybody out there who also love Style Arc? Which pattern is your favorite? How many garments of the same pattern did you make?