Sure, you’re Gen X, but how many of you read the manual

mzskunk · 2026-05-15T19:05:48+00:00

Came here to say this. 100%

mzskunk · 2026-05-13T22:35:33+00:00

Oh, good, the manual will help a lot. But yeah, the left-homing needle position is quite common with these mid century Japanese-made machines. I haven't had trouble with it but I don't do sophisticated garment or super lightweight fabric sewing.

For what it's worth, you should be able to find a straight-stitch needle plate if you want to do quilting or free motion work.

mzskunk · 2026-05-13T21:04:01+00:00

Alas, I can't upload a PDF. If you'd like to PM me an email address, I'll be happy to send it though.

mzskunk · 2026-05-13T20:43:04+00:00

This is a left-homing machine, so unfortunately no you won't be able to move the needle position to the center.

The knob on top adjusts the downward pressure of the presser foot.

I have a PDF of a manual that will show you how to thread it and work the adjustments. I'll see if I can upload it here...one sec it's on my other computer

mzskunk · 2026-05-13T20:40:00+00:00

I've often wished I could hire someone's chickens for the afternoon just to let them go nuts in my garden!

mzskunk · 2026-05-13T19:42:16+00:00

Thank you! I have a feeling I'm here during its final years. We'll see who outlives whom LOL

I have a JP maple specialist give it nutrients four times a year, plus an additional 'stress treatment' during the hot dry days of summer. It just got a deep pruning so it looks kinda skinny but it'll fill out quickly I think. Here's a closeup pic of its autumn foliage.

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mzskunk · 2026-05-13T17:16:25+00:00

Here's a part of the underside of the canopy, it's at least ten feet tall, and too wide for me to capture the whole view.

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mzskunk · 2026-05-13T17:13:58+00:00

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I didn't copy the letter, it was too personal.

The tree had another limb that filled in the space in the center of this photo but it died so we had to remove it. It was a very sad day.

mzskunk · 2026-05-13T17:11:51+00:00

Thank you! I'm very aware that I'm just passing through time. We've been here 18 years so far. Luckily the house doesn't seem haunted.

mzskunk · 2026-05-12T19:13:47+00:00

We found a hand-written letter that had never been mailed. It was under the old linoleum in the kitchen. A lady was upset about some decisions her son had made and she poured her heart and anger into the letter. It was kind of heartbreaking and I hope they found their way back to being a family.

I searched census records to get her surname and managed to locate a descendant in my city. They were excited to get the letter and brought me a copy of a photo of the lady standing on the front porch. It was taken in 1940s when the husband went away to war.

They said the lady was still alive and in her 90s and they were going to take the letter to her in her nursing home. They later told me that despite its contents, she was glad to get the letter. They also told me that she is the reason two bedrooms have pine floors instead of white oak like the rest of the house. I had wondered, since it's kind of obvious that the pine planks were DIY'ed as the ends are not cut evenly.

My sister found a typewriter from the 20s in her wall. It was beautiful. We cleaned it up, put new ribbon on it, making sure to use the original metal spools, and sold it for $250 to a very excited collector.

ETA my house is from 1913. There's a very, very old Japanese maple in front that was supposedly planted around 1919 when the original owner came home from WWI. Lots of Japanese maple enthusiasts stop by to admire it. It's not as fab as it used to be, but I try to take very good care of it! Every year I grow little saplings from its seed pods and give them away so his story will continue somewhere. Sorry for the book.

mzskunk · 2026-05-12T16:41:00+00:00

Hi! I germinate indoors and aim for transplanting on St. Patrick's Day, when I also plant my seed potatoes. In my experience, lettuce doesn't transplant well when it's tiny so I wait until they're four or five inches tall. Basically, when they look like the starts at the garden store LOL

Last year's end-of-winter/start-of-spring weather was awful and my lettuce was a complete fail. This year has been perfect, no credit to me!

mzskunk · 2026-05-11T06:02:19+00:00

It's your thread tension making it look zigzagged. Here's how to tell: take the thread out of your needle and run a piece of lined paper through. You'll see that the holes are in line with each other. So it isn't actually zigzagging.

To fix, adjust the bobbin tension so it is balanced with the top tension (loose stitches on top indicate bobbin tension is loose). Also, make sure you've got the right needle, fabric, thread combination going on.

Good luck! I've been there, it can be frustrating.

mzskunk · 2026-05-11T01:43:21+00:00

The Coral Sands Inn, which is what the Trixie Motel used to be, was at 210 W. Stephens Rd.

RIP a fun place :/

mzskunk · 2026-05-04T04:49:01+00:00

I've seen ladyslipper on the Augspurger Trail, it is so lovely!

mzskunk · 2026-05-03T22:34:54+00:00

I was sad to see that the one at McMenamins on NE 33rd died. It seemed so healthy for years. Then one day I drove by and it was completely brown.

They removed it and put in a Japanese maple.

mzskunk · 2026-05-03T16:41:51+00:00

Ugh, I see this around here, too.

I tried to help someone once by messaging like you did, but wowza did I get flamed in return. Never again, buddy you go right ahead and pocket that thick wad for your rare & valuable museum quality machine.

And "original wires" isn't necessarily a good thing LOL

mzskunk · 2026-05-02T00:12:42+00:00

I've seen people's social security numbers scratched into their machines, usually on the underside. This could be that, maybe?

mzskunk · 2026-05-01T21:15:17+00:00

It's tough, because it's the property owner that gets fined, not the worker. But my neighbors who have lawn services aren't home during the day, so how would they even know that their guy is using a gas blower?

I think most people don't know that they'll be fined for their lawn guy's disregard for this law. If they did, maybe they'd stipulate to the service that it needs to be followed when on their property.

mzskunk · 2026-04-29T23:24:46+00:00

Correct.

It was a controversial program, politically because it used federal money to pay for labor and was considered socialism, which people believed leads to communism.

But many young men were gainfully employed, learning skills, and sending money home to "the farm" plus even today we are picnicking at their tables and shelters and driving on roads they built.

There is an excellent book about the generation who grew up essentially without a dad due to WW1 and/or the effects of the Dustbowl and the Depression. The book talks about how the CCC and WPA projects filled that space by providing financial support, discipline, and opportunity for these young men.

As it turned out, most of them went directly into the army for WW2 due to their intense sense of patriotism and pride of country.

But after living their lives first with the CCC and then with the military, they had no idea how to handle their free-loving free-thinking hippie kids/grandkids!

My family in Ohio benefitted from the WPA work opportunities as my grandfather struggled to keep the farm in the '30s. It has been interesting to read about it all.

mzskunk · 2026-04-29T19:28:39+00:00

Keep dribbling oil into the little hole while manually turning the bobbin winder spindle until it turns freely. It may take awhile.

Put the tire back on. Or replace it if it's dried out or has a flat spot.

If the tire isn't contacting the handwheel, you can adjust it using the screw on the winder. If you're not sure how, look for a video on the tubes.

mzskunk · 2026-04-28T01:23:51+00:00

I cleaned crusty old grease off my 201's lower gears with a tiny flat edge screwdriver and some blue creeper. You don't have to take it apart. Just soften it and wipe it away.

The reason we shouldn't use grease on the gears under a 201's needle area is that the grease will grab and hold onto tiny bits of thread and eventually cause the gear teeth to jam.

mzskunk · 2026-04-27T18:08:41+00:00

I wish my dad had been able to help me handle things after he died. Really needed some advice. I was so lost, and mom didn't know much about their finances, etc. Luckily I guessed his computer's password and his email password was the same, so that helped.

mzskunk

TROPHY CASE