Baby Sings the Blues -Singer 348

I went to a quilt show with some of my Playdate friends, and there was a lunch downstairs, along with some group displays. Sounds innocent enough, but my enabler friend directed my attention to a group table that had a sewing machine in need of a new home. It was blue, and even though my “Betty” White is blue, I don’t have a blue Singer. We were going to a nearby quilt shop after, and I was on a * gasp * budget, so I told the lady, I would have to wait a bit. I only ended up spending about $20 at the quilt shop, so I had $25 left. I went back to the little table, where the lady had practically begged me to take this sad little machine home with me, so I offered her the $25 and sealed our fates. The blue case was made of plastic, that had large cracks on every corner, and I was strongly encouraged to hold it from the bottom.
I hugged her tightly and named her “Baby Sings the blues” before I even got her in the car.
Once home, I waited until Hubby went out to the shop. Then I steathly carried her from the car to my sewing table, and removed the case. There she was, all wide eyed and waiting to show me what she could do. Like a puppy saying “Im so happy you chose me!” Well, she sewed so pretty, that I couldn’t put her back in that case. The bottom was broken too, so I just took her completely out.

Now I usually employ old suit cases to store [hide] my machines, but Baby deserves better. I would look for a crappy machine to liberate from it’s case at a thrift store soon, but having spent all my money, I couldn’t go just yet. I figured it would take several stops, at several thrift stores to find, but I was going to try anyway.

About a week later, I was driving home, and saw it.
A machine case by the side of the road!!!!

It was rather beat up, and contained a Singer 758 better known as a “touch and throw” – EXACTLY what I wanted. I knew I wouldn’t be tempted to refurbish one of those.

I never refinished a case before, but I won’t let such details stop me.
Mod Podge to the rescue! I have an entire tote dedicated to sewing themed fabrics.

Of course I do!

I picked out some background fabric, and sanded the loose bits of the case down, leaving most of the original covering on it. Then I brushed on the Mod Podge, and wrapped it. First the sides. Then I traced the ends and made a template to cut the end fabric pieces.

The hardware was secured with rivets, so I left the hardware on except for the pieces on the ends of the top. Those pieces had a gap that would reveal the original covering, so the rivets got drilled out, and replaced with nuts and bolts. I used an exacto blade to cut the fabric around the other hardware pieces.