Hello, amazing friends, and welcome back! I hope your week is off to a great start! I’ve got a set of mystery sewing machine drawers to share today!

I mentioned in my last post that my camera went kaput and I might be back with an oldie today while I get a new one figured out. Well, I got my new camera super quickly and got it all set up and ready to go. But then, my mom ended up in the hospital this weekend. She is fine now and back at home, thank goodness, but everything stops around here when my parents are in need, so while I thought I could get back to business for today, I had to bring y’all an oldie after all!

Enjoy this look back!

I happened upon these drawers at a yard sale back in 2023:

The seller didn’t have anything priced which is usually a deterrent for me. She had things in her driveway and her garage, so without prices, it was hard to tell what was for sale and what was not. When I inquired about these drawers, she said I could have them for $25. I offered $20 due to the condition of the top, and she accepted.

I also scored this awesome vintage sewing notions table at the same sale for the same price!

Both pieces were still filled with notions:

And various other items including some gorgeous buttons and someone’s tassel from the class of ’65:

One of my dearest readers ended up with the buttons since she collects them, and I was happy to pass them along!

But the coolest thing I found was a set of slides…

These must have captured someone’s time by the sea. Most of them included people in scenic spots, but this picture perfect seaside cottage was in there as well:

This gorgeous Cape Cod on the sea is my dream!

The date on the slides is from 1962. How cool is that? Unfortunately, there is no identifying information, and I have no idea where the house I purchased them from is.

Upcycled Sewing Machine Drawers

I had never seen a set of six drawers like this and originally figured they likely started out as part of an antique treadle singer sewing machine like this one:

The drawers are identical. (That is not my image; I actually found that image on eBay. According to the listing, this table dates back to 1910.)

The Mystery behind these drawers

Was this a clever redo? Did someone use these parts from one of those tables to create a set of six drawers?

That’s what I figured until another sweet reader mentioned her grandmother had one similar that came as a companion to her sewing table to hold notions. (Thank you, ND!) I think that makes sense!

Either way, three of the four corners of the top were now in rough shape.

Also, a couple of the drawers had some damage as well:

My original plan

When I first found this set of drawers, I knew the top was no good and planned to remove all the drawers and paint them all individually selling them just like that…really have fun with them! I knew I could probably make more selling them individually too.

Plan B

However, once I got started, I just couldn’t do it. I felt like I needed to stay true to the original style and function of these antique beauties.

To start, I removed the damaged top which was held in place with screws from underneath:

That top is all that was holding both pieces together:

Clean

Next, I gave everything a good cleaning. I used White Lightning for that, mixing one TBSP into a half gallon of warm water right into my bucket there. It’s a degreaser and a deglosser so gloves are recommended. These pads are perfect for wiping everything down and come two to a pack. Then, you can just toss them in the wash.

Don’t forget to swap out your water for clean water and give everything another wipe down to remove any residue.

Creating new tops

I decided that instead of replacing the one top for both sets of drawers, I would separate them and create two sets of three drawers as they had been originally.

New lumber is very expensive nowadays, so I dug through my wood scraps at the time and pulled out what was left of this solid wood headboard:

I went hunting for prime lumber for another sewing machine table project (I’ll link that at the bottom!) a couple of years ago and ended up trying to find something I could cut down at the thrift store instead to save some money. This headboard was only $10 and was perfect!

I cut two new tops for my drawer towers, but I didn’t want them to have a chunky flat edge.

Using a router

This project was the first chance I had to play with my RYOBI ROUTER that I’d had for over a year! (And I don’t think I’ve used it since lol!)

After watching two videos on how to use the thing, I practiced on the old top I had removed. (I didn’t have any room for error, so I needed to be able to do it right!)

Then, I went for it on the pieces I cut from the headboard.

I cut each side by running the router along each edge while clamped in place to secure it to my table, turning it and resecuring to my table as I went until I had all four sides routed.

This router is a bit heavy, so I didn’t get any pictures in action. You basically choose the shape of edging you want, insert that bit into the bottom, adjust the depth, and  cut!

It makes a huge mess! I was covered in sawdust and it filled the pockets in my apron too!

Once I had my pieces cut, I sanded the newly routed edges smooth with 220 grit sandpaper.

Then, I used the same screws that were holding the old top in place before, to add these new tops.

I did predrill them first to make it easier since I was hand tightening them:

Paint

Because I felt called to keep with the feel of the original piece, I went with Caviar, applying it over those details with my Belle Brush:

I gave everything two coats and as you can see I had taped off the sides of the drawers to keep them neat. I pulled that off as soon as the second coat went on:

The bases were painted the same way…

(For smaller projects, I love this mini dolly cart I picked up on Amazon. It allows me to turn my project without touching it, and I can move it out of the way easily too. If you have two, they are fantastic for moving furniture with one on either side.)

Sand

Chalk paint has a bit of a texture to it, so it does need to be lightly sanded once you’re done painting. These sanding sponges are perfect for this step and will make your surface buttery smooth after sanding:

I know it can be scary to take sandpaper to your newly painted surface, but it makes the finish so much better! You don’t have to distress, but if you want to, hit the details a bit harder.

(I usually switch to traditional 220 grit sandpaper when I want more distressing as these are super fine and work best when you don’t need any distressing.)

Seal

After removing the sanding dust with my shop vac, it was time to seal.

For that I wanted to try Hemp Seed Oil. I had never tried it before and I’ve heard good things about how it does over darker surfaces.

You just buff it in with a clean cloth or applicator pad:

Let it sit for two hours and then wipe away any excess oil. After 12 hours, you can buff the surface. Sounds easy enough, right?

Except, because this was old oak, I think some of the oil kept hiding in the deep grain and I had to continue to wipe it back for a couple of days, but it seems to be good now.

I didn’t have that issue at all with the top that was not oak. It should be cured in just two days and dries to a matte finish.

Hydrate the drawers

Finally, I wanted to hydrate and enhance the pretty wood of the drawer sides as well as the insides, and I did that with Big Mama’s Butta in the Fresh and Clean scent.

I used the La Petite brush for that.

And this sewing machine drawer upcycle was complete!

Mystery Sewing Machine Drawers After

Here is how one of these sets of drawers looks with its new finished top!

 

I really love the look of black painted wood once it’s distressed…

And I love that I kept this machine from the sewing table project I referenced earlier! It made for the perfect prop!

And of course you would have a vase of flowers in the middle of your workspace, right?

This set of drawers could still hold all those sewing essentials, or it could be used for crafting supplies, office supplies, you name it!

Here’s a look at the beautiful wood on the drawers:

The insides look just the same as the sides.

Here you can see the pretty routed edge of the new top…

It really makes it look so finished!

And the detail on these drawers is so pretty:

I distressed them, but they would have been gorgeous highlighted with gold gilding wax also.

And here is the pair together:

If I were to keep these for my own workspace, I would put them on either side of my work table and add a piece of wood across the top, painted to match, to create a storage shelf above my work table.

Black is as classic as an Antique Singer sewing machine, so I feel like it was the right choice.

Another bonus for choosing black for these is that it camouflages the damage to the two drawers in this set:

Had these been painted a lighter color, that damage would be more noticeable.

What do you think? Should I have kept them as a set of six? Painted all the drawers to sell individually in fun colors?

I feel good about the choice I made to keep them classic.

I hope you like them too!

Did you see what I did with this sewing machine table and bench set??

This is the one that had that beautiful antique machine in it! See what I did with it HERE!

I was able to get started on this huge piece that came out of our garage in the big purge:

I’ll have that ready to share for Furniture Fixer Upper day on Thursday!

XOXO,

 

 

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