The Sewing Place
Machine Talk => Sewing Machines => Topic started by: Gernella on October 31, 2020, 11:45:44 AM
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I came across my old spreadsheet yesterday with machine purchases on so I had a count over the years. I know for a fact that when I comes to machine ownership I am a complete virgin but even I was surprised.
So I have had from aged say 14 years old - 10 machines (and most of them from 2008, which tells you something about the Forum ;))
Currently I have 4 sewing machines, but getting a bit itchy.
However bearing in mind I am creeping to the mid 70's this isn't too bad.
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I’d say that was pretty good! I know lots of people change their machines like they change their socks but I tend to stick with mine. I might have to have a count up now and get back to you!
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I seem to remember seeing a photograph, I think it was on the Forum, of sewing machines stacked all over the landing of a house, so they could barely move.
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I've got one machine and have had one previously which I gave to my granddaughters ( never used )
@Stitches persuaded me to buy a.baby machine to take to sewing group, but as the village hall seems to be shut permanently it's packed away :'(
I don't think I'll ever need another machine as I only do p and q
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I have had 12 machines I have a embroidery machine 1 overlocker 2sewing machines one is a light weight one that I got for the sewing group but packed away for now as village hall is closed .
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i have a few :rolleyes:
but less than i did have :)
(maybe 14) :| i shouldnt count... counting is bad!
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I bought my first machine of my own at age 18. It was a used Viking and lasted me about 8yrs. I'm sure it could have been repaired, but hubs offered to buy me a new one, and who was I to argue? I still wish I hadn't traded it in when I got the new one, though. It made beautiful buttonholes! Replaced it with a Pfaff that lasted almost 30 yrs. That got "retired" to my daughter's house when it started noisily protesting higher speeds. Next Pfaff arrived about 3 yrs ago.
Along the way I also got a Riccar 3-thread serger in '85 when they were brand new on the home market. That lasted until 4 yrs ago when it locked up on me, and I decided to replace it. I wanted a 4-thread, and I was tired of practically standing on my head to thread it! Along the way I have also picked up a Featherweight and a Singer 66 Treadle, and a newer low-end non-computerized machine as a back-up and for my granddaughter to learn on.
So, only 3 primary machines over 37 yrs, plus 5 others for various purposes.
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When I was a kid/teen I used my mom's avocado green Kenmore machine. Kenmore was a Sears department store brand and they contracted out to the major sewing machine companies so who knows what it really was. When I turned 21 my mom gave me a generous amount of money towards a new machine which ended up also being a Kenmore. The thing is they both had tension problems but it didn't occur to me it was a brand issue. At one point she bought a machine and ended up giving it to me because of my ongoing tension issues. Another Kenmore but I don't recall it having the tension problems so either the supplier fixed their problem or Sears switched suppliers.
One of my good friends had the old Viking cam style machine and I lusted after it for years. She hardly sewed but I sewed a lot back then. Unfortunately, the price was out of my budget range at the time. Finally in 1997 I saved up enough money to buy my Viking #1. I added a Babylock a few years later and then the backup New Home/MemoryCraft 4800. About three years ago I bought a Janome Gem for traveling as I wanted to go take some classes in other cities. Last machine was the cover stitch.
So a total of six sewing machines of which I still have three. Plus one serger/overlock and one cover stitch. I don't see myself buying additional machines unless I have to replace one of them. As much as I'd like to have the sashiko machine I can't justify spending that much for something that would have limited use.
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@mudcat, if you lived closer, you could try out my sashiko machine. I hardly ever use it- the threading is completely different from a regular sewing machine, and I always have to watch threading online first. You are right - it only does one thing. An option would be a group buy to share, as it is very expensive. Or contract to sashiko quilt other folks' work. Or make handicrafts to sell.
Mine was an impulse buy.
I have the Babylock Sashiko - the downside is that it only does the sashiko stitch on the top - the bottom is a continuous stitch. And you can't see when the thread is going to run out - it is only in the bobbin.
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Bit like my Coverstitch really, I make some tops, decide I've done enough and then it goes away until next time I want tops, although it did have a quick journey out for the first jersey knit dress I made earlier this year. But it is too useful to let go.
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I understand the 'itchy' feeling about machines - I have had too many to count, but I will say a lot of them were old cheapies that I fettled and tidied up and sold on. I do have some regrets about machines I sold on though - there's always the thought that there is something better out there. I sold a lovely Bernina 1260, a Janome Memory craft and a Singer 401G to help fund a new Bernina, and now wished I hadn't. The new Bernina is lovely, but not quite the quality of the old one. I find I start to hanker after another machine after about 6 months - It certainly won't be a new one again! I have had my old Brother overlocker for about 20 years, and it still trundles along happily. I think I get niggled by the 'poorer' quality of the machines now - I have an Innovis 10 which I take to classes, and it really isnt very well made, I dont think it will last long (this was the little devil that was misbehaving with the bobbin winding yesterday!) I get a little 'machine envy' at classes sometimes - a lady has an old Bernina which sounds as smooth as silk, but I have noticed that those who bring the smaller Brothers all have issues!
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I used to borrow my Mum's sewing machines, until she had a really crap modern Singer, when I finally bought my own (Elna 3003), probably about 30 years ago. It's still going strong and comes out for difficult or thick fabrics, but I bought my new Pfaff a couple of years ago cos the Elna's buttonholes were rubbish.
I've had two coverstitchers, one overlocker, and two embroidery machines. So not many.
I'm not counting my grandma's, then mum's, old Singer 28k (or is it a 128k, can't remember), or the other old ones bought as "decorative items".
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I do have some regrets about machines I sold on though - there's always the thought that there is something better out there. I sold a lovely Bernina 1260, a Janome Memory craft and a Singer 401G to help fund a new Bernina, and now wished I hadn't.
I've been there @KayK , I sold my Pfaff Select 2 to fund the Bernina Activa 215 that I'd bought off Ebay. I'd not used it for months, the buyer wanted to collect in person so I set it up on a table in the hall and thought I'd better try it to make sure I knew how to use and select stitches. By the time I'd finished I realised that this was a really good machine, I wanted to keep. Even though it hadn't got IDT on which was what I tried to persuade her with, she still wanted to buy.
I got itchy and six weeks later I bought the Pfaff Select 4. I have used it more though. That was in 2013 and I've not sold/bought since other than swapping the overlocker 2013 and coverstitch in 2016.
I've got no money but I always know where it's gone ;)
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Started in my mum's old Jones although I did used to play with her treadle machine.
My first machine I bought at 18 was an Elna Lotus. Gave it to my ex MIL. Regret that!
Elna Air Electronic was next. That caught fire ! But was rescued.
Pfaff 7550 which I still have and occasionally use but no longer does buttonholes so had to get another machine.
Brother pe 150 embroidery machine gifted to mum
Brother super galaxy 2000 gifted to my mum.
Husqvarna Designer SE combined sewing and embroiderY machine. Still use this and sews beautifully.
Husqvarna Designer Diamond Deluxe Sewing/embroidery machine
Pfaff 30 paid £10 from work
Also had a Bernina 440 overlocker sold
Bernina 1150 mda current one.
Janome Coverstitch machine sold
Babylock coverstitch.
Not too bad for 46 years!
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From 1972--79 I had 2 machines, one given to me, the other a cheap Brother bought from a mail order catalogue.
From 1979--2014 I had 1 (a beautiful top of the line Husqvarna).
In 2014 the Husqvarna bit the dust and I replaced it with 2 Pfaffs (one heavily computerised, the other a lightweight mechanical). I also bought a Brother overlocker.
Then I joined TSF shortly after and have subsequently bought 4x Berninas from the 80s/90s and 2 Singer vintage machines, upgraded to a Juki overlocker and bought a Bernina coverstitch. :thinking:
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Hello All!
This is really a bit funny due to my circumstances...
I strted out with my Mother´s old Singer. It was reliable and worked for decades, as those old ones did... I hadn´t sewn for many years until my wife asked me what i would like for Christmas one year. She gifted me an AEG 110 that i used quite a bit for 2 1/2 years until it needed service at which point the local shop would not service it because the worth was not there...
At this point i bought, through Ebay, an old Singer like my Mother had although it needed a little service.. For 1 euro i went out on a limb and tried my hand, after informing myself with groups, Youtube, etc. and cleaned and oiled. Works like a charm.
I then started to do the same with other machines, simple servicing, etc.. that has given me the chance to use many machines of various type.
Though i do sell off my maschines, once fixed (should have kept the Singer 5511) i have 3 that are definitely "my maschines" - and old Pfaff 94, a Pfaff 155 Smarter and A brother anniversary (or the Bernina 280...)
William