1959 Berinia 530 sewing machine ??

[twintubdexter]

I'm off to La Habra on Saturday to get this Singer 380 upright cabinet. I'm hoping to retrofit it to accommodate the Bernina. The cabinet is supposed to be in excellent shape and is not expensive...cheap in fact. There's a new-looking Singer Touch-Tronic 2001 that comes with the cabinet...in my opinion a much nicer (design-wise) machine than the Bernina 180.

 

[twintubdexter]

Not too crazy about that door hardware. I can always turn it into a wine cellar.

Andy, thanks for offering to look for software

 

[danemodsandy]

Joe:

When you get that cabinet, could I ask that you let us use photos of it at the Singer_Athena group on YahooGroups?

I'm trying to document as many cabinets as possible that fit 750 series machines, of which the Athena and Touch-Tronics were only two.

 

[danemodsandy]

Oh, and Joe:

You're probably going to need at least a head bolt to make that cabinet work with another machine. A sewing machine center will probably have someone who can help you.

 

[gansky1]

The Featherweight is a fun and easy machine to use and very collectible for certain, but my mother's experience in several quilting groups is that few actually use them regularly. When I found mom's 1950's FW, she was thrilled to tears and gave the machine a "college try" but soon went back to her smaller, lighter (plastic), more feature packed machine and now has a Bernina (3/4 size) 810 for retreats, group gatherings and classes. Most of the girls all own FW's but don't bring them for similar reasons and instead use a variety of portable and full size machines, the most unusual being a Hello Kitty sewing ensemble found on clearance for $20 at Target. I've found four or five of the Bernina 3/4's over the years at sales and have sold every one within hours with a phone call. Elna has re-released the very portable Lotus and I heard all the girls were oohing and ahhing over it now. I haven't seen it, but it looks like a really nicely featured machine.

 

[twintubdexter]

Sandy,

Thanks for the advice. I'll take some decent photos for you after I get it. The Singer stays in place when you fold the table up and down. The legs are self-lowering too. I have seen one of these cabinets before and they are very well-made, veneer over hardwood. There may be some "plasteek" for the trim.

 

[maytagbear]

Greg-

A reissue of the Elna Lotus? <B>OH, WOW.</U>

I may put my left one up on eBay........

My sister has Ma's Featherweight, It's a dynamite little machine, but it's too sentimental. I'd almost prefer Ma's last machine, a made in Poland Stylist 834. Which my sister also has. (I got most of the cookbooks, so I don't feel too cheated.)

As for what else, clothing repair, not construction, and the easier end of home decorating, throw pillows, table runners and napkins......

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[retromania]

foxchapel

Is correct. Quilting is an expensive hobby. Sewing doesn't have to be. Try to catch sales at your local cloth and notions store. Thrift shops and flea markets can be great places for cloth and sewing stuff in general. Peter of Male Pattern Boldness (sewing blog) has an advantage in that he lives in New York City. The sewing stuff he finds at flea markets to incorporate into a sewing project never ceases to amaze me!

 

[gansky1]

Lotus - Elna

It does look like a neat little machine - the thread spool enclosed in the head of the machine is a neat idea. Poking around the site, I see that the original 1968 Lotus is in the MOMA collection for design. I've only ever seen one of these at the sales over the years here, and knew one person who had one, a wedding gift that she rarely used.

Quilting can be an expensive hobby but only by choice! Obviously, the original intent was the reuse of on-hand scraps and materials to make blankets for warmth but it has evolved into a huge industry. There is a quilt shop near Omaha in a small city named Fremont that started out as a tiny, cottage enterprise and now has expanded into a thriving business that employs the entire family. Huge retail store space, classrooms and a hopping machine & equipment business keep them all busy. We went up for their annual clearance and end-of-year sale event; 30% off the entire store (except machines and furniture) and it was a madhouse! It reminded me of people scratching and clawing for Cabbage Patch dolls in the 80's, though there were no injuries!

http://www.lotusbyelna.com/en

 

[fido]

Lotus Elan

I wonder if it is just coincidence that there was a sports car in the '60s called a Lotus Elan?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Elan

 

[hydralique]

Lotus . . .

I'd suspect the Lotus name for the sewing machine has more to do with the way it unfolds like a flower than Colin Chapman's sportscar. Chapman was a genius as making things lightweight and functional, but reliability and durability were never amongst his prime goals in designing a car; there are those who insist the name is an acronym: Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious! However, most Lotuses survive, even those made in the '50s and '60s, because when they work they work very well indeed.

 

[retromania]

Elna

I never paid much attention to Elna machines being that Singer and Bernina are the only two brands I have owned, but after gansky mentioned the Elna Lotus I had to look it up. Elna sewing machines are beautiful and especially some of the older ones. I found a history of Elna at needlebar.org

 

[kb0nes]

Elna Lotus

I saw a minty Elna Lotus at a Twin Cities Goodwill a while back. Don't remember the price but I think it was a couple hundred at least. They had it in the glass case up front so it wasn't $8.99...

I wonder if its still there?

 

[retromania]

Thrift stores have caught on and are charging more for their merchandise. At least that is the case around here. It's becoming harder to find small vintage appliances.

 

[twintubdexter]

a couple of questions...

1. What is different about a "quilting" model sewing machine? I'm going to a party tomorrow and want to be able to carry a conversation.

2. Are there any members that live in Cedar Rapids Iowa?

gracias

 

[retromania]

You can quilt on just about any sewing machine. Serious quilters have their preferences. My Bernina Activa was promoted as a quilting machine, but I use it for garment construction. There are some specialty presser feet that lend themselves nicely for quilting. Even my old Singer has a quilting stitch guide and special quilting foot.

 

[danemodsandy]

Joe:

Andy (retromania) has it right - you can quilt on nearly any machine you've a mind to.

But quilters accumulate some serious preferences over time, and that's why you hear of certain machines being touted for quilting.

Quilters look for visibility, where the needle bar and presser foot don't get in the way too much. They look for excellent stitch quality, because why would you put all that work into a quilt only to have it fall apart over time? And they look for machines that are strong, able to go through multiple layers easily. But quilters also aren't completely logical - Singer Athenas and Touch-Tronics meet every one of their requirements (better than many new machines, too) - yet aren't popular with quilters. Go figure.

If you're going to be talking about quilting with quilters, here's a tip: They are much more okay with having their choice of husband questioned than their choice of machine. Quilters have very strong attachments to whatever they've picked out to sew on. Like I said, not completely logical.

 

[foxchapel]

What is different about a "quilting" model sewing ma

Really, there is no difference at all in the machine, compared with other machines. There might be some extra decorative stitches that quilters like to use, like the old-fashioned button-hole stitch for appliqué, and the machine might come with a 1/4" foot included (as opposed to having to buy one), but that is it. It's a marketing technique and nothing more.

 

[chestermikeuk]

"They are much more okay with having their choice of hus

Ha Ha, yes Sandy, I know a few who that could be aimed at..!!I`ve used my futura for quilting and not a problem, although my nans old hand Pfaff converted to electric was a great runner!!

I visited a friends house that had a new Pfaff quilter, didnt manage to get to use it but it looked a beauty, then later I looked up the price, 2k....Hmmm, will carry on trawling, all mine including a Pfaff Tiptronic are usually under 40 quid, usually house clearance or selling on behalf of their mum. I`m determined to get my neices sewing their own clothes if not enhancing their own bargains with a bit of uniqueness,

 

[retromania]

foxchapel is right

a 1/4" foot came with my Activa making it a quilting machine. LOL. I chose it mainky because it will make several really nice buttonholes. It is really just an electronic sewing machine with a few extra bells and whistles. I bought it new six years ago and got free classes. It was great because along with the saavy Bernina instructors, there were a lot of folks in the class that had a passion for sewing: Housewives. Grandmothers. A retired engineer. School teachers. A college kid. I was sad when it was over.

 

[retromania]

Pfaff

Has the wonderful 'dual feed' or whatever it's called which eliminates the need to attach a walking foot.

 

[maytagbear]

Plus,

many quilters I know, quilt in roving packs, sometimes in a community hall, sometimes in turns at each others' houses, and a lightER weight, yet excellent machine is desired. The original Elna Lotus fit both qualities very well.

One of my friends who sews, but does not quilt, is very happy with her Shark brand sewing machine, but I would almost rather face an ocean shark than a Shark sewing machine. Deann does a lot of repairs and clothing construction.

I've been accumulating quilting books and magazines for some time, and have been even working out some of my own designs.... It's just taking the plunge.......

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[gansky1]

Depends on the appeal of the options.

My Bernina 440QE has some stitches that are not available on other models, it came with the Walking-Foot, the 1/4" piecing foot and a free-motion quilting laser-sight control called BSR (Bernina Stitch Regulator)among other doo-dads and options. A great package and very popular with quilters, still is. One of the stitches that is particularly interesting is the "hand-stitch" which mimics the look of hand stitching pretty well. The applique stitches of various kinds allow for more flexibility and options in that form of quilting as well.

Then there is the whole realm of computerized machine embroidery, not all machines in the lineup can accept this add-on.

While simple piecing and free-motion machine quilting can be done on most any machine, the extra features and flexibility certainly do have their place - and their cost! Combining the advanced functions of the machine, the BSR and walking feet into one package was a fantastic deal compared with adding those options (if available) to other machines, even higher in the model line. Marketing is certainly a huge factor in selling anything but at least in this instance, the buyer's satisfaction is as much a part of the package - and Bernina knows it!

Say what you want about my husband, I don't care! LOL

 

[earthling177]

Joe (TwinTubDexter) asked: 'What is different about a "quilting" model sewing machine?'

In addition to what was said above, two other characteristics used to be center front before all the different stitches (mechanical or electronic) and accessories showed up: on one hand, there were machines like the Singer Featherweight, which were on the small/light side, great to take everywhere and for piecing or patchwork -- when all you are doing is joining smallish pieces of fabric into a block, particularly when a bunch of people get together for classes, workshops etc. A lot of people used to piece by machine and quilt by hand, particularly in quilting bees around a big quilting frame. On the other hand, when one quilts by machine, a longer arm is more than just practical -- it's very hard to quilt a large quilt in a Featherweight, possible to do a queen/king quilt in a standard machine, but "quilting" machines like the Pfaff Quilt Expression on Reply #78 (and similar sized machines) make it much easier and faster, because you can just roll the entire thing and get the roll to fit under the machine arm, which is longer than standard.

Then there are quilting machines that not only have a very long arm, but you can set the quilt in rolls and run the machine from side to side, which is what professional quilters use -- one makes the patchwork and sends it out to be joined with a backing and batting (which, surprisingly, is what a lot of people do: most quilters enjoy the piecing way more than the quilting). See link for one example.

http://www.handiquilter.com

 

[twintubdexter]

one last post before this thread becomes history

I found a very compact & very cheap Singer cabinet and mounted the Bernina inside. This is probably not the kind of cabinet any serious acomplished sewer would like but for me it's perfect since I don't have enough remaining space to devote to a sewing room. I purchased a couple of books to help me learn how to use a sewing machine. Along with the Bernina binder I'm sure that in a year or so I'll be able to tackle a major project...like a potholder.

 

[twintubdexter]

now you see it...now you don't

Compact and very handy in the event I need to go into a "John Wayne" machismo thing (just kidding of course.)

What sewing machine? I don't know what you're talking about.

 

[twintubdexter]

Finally got the Bernina all bolted into the Singer cabinet. I'm sure this is not the kind of set up an experienced and acomplished sewer would want but it's perfect for me since I don't have any room to spare for a sewing area. I hope that with the instruction books I bought along with the machine's manual I'll be able to tackle a complex project in a year or so...I'm thinking a nice potholder.

 

[retromania]

Congratulations

What a grand sewing station. Enjoy!

 

[foxchapel]

Looks very nice, twintubdexter, and your machine looks very happy. ;o)

 

[twintubdexter]

The nice thing about that old Singer cabinet is that in the event my "machismo" gets challenged (like I ever had any) I can fold the machine up and say "what sewing machine?...I don't know what you are talking about." "That happens to be my fine lingerie cabinet."