My New Sewing Machine

[sarahperdue]

Fun thread, y'all

I currently own four sewing machines but have rarely done things more complicated than curtains, pillows and mending.

My first, a Singer 328 was given to me by my grandfather for my eleventh Christmas. He had dreams of me sewing my entire wardrobe, but, when I wore the first dress I made to school, I was viciously teased. Oh, what a difference spin can make--If I had the courage or guidance to proudly proclaim, "Yes, I made it. Can you make yourself a dress?" Instead, I was embarrassed and didn't really pursue sewing after that. I also didn't have anyone to teach me. My mother could barely sew on a button. Tension was my nemesis--I didn't have the dexterity to make fine adjustments. Everything seemed to end up a rat's nest.

About fifteen years ago, I bought a Singer 99K for $30 at a thrift store. It's a 3/4 sized machine built like a tank and designed to do heavy duty work. It only does a straight stitch, but it's beautiful.

I've lusted for the streamlined Rocketeer for a good many years, and finally, decided to buy a 503. It's a slightly simpler version of the 501. She's gorgeous, but seems to have tension issues despite being serviced. I'm taking it back to the Sew & Vac which is just a few blocks from my house. It was disappointing to pull it out for my first project only to repeatedly have tension issues. I put it away and pulled out the 99. It did the job perfectly without any adjustments.

Then I bought a child's Singer model 50 because I thought the chainstitch would be handy for basting. Also, it's dead cute. It looks like the love child of the Rocketeer.

I'm planning on finding another home for the 328 assuming I can get the Rocketeer working properly.

So, last week my cousin Anne Marie asked, "Do you really sew that much?" I was a little embarrassed to say not really. The owner of four machines should know how to sew a bit more than I do. I've decided to hone my skills and bought what is supposed to be a simple pattern for tank tops.

(all photos stolen from the internet: 1)Singer 503, 2) Singer 99K, 3) Singer Sew Handy 50, 4) Singer 328 and 5) Tank top pattern)

 

[mattl]

My sewing story...

I've been painting and wallpapering since I was an early teen.  Got to the point a pro paper hanger asked if I wanted a job. Anyway I papered our kitchen and my mother had purchased a matching fabric to make cafe curtains with a solid color side panels, very on trend for the early '70s.  She was working a lot at that point so I figured if I could match wallpaper patterns I could do the same with fabric. I taught myself how to make lined, pleated cafe curtains and side panels.  Just went on from there, made draperies and curtains for various rooms, then started doing it for family members. Have made some intricate styles over the years.

 

The only other sewing I did as blind stitching my dad's pants. As he got older he shrank and all his pants had to be shortened even  newly purchased items as it was hard to find the correct length. Never had any interest in doing other sewing but still enjoy doing draperies. I think at some point I might explore upholstery since new furniture has gotten so expensive.

 

[cfz2882]

Singer clone...

made in Poland in the early 1980s is my "go to"machine-it is loud and a little primitive,but a strong responsive motor is a strong point-can sew fast with this machine

 

[askolover]

I can do some of this stuff....all on a straight stitch machine...preferably my Japanese Singer clone.

 

[ea56]

I learned to use a sewing machine on my Grandma’s 1919 Singer Treadle machine that my Mom got when my grandparents moved into a mobile home in the early 60’s. Soon after the Singer came to our home the leather belt that ran the treadle broke. I was able to patch it together a few times because it kept breaking, Finally I couldn’t patch it together anymore. So I fashioned a replacement by tying together three heavy shoestrings from old tennis shoes and voila, the Singer was up and running again.

I used that machine to peg my pants, remember this was during my time in HS during the 60’s and we all wore skin tight pegged pants. I learned to do it by watching my other grandma doing alterations in her Dry Cleaning store.

When I left home I bought a new Bradford Sewing machine at Grants. I believe it was $69.00 and I paid for it at $5.00 a mo. I used this machine to make curtains, alterations on my pants and finally I started to make kaftans and shirts. In fact the night I met my husband I was wearing a blue Hawaiian shirt that I made myself, I wish I still had it, it was one of my favorite shirts of all time.

Finally in the early 90’s the Bradford machine became too troublesome to fool with anymore. So I bought a used Singer portable from the 30’s. I still have it, but haven’t used it in over 10 years. I bought a new BOL Singer about 10 years ago because I wanted to have zig zag capability and also the free sole plate arm for the added convenience of sewing pants cuffs and sleeves. Like Matt’s dad, I’ve shrunk too. My legs have always been short, I work a 29” inseam in HS, in my 50’s I needed to shorten to a 28” inseam, now I wear a 26” inseam after my last hip replacement, so the Singer comes in handy.

Eddie

 

[cavimum]

Launderess - In case you are interested, there is a wonderful BerninaThirtySomethings online group that provides help and support for fellow owners. Because one always needs another online forum, right? They are quite knowledgeable and if you have questions about your 930, they can answer it.

BTS groups.io Group

This group is for owners of Bernina mechanical and electronic sewing machines. It is a place to discuss our older, non-computerized machines and the earliest computerized ones, as well as all sewing-related topics. - Our name was created by Liz, one of our members. It refers to the fact that...

groups.io

BTS groups.io Group

This group is for owners of Bernina mechanical and electronic sewing machines. It is a place to discuss our older, non-computerized machines and the earliest computerized ones, as well as all sewing-related topics. - Our name was created by Liz, one of our members. It refers to the fact that...

groups.io