wpbmommy1

Okay, I am a newbie and I have one machine that I bought about two years ago because I was determined to teach myself how to sew. With that being said, I went to Walmart and picked the first machine I found: a Singer Simple. I read the instruction manual from cover to cover. It is THE most basic machine ever and it is what I use. After reading this you are probably wondering how in the world can I quilt but I've had no problem so far HOWEVER, I've only completed one quilting project, a table topper. I completed a large lap quilt top way back when I first bought it and attempted to quilt it but gave up. I'm going to drag it out and finish it. So that is what I have. I took my mom's basic Brother as a backup but I've never used it (she hasn't either for that matter). I just wanted to make a post in case there is anyone out there who is truly a beginner also and has a basic machine too.

OkieSew

I currently own 11. From older metal bodied ones that will get re-cammed some day for specialty sewing, a Johnson Ruffler, and up to my Janome 11000. Total elapsed count, 34. My first machine was a Singer 602and I totally wore it out. I like when I get into a project cycle to have the serger and 3-4 other machines set up to be able to work station to station. You can never have too many sewing machines.

annesthreads

I used to wonder why anyone needed more than one. Now...my first one was a Janome Memorycraft 4800 which is great for piecing and walking foot but useless (to use a politer word than I usually do) for FMQ. So I bought a 7700, which is fabulous for quilting. I kept the 4800 because of its other strengths, in case I wanted to work on both piecing/walking foot quilting and FMQ at the same time. People on here talked so much about Featherweights that I gave in to my curiosity and bought one. I fell in love, and that gets used for making blocks and piecing smaller projects. Later I found a Centennial FW in a local junk shop for a very low price - I still have it but may sell it at some point. And before I gave in and bought the 7700, I was looking for a cheaper solution to the FMQ issue and tried a Singer 301. It didn't solve that problem, but I've held onto it because it's brilliant for any heavy duty work - eg sewing together several layers. When my Mum died about 18 months ago, my sisters gave me first refusal on her very solid 1960s Husqvarna, and I was tempted, but had to admit that I didn't need it, so my sister has that - and there's a little bit of regret there...but she's more likely to use it.
And that's how I went from "why would you want more than one machine?" to 5!

KalamaQuilts

1920's singer hand crank
1940's white Rotary
1950's singer 66 in the treadle
all three gifts or barter

1960's singer 404
Janome 6600
Janome 8900.

+ a 15 singer clone
and a featherweight. The last two will go on the block when I get around to it.

I wish I'd thought harder about the 8900. Primo machine and they gave me an amazing trade in deal, but I've been sewing since I was 15-ish and quilting since 1970, so I've done it all. If I'd have thought about it I'd have known the vintage 404 straight stitch was all I needed for sewing, and the 6600 for quilting. Oh well. Best of all worlds I guess.

ManiacQuilter2

I am like you. I own two Bernina from the same series so feet are interchangeable.

goldsberry921

I have 3 machines. All Brothers. A Brother 2010 within a sewing cabinet. I bought myself a Christmas present, a Brother SE450, and husband got me a Brother XR9500PRW. Use the latter one mostly. But sure enjoy putting them all to use. I am in the process of looking for a long arm quilting machine.

asabrinao

I have four:

My two main machines are a Juki 2010 (straight stitch) and a Juki F400 (computerized with all the bells and whistles)--I use both of these nearly every day and they're both set up with projects on them.

I also have a vintage White Rotary, circa 1918--my first sewing machine, bought at a resale shop in Seattle when I was 22-years-old. I keep it in working condition and still use it when the other two machines are in use.

My newest machine (taken out of the box YESTERDAY) is a Janome MyStyle 100--it's lightweight with minimal stitches. I plan to use it for classes and for travel. With a job that requires me to travel, elderly parents in a different state, a fiancé in yet a different state, and a niece and nephew in yet a third different state--I really needed a traveling machine!

I wonder if I'll learn to embroider? Or if I'll "need" a serger.....

bearisgray

I was not going to get infected with the "collecting sewing machine virus."

I have gotten infected.

So far, I only have 9 sewing machines, 3 sergers, and one hemmer lurking in the basement.

One serger needs to be repaired - the presser foot lifter handle broke - and much to my wondering eyes - appears to have been broken before - and glued together.

Mine are all middle-aged - too young to be truly vintage - and too old to be truly up-to-date.

If I had known then what I know now - I would have grabbed several of my Mom's machines - but I let them get away from me.

Ah, well, Too soon old, too late smart(er)!

Geri B

There's a fine line between collection and obsession....

katesnanna

I have 5 Janomes and a Singer overlocker (serger). I never set out to have so many machines. I bought my first Janome 5024 in 2001 after having one machine for 30 plus years. My serger is around that age now. I was quite happy with that machine until I started quilting. I made quite a few quilts on that machine but wanted a larger harp space as I quilt my own quilts. That led to me getting a 6600 which still gets used regularly. Then a friend passed away and I bought her embroidery machine from her husband - a Janome 10000. I then decided as I was retired and well and truly hooked on quilting to buy another machine to go on my quilting frame so then came the Janome 8200.
Ever since I had acquired the 10000 I had always wanted to be able to do larger embroideries so when the owner of the LQS showed me the 15000 I fell in love with it. I decided to take some of my super annuation money and buy one. As we had to wait for the orders to come in I paid money off the machine every month. I maybe suffered some buyer's remorse but the more I use this machine the happier I am about it. I can actually have three machines going at once. I set both embroidery machines going then sew on the 6600. I'm one happy quilter and stitcher as I make bags, pincushions & sew together bags as well as other small projects and of course quilts.