I'm just curious, how many of you use an older sewing machine for you quilting/piecing?
I have 3 old singers(electric), a Dressmaker(1960s) and a Necchi (1960s)
I love the power on these machines and they're made of metal not plastic, although plastic is nice and lightweight.
What are you're thoughts?

I have been quilting two years now, and also only have old sewing machines.... I am watching this thread because I am trying to make up my mind if i should buy a new machine........automatic needle threading sounds good , I have a bad eye so this would be nice, also that blanket stitch for applique., so what should i do :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?: :?:

I own several and use them all for one thing or another. I have two old Kenmores and one new Kenmore, an old White, two old Singers (soon to be 3 I am hoping!) and also my MIL just gave me her old Viking Husquavarna. I have a few other machines that are in shapes from not working at all to just need a few parts... I guess you could say I collect them! LOL

But I use the ones that are working for different things... one of the old Kenmores is the one I use for machine quilting in the ditch, I use the newer Kenmore for most of my piecing but have used a couple of the others for this as well. I have an old Singer I am "training" to use for free motion quilting.

And my MIL's machine is the one I use for the blanket stitch applique as it has the best stitch for this!

I guess you could say I collect machines too. I use my late MIL's Bernina for piecing. It must be 40+ years old? I know she had it a long time before I came along. I reciently aquired my grandma's featherweight made in 1948 that is portable. (Thanks Mom!) Just had it cleaned and it would be a nice one for taking to classes-just need to sign up for some! I bought a lightweight Kennmore when my Bernina and Featherweight were in the shop for their cleanings. It is a cheap machine but works well for piecing. I have 2 older Kennmore machines that have cams just in case I need to do a fancy stitch. I machine quilt on a grace frame with my new Juki that Santa brought. I stuffed the serger under the table too just so DH will forget about how many I have :D I also have my other grandmothers treadle machine. It is in an oak cabnet and used for display in the familyroom. It used to work but needs cleaning and a new belt. Nothing computerized -Yet! :wink:

I use my old 1975 Kenmore for doing my piece work. It has cams for special stitching (probably the same vintage as 2 Doods). I would like to "collect" another machine with a blanket stitch for applique if I could find one at a yard sale for a reasonable price. :-)

I use a Viking Turissa, which I THINK is from the 60's. I use it for everything from quiltmaking to sewing bridal gowns (and everything in between!)

I love my singers, I piece on my 99K, do other stuff on my Dressmaker with the cams, freemotion quilt on my 201. I'm trying to get my DH to let me buy one of the new fancy wonderful ones that do all the fancy stitches, but no luck yet.

I have an old Kenmore and it sews a straight stitch beautifully. I made several tied quilts on it that just consisted squares sewn together. It isn't a speed demon.

I did purchase a new machine because I needed more than the ability to do a straight stitch.

I have a newer Necchi, but I find that I really like to use my Singer Featherweight 221. I had two of them and gave my daughter one. I have a Necchi that is about 50 yrs old and still works great. I also have an older singer, a Montgomery Wards Signature was my first one, and I stil have that and that was about 35 yrs ago that I got that one. My mother had a Brother and that was a good machine. I also have had a Dressmaker.

If I am quilting on my home machine I like to use the Necchi. But stitching I love the featherweight. It sews such nice nonpuckering stithes that some of the machine do at times. My other quilting I use my longarm which is from Nolting.

I do upholstery work so I also have those machines. One is industrial for clothing and it sews really well also. The other are Consews and for heavier sewing. All together I have over a dozen sewing machines and each and every one of them gets use.

And the thing is.......even if I don't need another one. I still look at them. With all the new bells and whistles on them nowadays, I wish I had the newer ones, but I have restraints on to keep me from getting one.

grrrrrrrrrrr.
Barb