OK, I have a few machines. I have my Mums/Nanas old Elna. It is about 50 years old. It has been through a fire - it was under so much junk it didn't get burnt, but it smells like an overcooked engine. It hasn't been used since my house burnt down in 1984.
I also have an Elna SU, about 30 years old, which got repaired by an idiot in 2004 and has never worked well since.
I have a new Janome DC2010, which pieces like a dream. Light weight, great for classes, love it.
I was out shopping and spotted a featherweight, but didn't have the need for it, and I have 2 of them sitting in my garage needing repairs.
I spoke to the woman whose shop it was, and she gave me the card of the guy who rebuilds them.
I rang him, and he picked up my old Elna. I told him if she was no good, he was welcome to use her for spares - kind of like organ donation.
He rang me after a week, and told me she would be home tomoro :)
I have a quilting frame, and I have waited to have the time to set it up. I set it up last weekend, and loaded the Janome on to it.
Eyelashes everywhere. Mucked around with the tension, the cotton, the needles, the feet (tried the walking foot, the embroidery foot and the darning foot). Kept trying, kept getting more and more frustrated.
Honestly, I was about to throw it off the end of the pier!
I thought, maybe the old girl might go better.
And she did!
Now, I just have to unpick the crappy bits. Or cut the quilt shorter . . . . .
If they can invent so many machines to sew, WHY CAN'T THEY INVENT ONE TO UNSEW??????!
And thank you to all the fans of vintage machines - you are an inspiration.