For those with multiple sewing machines -
 

If, for some reason, you could only keep one -

which one would it be?

For example - if I lived in California fire country - I think I would have an "escape bag" packed - or at least have stuff ready to throw in one -

which machine - if any - would you feel strongly enough to try to take with you?
(Assuming one had a few extra minutes to grab "stuff")

For me, it would be the Pfaff 1471 or the Pfaff 1473. They are both portable and light enough to be fairly transportable.

I would take my Bernina 1530 over my Bernina 1030. I use to live near a damn and they evacuated us once. Took the computer box, my original art works, my favorite bolts of fabric and both Berninas. Forgot my electric toothbrush!

...purse and pets...everything else I own is replaceable or I really don't need it.....

I have various vintage machines including a featherweight and two that can treadle. I have my very first singer I bought myself in 1965 (Aqua 327) which I would never part with. I am thinking my colleagues on the vintage thread will now shun me but my favorite machine of all time is a Brother mechanical XR-52 that is about 13 years old and has given me zero trouble over those years. It is not fussy with thread and will take any fabric I throw at (or under it). I have seen them on eBay and thought about a spare. The original was bought at Costco.

Caroline, my Featherweight would be my first choice in my sewing room.

My Pfaff creative sensation Pro would be the first thing out of the house with me. I don't care how heavy it is.

It would probably be my Pfaff 4.0, but if I had time, I'd also try to grab my Brother Nouvelle 1500S:)

I would grab my Go Bag (ID, money, water, food, batteries, flashlight, 1st aid kit, prescription drugs, radio, sat phone, cell phones and chargers) and my husband and I would skedaddle. All the other stuff is insured and replaceable for the most part. If you really are escaping from a dangerous area you don't want to waste any time and load yourself down, what if you have to abandon your car?

Living in socal and having packed to go because of fires, I did not pack a single sewing machine but my children loaded all the quilts. When I found out it really touched me. What I did pack was a back pack for everyone, all our paperwork, jewelry, picture albums and basic supplies like water and food.

Same here. The only things that are not replaceable are photo's and the majority of these are on one of those USB things. But all of my pictures are in a case and hopefully I'll have time to snatch them up as the critters and I flee

I only have 2 sewing machines, an old Viking D1 (2000) and a Babylock Ellegante (2007). My quilt machine would just have to burn up with the house as I couldn't lift it if I wanted to. My old Viking would come with me. And now that I find out I won't have to replace the screen computer I'm even more likely to take it with me. Love that old machine for piecing and regular sewing. Haven't used the embroidery part of it in years.

I'd grab my featherweight because I could easily replace the other ones.

Yep, my FW. I would replace all my other machines with newer models.

No problem here, my Bernina !

Purse, pets, picture, laptop ( I have scammed "most" of the old family pictures onto my laptop. Goodness, my family loves to take pictures of trees and scenery. Wish I could figure out where they were taken LOL, Mostly I have scanned faces. Years ago, I made my Mom sit and mark on the back of who was in the picture, otherwise I would never know. I am slowly adding the old pictures to ancestry.com

I uploaded a copy of every picture to a cloud storage. The family can download and or have printed copies of any they want whenever they want. I'm not sentimental so nothing in my home that could be destroyed won't me feel worse about the loss. I gave my DDs all the grandmothers thing I saved for them. Each child already have the items that are sentimental to them from my home. Funny what they chose first. My DD wanted an old casserole dish, said it reminded her of when I made mac and cheese and she wanted to make her mac and cheese in it for her kids. My youngest DD chose an oil painting I have had on the wall in every house we have lived in. She doesn't like it but it reminds her of home. LOL

A different way of thinking about this.

About 10 years ago xh was looking at a job opportunity that would have entailed our moving overseas. As I looked around the house which was and still is fairly cluttered, I realized that I would only bring two things (other than kids, pets and clothes), a cookie tin my Granny gave me that has belonged to her mother and a cabbage vase, that has belonged to my other grandmother. Sewing related, I would also grab Granny's scissors.

But in the spirit of this post, I would grab my Janome 11000. I love the needle threader, the thread snip function, being able to move the needle to the right or left as needed for a project. I would not rush to grab the embroidery supplies.

Probably none of them. Our house and contents are insured and photos of everything are in a safe.
We have had to "evacuate" once since living here in Oregon. If a fire is nearby we plan ahead just in case. Everything is within reach to load up. My Dad was a fireman and instilled the "be prepared" motto in all of us. We pack clothes, two trunks with important papers and photos, the safe. Two trucks get loaded up with the dogs, guns/ammo and the fore mentioned things.

Prayers for all that have lost everything in the fires and those in the path of them. If I had time after saving Papers, photos, clothing, food and water I would try to save my 401A.

I'd take my Featherweight that my daughter gave me. It's from 1936. I have been known to take it to her house & put it in a gun safe during tornado weather. I could replace any of my other modern machines.

It would be my Janome, it's light weight, never gave me any problem at all.

I'd want to take my larger Bernina because it has more capabilities, but the smaller one would a little easier to manage. I'd have to leave the treadle, though, I'm sure. If I ever get a featherweight (big item on my wish list), i'd take it, probably over either Bernina because of the ease and weight. Of course, I'd also through in some of my hand stitching items so I'd have something on which to "work" wherever we go. I'd hate to be somewhere of a period of time without some kind of quilting - hexies or applique. I do have a small kit that fits in my purse that I carry to appointments or in the car. Would probably add a bit of fabric, small cutting mat, and rotary cutter.
Hopefully, these well-laid plans will never be needed, but we do live in earthquake country so have to think about it.

I'd grab my kitty and if I could my emb machine only b/c it's expensive. but the kitty comes first.

forgot about my featherwt from 1921, i'd grab, aunt betty Lou with me.

It's good to know that nobody plans to leave their 96 year-old mother to fry in her wheelchair because that Janome fits more easily in the car.

Singer 401

That is a very good question. I do not know which one. Food for thought.

OMG, Manalto

My Dr. Pepper came out my nose reading this!! Too funny.

My 1950 FW!! No question or doubt on that one! Lol

Oh lord....that manalto is too much! Not funny but it is.....lol

I'm with you and pets over purse any day. :D

Needless to say, I would first grab purse, dog, file box, and photo albums. HOWEVER, since you asked which machine I would grab, I'm going to assume all other precious items had already been rescued. :thumbup:

I would grab my Janome because my old Kenmore has served me well BUT I no longer use it. Plus, my Kenmore is very sturdy and might even possibly survive that fire! My Brother was less expensive and would be more easily replaced, if needed. My other Brother (embroidery) is sweet but I could easily live without it. Yep, I'd go with my trusty Janome, which so far, has never failed me. :)

Thank you Nessie for reminding us that the original question was which machine you would grab. It was assumed all other items had already been rescued.

I'm with you on the Pfaff 1471! We've been joined at the hip since the day I bought her!

My featherweight. Small and light weight so it would be easiest to grab and go.

This brought a smile to my face this morning - my kids used to make fun of me and tell people that if there was a fire in the night I would be saving my sewing machines and fabric and might as an after thought yell for them to get up, and I would always tell them that I wouldn't either I would yell for them to get up and help me

Definitely my Babylock Destiny, but it would kill me to have to leave the others.

"Thank you Nessie for reminding us that the original question was which machine you would grab. It was assumed all other items had already been rescued."

Yes, My first trip out would be with a cat under each arm.

The Elna 62C that has so many memories, though she doesn't quilt. I can replace the vintage machines that do quilt so well, a Singer 301 (2) and a MW 15 clone. All the others are not in use.

My Brother Innov-Is 1500D it is my newest, and best machine I own
(besides the Innov-Is 1000) both are combo machines.

yup. just the featherweights, and the all silk, victorian funeral crazy quilt. of course, the dogs and cat would be in dh's car already, and i would drive my mustang with the top down, in case it's the last time i get to drive her.