Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • A bit of Irony --old may trump new sewing machines >
  • A bit of Irony --old may trump new sewing machines

  • A bit of Irony --old may trump new sewing machines

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 02-22-2013, 08:45 AM
      #1  
    Super Member
    Thread Starter
     
    moreland's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Apr 2007
    Location: Manhattan, Kansas
    Posts: 2,160
    Default A bit of Irony --old may trump new sewing machines

    I have two relatively new machines (10-15 yr range)--One Bernina and one Elna. When the Bernina froze up on me, I switched to the Elna. One day later, the Elna would not get out of bobbin winding mode, so I packed it up and dug our my "newest" machine. I spent my snow day yesterday sewing away on my Featherweight which is over 60 years old and sews beautifully.
    I can speed along on it a lot faster than on either of the computer machines and since it is single needle, straight stitch only--that is what it does and my seams are "perfect"--wonderful machine. Here in our town we got a little over 7" of snow, but much of the state and surrounding areas had more like a foot of the white stuff.
    I am working through my scrap strips--have all the blues sewn and cut into blocks; most of the lighter strips are done, but still have a day's worth of browns & blacks to work up along with a few lights I will work in with them for the strip piecing. No idea when I'll get them put into quilt tops, but the mood will strike "someday" and I will get them made. Will have more than a hundred 91/2" blocks when I get done. Will be nice to have empty scrap drawers all ready to be filled up again.
    moreland is offline  
    Old 02-22-2013, 08:57 AM
      #2  
    Senior Member
     
    Join Date: Jul 2008
    Location: Kansas City area USA
    Posts: 421
    Default

    Morning Wildcat!! I am in Leavenworth, where we have about 15 inches on the ground and more in the forecast for the end of the weekend!!! The farmers need the moisture but my back is aching from scooping all morning! I don't have a featherweight but my straight stitch Brother 1500 is a workhorse and a half too!!! Not to mention the beautiful control I have when I drop the feed dogs. I just traded my computerized Elna in on a new Baby Lock Jane....exact same as the Brother 1500. My old girl is almost 12 years old and starting to have a few issues, so when I took her into be tuned up, the guys at Missouri Sewing Machine Company, made me a sweet deal on a trade in for the Elna and I said good bye! I just never bonded with that machine........
    jodimarie is offline  
    Old 02-22-2013, 09:01 AM
      #3  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Jan 2011
    Location: Upland CA
    Posts: 18,376
    Default

    Sorry to hear about your machines!!! I have featherweights to and I love them!!! They are always around when I need them!!!!
    mighty is offline  
    Old 02-22-2013, 09:31 AM
      #4  
    Junior Member
     
    Join Date: Jul 2010
    Location: virginia
    Posts: 171
    Default

    a friend gave me a singer clone in a treadle table. whenever something goes wrong the kenmore messes up or the power goes out I pedal my troubles away! It is so simple to use sometimes I use it just to relieve stress. no thought just pedal away!
    cindypierce is offline  
    Old 02-22-2013, 09:35 AM
      #5  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Ontario, Canada
    Posts: 41,535
    Default

    I have a back-up Bernina for my Bernina. A back-up Singer clone for my Berninas and if all else fails....a back-up Singer Treadle. A quilter can never have too many back-up machines.
    Tartan is offline  
    Old 02-22-2013, 09:55 AM
      #6  
    Super Member
     
    jgriinke's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Apr 2010
    Location: Northern Wisconsin
    Posts: 1,099
    Default

    I have 3 Janomes that I love. but, now and then I really like to get my Featherweight out and sew with that. They are just sweet machines.
    jgriinke is offline  
    Old 02-22-2013, 10:40 AM
      #7  
    Super Member
     
    sahm4605's Avatar
     
    Join Date: May 2010
    Location: Blue Springs, MO
    Posts: 2,167
    Default

    spent the day wishing i could zew. kids and hubby trapped in the house with hubby working from home is not a happoytime. we got a good foot of snow thisside of the boarder.
    sahm4605 is offline  
    Old 02-22-2013, 01:35 PM
      #8  
    Senior Member
     
    HouseDragon's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jul 2012
    Location: Kaua`i
    Posts: 616
    Default

    My backup workhorse is my 1965 Swiss-made, all metal ELNA Supermatic.

    It was the top of the line sewing machine when it came out with all the bells & whistles and cams for the then new stretch-stitches. *LOL* Forty-eight years later, it's my "go to" machine when my Husqvarna 875 Q goes in for her yearly servicing.


    Now if I could just find a Featherweight for when the electricity goes out ........
    HouseDragon is offline  
    Old 02-22-2013, 01:43 PM
      #9  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Nov 2010
    Location: Jozefow, Poland
    Posts: 4,474
    Default

    Here in Poland we've been getting snow as well. Last Thurs evening/Friday early morning we also got 7-8" inches and then a couple days ago another 3-4" plus it's snowing lightly now. I'm mostly staying in and sewing and "playing with" my embroidery machines.

    Actually I've been making labels for some charity quilts--...plus working on 4" QAYG squares and 2" QAYG squares. Almost ready to start joining them together.
    justflyingin is offline  
    Old 02-24-2013, 05:03 AM
      #10  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2008
    Location: Barnesville GA
    Posts: 3,181
    Default

    Love the old machines. I had to downsize so had to get rid of some. But I did keep 2 Singer Slants. A 401 and a 301 along with my Brother and my serger this is the least machines I have had in over ten years. My absolute favorite was one from the 60's/70's called a Household it was a badged Emdeko. It would sew through anything . It went to a young fireman who is sewing equipement bags... I just couldn't lift it anymore, it was 55 lbs...
    Yes the old one will hold up for sure..
    damaquilts is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    Mrs. SewNSew
    For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
    47
    08-24-2015 08:08 AM
    aorlflood
    Pictures
    21
    04-25-2011 10:14 AM
    AlwaysQuilting
    General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
    6
    04-24-2011 04:59 AM
    grann of 6
    Pictures
    24
    08-23-2010 03:26 AM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter