Two weeks ago I decided it was time to take seriously the "real" number of SMs I need around here. The decision was one of those "I need to lighten the herd," followed by "OMG ... where do I start!"

The decision-making process, for me anyway, is akin to standing at the edge of a forest and trying to decide which tree in the middle of it goes to the woodpile first.

My wife is the quilter and I am the one with the out-of-control hobby of finding machines and working on them so they sew again.

My wife's all-time favorite is her 1936 featherweight, so I know that one stays. I also have three treadles here that are for my wife and two daughters. There are two more treadles that I would like to keep for me, a badged Delaware and a badged Pennsylvania. I grew up in PA and now live in DE.

The hard part is looking at all these machines -- somewhere around 100 -- and[forcing] myself to let go. Yesterday was spent digging through my garage. I found a Singer 201 and a 15-91.
I also found a white and a Necchi Supernova. I think I can part with these machines, but there are many more to go before I head to the main stash in the basement... sigh.

If I were to make a suggestion to anyone who has been bitten by the old sewing machine bug it would be to get some salve on that bite before it spreads, else you are doomed to these beauties multiplying almost unabated!

P.S. Our goal is to move back to PA after our youngest graduates from college in 1-1/2 years. Can't take tons of SMs with me!

My favorite machine is, without a doubt, a singer 401A and the Singer 500. I did find out that it is much easier to do paper piecing on the FW -- wife made me try it -- than on the big guys!

I'm sorry you feel you have to let some go..Please do not cut off your arm to much in the process... Hard thing your doing, my admiration to you...

Holy cow!!!!!!! You really have that many???
Thanks, I feel better now knowing I only have 7 :D

I only have a few machines and couldn't imagine parting with any of them. You have some really hard decisions to make. Those machines do seem to multiply don't they.

have you ever thought of selling them to good homes? It would bring in money, and keep the bunnies from multiplying too fast. plus you could keep with your hobby of fixing and finding new machines. just have to start selling them. try ebay or maybe craigslist.

You have my deepest sympathy. I collect beat, battered, ugly and unfinished quilt tops and orphan blocks AND abandoned naked baby dolls. I was garage saling(saleing ?) and an older lady gave a naked baby doll and told me to take it home and make it some clothes. I can't stop! I pickup the dolls and immediately make them diapers. I can't bare(HA-HA) to pass them up. They look so pitiful I can't help myself. I understand, so if you need a home for a pitiful machine let me know. :lol: :lol:

It's hard to "let go" when you are so attached! Good Luck.

I know the feeling. I will buy one fix it clean and polish. Then I set down to sew and Help, I love this one too. So few of them get sold. I do sell featherweights. I keep my three favorites and let go of the rest. Good luck in your endever.

And my friends tease me because I have 12 SMs and 2 sergers.

Good luck with your downsizing. I know it won't be easy.

Currently I have 9 machines at my house and two more at my mom's. If I had room for them, they would be here too. I wish you the best in trying to decide which ones to part with. My collection of machines began when my first machine died on me. This left me without anything to sew on, and that just didn't set well with me. From that point on I decided it would never happen again and thus began my small collection.

In your case, it sounds wonderful that you are saving these wonderful machines. They are wonderful people out there who would love these machines as much as you, so try selling some of them to "good homes" where they will be appreciated. It's a good cause...

Oh, the bug really bit you! What a collection you have. When I first stated quilting it seemed I found old sewing machines everywhere from free to just a few dollars. Of course I couldn't pass them up. Soon I had 14 machines all in good working condition. I knew they had to go. What was I really going to do with them? I kept two in my car trunk and if anyone in conversation with me about sewing needed a machine or knew of someone that needed one. I popped my trunk and said take it. I gave the local 4H all the machines I had left. Now I can see a good machine at yard sale or thrift shop and admire it but I don't bring it home. It won't take but one and I'll be hooked again.

I've been bitten (BADLY)...I'm trying to get DH to share in my love of SM's. He actually does love them (he can sew).
BUT..space is an issue. I wonder...If I cleaned out my only closet....hmmmmmmmm After all, how much clothing do we really need anyway....

I have one machine, a singer 401A, I will not give it up for anything. I have had the best of the best, and none of them can touch her. I still am waiting to find the right FW, she will find me I guess. But for the time being, my 401A has my full attention. Good luck finding new homes for your rescues.

I would love to find an old machine to sew on but any that I do find around here are way out of my price range. I learned to sew on a treadle and have always wanted one again.

And I thought we were bad with 19 machines. It is very difficult for me to let these machines just sit by the wayside and "rot" so to speak. They need tender loving care and they need to be used. (My DH and I are thinking about moving out all the furniture in order to have a few more machines)

You have my sympathy..... you obviously will have a very difficult time and I wish you luck. Must have taken you a very long time to acquire your collection so it probably will take awhile for you to figure out how to let go and when. One possiblity is listing some of them on here if you want to deal with shipping and all. Many people here would possibly love to help relieve you of them.

Oh no, how could you even begin to think of parting with your Necchi? :shock: I am still adding to my Necchi collection. See, I am no help, am I? ;-)

Reply to Twinkie...Good idea but keep some sewing chairs.

I am looking for a treadle. I will keep looking until I find the right one.

If you have an extra FW
send it my way. J J

I agree totally and if you gave us fair notice as to when you might be posting them for sale they would be gone sooner than you could imagine.

Andie :lol: :lol: :lol:

Are you for real? 100 machines? You could start a store! I love the pink one in your ID--what is it? Oh, no--don't...let...me...near it!

Dana

I know, I just tried a green,Singer, 319 and fell in love with another machine ! this sews the fastest of any Singer I have tried. We had a shed built just to hold all the cabinets & treadles. the machine heads are in the workroom of my mechanic turned sewing machine guy. 53 and counting.

I have a couple of vintage machines. The bug got me last year and If you have Singer 301 longbed and want to rehome her let me know. My sister lives in Magnolia, De and I visit her often. Anne (NJ)

I (had) a 301 black long-bed in the original carrying case about 5 months ago but it sold very quickly at a treadle sewing machine gathering I attended. Haven't seen one since. I believe I still have the folding table for it, though.

I certainly will let folks here know as I post the SMs on Craigslist, or wherever they eventually end up. Not only does it take time to do the culling, but also the time to go through those to be culled to make certain they are in ready-to-use condition.

I have given myself until next summer to have the selected ones gone from here. After that the stained glass area and everything associated with it will be next.

The pretty two-tone machine I use as my photo here is a badged machine -- can't remember the name but is a Japanese 1950's era piece of artwork and it is quite heavy. I'll go back and check it out and post the result here.

My voyage to the "garage abyss of sewing machines" found an old White treadle -- no machine -- and a Singer model 223. Didn't know I had this one LOL. I think there is a King Royal in a parlor cabinet that was converted from treadle to electric many decades ago and I think I have found the treadle mechanism to return it to its non-electric glory. The King sewing machines, by the way, were their own brand.

Terry -- still doing a daily search!

I don't have that many. Just 9 vintage. My next one has to be a treadle...

Oh my gosh=love it. And I'm not a collector. I have a large commercial machine that a friend put together on a table that he made. My only problem the belt broke on it. I put it in a bag and tried to replace it, but unfortunately the bag got thrown away. Any idea on how to find a replacement.? It's a
singer I think. I have it stored at my Mom's and it hasn'r been used in 10 years.

Can you take a photo of the machine -- closeup and far away so as to see the entire setup. Also, there should be a serial number on the machine, which would be helpful to me. We can go from there.
Email me privately with the info/photos.

Terry -- in Northern Delaware

Can you take a photo of the machine -- closeup and far away so as to see the entire setup. Also, there should be a serial number on the machine, which would be helpful to me. We can go from there.
Email me privately with the info/photos.

Terry -- in Northern Delaware

P.S. The SM photo I have here is a Compac

Here's my suggestion, for what it's worth.

We downsized dramatically a few years ago so we could become full-time RVer's. We sold our home and most of our possessions so that we could enjoy this adventure. It was hard at first, but it became easier as we saw progress.

You know which machines you love the most. So, they're on a "do not sell" list. Then, pick one machine and sell it, on Craigslist or eBay or somewhere, maybe on here (there's lots of addicts here, too. LOL) Then sell two more. etc etc etc. Before you know it, you'll have your collection down to a movable size.

I know it's hard. But, imagine how much money you'll have, and how much less you'll have to move in a year and a half!!!

Take the money and go on a cruise to Alaska or something. You'll feel so much lighter!!!!!

Be sure and keep a picture of each of your babies, put them in a scrapbook and you'll have them forever.
Good luck, and pm me if you need encouragement.