In reading the comments in this section, I wonder why so many people have several sewing machines. It must take up so much room. Just wondering.

I think part of it, well for me anyway, is I love having a back-up so I'm never w/o a machine.
But also those old ones are so wonderful! I've gotten really interested in old machines. They are workhorses.
You're right about room though. I need to get another table for my old ones. A Featherweight is small though and very portable. I can use mine anywhere or take it to a class.
Also for me it's a little like my fabric addiction lol

You are right But I have the one I use all the time, one set up with the quilting frame, my serger, the embroidery machine, and the one I found at a sale(one of the first computerized machines made), my grandmas Singer, the one I found in the cellar all mud turned out to be qute a find, and an old White someone gave me. I have found out I like older machines quite alot.Even if I don't use them all.Oh and I have the one we bought the kids to learn on a cheap Brother, that I love to quilt on.

We're just 'sewing machine nuts'. Not me, personally, I only have four and one long arm.

back up, and it seams some machines do certain things better than others, so we tend to get a machine that does what we like to do best. Like a serger does finish seams for clothing best, and fast so we have a serger, well I do. some machines do stright stitch really well so have to have one of them, some do free motion great, you get the picture LOL

only have 4 and a serger right now but hoping to get a FW and another 7570 Pfaff, would trade all 3 of my W&G for a FW

I have an embroidery machine that I just use for embroidery and it's decorative stitches, a machine I piece and quilt on, an older back up machine and an old Singer that was my Grama's.
I am looking for a treadle and FW, I plan on using them too :D:D:D

That's what closets, attics and basements are for.

I only have 2 machines because I do not have room for any more. In my sewing room nor in my closets. I have one set up
for piecing. And one set up for machine embroidery. I can work on a couple different projects this way. Depending what I feel like doing, piecing or embroidering. My Bernina is so heavy it was becoming a chore to change it over and adding the module. Simpler to set up two machines. They use different needles, bobbins and bobbin thread. This way it is less
confusing changing everything over. Really saves a lot of time as well. My muscles just aren't what they used to be. LOL

No way!! Not mine. :D

Thanks, everyone. Very interesting.

Most of mine were found at yard sales or Craigslist and just good of a deal to pass up. My sale finds are much better machines then the ones I have purchased at full price.

In my case I had only the one bernina 830 for say twenty some years. What a machine! I never had any trouble with it. I had just spent $125.00 having it serviced. Then I started messing with the tension. I guess I just had it with trying and bought a janome after someone advised me it was a great machine. It is a little work horse and a lovely machine. But, once you have had a bernina, you can't go back to anything else. So Hubby bought me a used bernina 180 with an embroidery module. It is really a great machine for someone who is learning about computerized machines. It has a touch screen with a help options. But then my next door neighbor died and her daughter offered to sell me her new bernina 330 with the module and the bsr built in. Well, I couldn't pass it up.

When my mom died and I inheirited her old singer. I can't bear to part with it. It is an old rounded top wooden case portable. It works like a top and has every attachment imaginable.

That my dear is how you end up with so many machines.

I would sell the janome, but I am not sure how. It has such a small amount of running time on it that it is like new. It is on my quilting table now. But, I am thinking of putting the bernina 180 on there instead.

And guess what, I got the oldest bernina out and went completely though it cleaning and oiling it. Tweeked the tension and it is like my old buddy again, works perfectly.

I have three ... Mary, my Singer featherweight was born in the mid 1940s and is wonderful for traveling to classes. I have had my old Singer machine for nearly 30 years and Goldie is a work horse. I use Goldie strictly for quilting. My "new" Singer machine has been running for 10 years now and used about 90% of all my sewing time. She is getting very tired.

I dream of owning a new computerized wonder machine like Bernina or Pffaf but I would rather spend $2000 (up to $6000) on fabric and classes and books. All I need is a needle rolling down to pick up the bobbin thread and pull it through to make a stitch.

I only have 3 sewing machines and 1 serger. I need some more, like a lovely little feather weight.

I would love to have an army of sewing machines! As it is I have one old Singer Redeye (got it free-it may not even work-and it's more of a decoration), my old Janome MC3500 which dh thought I should sell or trade when I got my new machine, but I'm glad I didn't, a Janome Sew Mini that I use for paper crafting, and Janome 6600 which is my new machine, and a serger that doesn't work.

It does sound like I have a lot after all. :shock:

i have 2, one in a sewing table and one for travel in the camper or classes. i had 3, it was on a gracie pro frame. i dropped it and it was totaled.
:(
if i had the room, i would try to find a feather weight.!

lol!

I look at the machines for different purposes. One is the workhorse, one is the backup, and one is on the frame. (Oh - and one will be for sale.)

I have two old singers that were given to me, one is a featherweight. I'm using them as backups now because I have a new Brother SQ9000 that I bought and it does quite well. I would some day love to have a Bernina and a serger.

I have a Featherweight, a Janome, a serger, a very old Design A Quilt guilting machine and a commercial machine set up for binding and also a Brother I keep set up for embroidery only.

I have a Viking SE embroidery machine, Brother 4000D embroidery machine that I have listed to sell, Pfaff 7570 that I use for piecing, 3 Featherweights, 2 301's, an old Necchi, Singer 99K, Singer 185K and a Pfaff serger. Hope I didn't forget any. And I am thinking I need a Treadle.

I have a Featherweight because it was given to me. I have a Singer 301 because it was given to me. I have a Brother 1500 quilting machine because I won it. I have a Singer Quantum because I bought it before I started quilting. I have two Janome Gems because I bought one to take to workshops/classes and one My DD bought and used one time, brought it to my house and it's been here ever since. I keep one of the Gems in the trunk of my car with tote packed ready for sewdays. I have a Singer 15-90 in mint condition in cabinet I bought from a going out of business sale at a dept store that had their own alterations dept. It's fantastic for paper piecing and fmq embodiering. I have bought many machines at thrift stores and yard sales cheap that I donate to 4H and Girl Scout troops.

I was wondering if something was wrong with me, I only have one machine.

I still have the 1st machine I ever had & got in 1979 used. Several years ago I bought my Pfaff 2044, which I love but eventually realized that I needed a bigger bed space so I could do my own quilting. So I got my Janome 1600 mainly for that. I love them all! I will probably get something smaller & more portable when my husband retires & we travel more.

I break them. I must have a dozen upstairs in my other house. Just broke a brother down here (SC) and ordered a singer. Thinking about a serger but I have no clue how to use one or if I "need" one.

I have to admit that I love old machines. I love the colors they came in and that they were made of metal! I buy them at garage sales, goodwill etc. It's also funny how the old ones seem to run better than my fancy computerized machine! I have a Viking, a Huskylock serger, Singer 15-91, Singer TouchTronic, Singer Stylist and an old Kenmore!

My collection started this summer when I read a quilter's blog about free motion quilting on a treadle. Well, that sparked my interest and I started looking on CL for cheap treadles. A week later, I purchased two vintage machines on the same day. One was Singer 66 treadle and the other was Singer 15-91. The 15-91 had a broken male plug, and my husband said to look for another cheap machine on CL instead of paying $25 for the part from some internet shop (smart man). That led me to finding my 15-90. I then read about how wonderful it is to sew on 201-2 . While looking for attachment parts for my 66-1, I came across a 201-3. Shortly after that, I picked up a free treadle which my 201 went into. I then read that many quilters prefer free motion quilting with the 15-90 treadle. So, I took the 66-1 out of its treadle and put the 15-90 into the treadle. Now, I have one treadle (201) set up for piecing and the other treadle (15-90) set up for free motion quilting. I now love to use the treadles. I own a couple of others that found their way to me out of my fascination for vintage machines ( they are on display on my bookshelves in my sewing room). And my daughter's Christmas gift this year is the Singer 15-91.

I have sold a couple of machines that I picked up cheaply and cleaned. This has covered the cost of all my machines. So, now all my machines are paid for and free.

I have a sewing/embroidery machine that is my primary machine, plus another sewing machine to use while my main machine is set up for embroidery, plus an extended throat machine set up on a quilting frame. Mine all have a purpose.

I have 2 sewing machines and a serger. I use them all. It is handy when i am working on a project that needs two different colors of thread. I thread each machine and just switch back and forth. Each one does something different that the other so there is a reason to have each one.

I have a 24 year old Bernina 910 that I dearly love, it has never ever given me a problem. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles that the new machines have, but I will never get rid of it. It is very heavy (all metal) and it is in a cabinet, so taking it to a class was hard. I started looking for a featherweight a couple of years ago, and my SIL heard me talking about it, and said "that sounds like my machine, but it is sooo old, I'm sure you wouldn't want it". Well that is exactly what it was, and she hadn't had it out of her basement in years, don't think she ever used it. She was so happy to give it to me....Yay!!! I love it!! Sometimes, I dream about getting a new machine, but I wouldn't get rid of either of these and I don't have room to use another one so, I don't see that happening anytime soon.

I love your answer!!!!! Don't forget garages (at least until you can find somewhere to hide :oops: I mean find a place to put it in the house.

I have my Pfaff Creative Vision for really serious work and embroidery. Then I have my everyday, much lighter, Pfaff 2046 for sewing. I just bought a FeatherWeight to take with me to my weekly quilting meeting as it is so much lighter and easier to take out. The FW I use for my charity quilting, which is what I do when I'm not home.

I do have a serger for my sewing aid. Also have a HandiQuilter 16 for quilting larger pieces.

ali

ali

That is so true! I have a fancy Viking with all the bells and whistles and what do I piece most of my quilts with?? 3 Singer treadle machines! I have 3 Featherweights ,a Singer 301 and I do use them too, 2 older Berninas,a Pfaff and a Huskylock serger.
When I want fancy stitches and wonderful buttonholes, that's a job for the Viking Sapphire 875. She does those things wonderfully. I like piecing quilt blocks much better with the Singer straight stitchers, they don't eat my triangle points and have a beautiful stitch.

A quilter just jas to have a backup. I just about went crazy when I only had one and it had to go to the shop. Now I do not have to worry. That's just the way it is with an addiction.

For me it was a bargain. Thing yard sales, etc I paid 15 or 25 for. At one point I felt like in your kitchen when u have a favorite pot u like to cook in, I am very fortunate in that a friend gave me a bernina. I still want a featherweight. As -i age that desire wanes.

Loved to read how all of you came to get a handful of machines. Thanks.

I thought that as well but then I bought my first Featherweight and use that for most of my sewing. I use the Janome for lots of other things as well and I can't tell you how handy having the two machines in the house was when my Janome was in for service. I could just keep on quilting, loved it.

I have 3 plus an embroidery machine............always good to have a backup !

I have 6 now - my original green zig zag singer I got in 1965, a cheapie Brother that is a workhorse and really my favorite (one of those under $100 jobs), an Elnita I got at a garage sale, a vintage singer class 15 treadle, works great, a vintage singer class 66 electric in a cabinet (estate sale) works great, and recently got a featherweight which works too. I rotate among these machines, each has their purpose and I can work with my current mood. House getting crowded but, that's okay too.

Or , we all need a backup for the backup... LOL

I have 2 4-thread sergers, a Juki then I found a Bernina at a too-good-of-a-price-to-pass-up @ Good Will, I have a Singer Industrial because I sew a lot of thick chenilles for baby bibs, then a Janome Memory Craft 4400, a Necchi Royal Series that I used before I purchased my Janome (which I keep just in case my Janome needs to go in the shop). I have an awesome older Brother that I keep a ruffling foot on but has so many wonderful stitches that I can't bear to get rid of... a Featherweight of my Mothers, and last but not least... a Bernina 1260 that I haven't gotten to know yet which I found on CraigsList in another state. OH.. one more machine, the one my Father purchased for me for Christmas in 1975, 4 months before he was killed in a car accident.

I believe that is all, but I should check our bonus room.. after all, I am the one that found a serger in my closet that I had forgotten about.

I just had rather keep them all than sell them, because you never know when you need a back-up (or two, or three)