For those with several (many?) sewing machines -
 

If you could have/keep only one sewing machine - which one would you keep? and why?

I do not have one, but if I did, it would be a good treadle - because sometimes the electric power fails - and I have gotten into a bit of a doomsday mind set.

Great question! I am fortunate enough to have 5 sewing machines including a featherweight and a treadle. But without a doubt if I could only keep one it would be the Janome 15000. I love all of the bells and whistles and that I can use it for embroidery. If the power goes out, I will pick up a hand project.

That is a hard question! I think that I would keep one of my hand cranks just so I could sew even if the power went out. Wouldn't be able to see, but I could sew!!!

I have a lot of machines including many vintage. I would have a hard time deciding.

I own over 20 machines, many restored thrift store finds. If I was limited to just one, it would probably be my Grandmothers Singer Featherweight because it is small enough to fit almost anywhere and could be converted to hand crank if necessary. Option 2 would be my Singer 201. It can see anything - including thick leather!

I have 14 machines as of right now 2 are featherweights. It would be hard to choose but I would keep my treadle and a FW. Every other machine would have to find a new loving home. I don't believe I could narrow it to just 1 machine.

I would keep all of them. Unless someone was meaner and tougher than I am.

If it was due to needing to cut back, I'd probably keep my big embroidery combo machine - because I can do everything on it, including FMQ.

Now, if it were for "worse case" situation, I think it would be the Singer 401G. This is like the Singer 401, but is the model that comes treadle ready. That way I'd have a treadle, but it would be a swing needle machine that takes cams for lots of decorative stitches. It also takes "modern" bobbins and needles so no hunting for vintage stock to use it.

It's hard to think about only having one, right now I'm working on downsizing to under 100

I have four machines, and hands down I would keep the Janome 8900. I love this machine. It is a work horse, and it does anything I ask it to do.

Wow, I have actually been thinking about that, our age is showing and we are thinking about an Independent Living apartment where we could transition to assisted living if necessary. I have 20 machines, some excellent vintage, some computerized. I have given away a couple this spring and a couple last year.
I would definitely keep my Brother Luminaire, even though it takes a lot of space. But I think I would also have to keep one of my lightweight travel machines.
With all of the mask making & other projects I've been rotating my machines to see which ones I can start to pass on to others and which ones I love the most, I actually love them all.

Like the child in the sand box, I'm keeping all my toys.

I would keep the Luminaire too. That way I can sew or use the embroidery features. If there is no electricity, I won't be stitching anyways.

I would keep my vintage Pfaff 130. I use it mainly for applique because of its ability to do zigzag for applique, but lately I've been also using it for some piecing and for my FMQ and ruler quilting too. It's not a treadle, which is its downfall in regards to doomsdays, but my hubby is an electrician so I'm sure he could rig something up. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/wink.png I do have a treadle, so if I was allowed to keep two, the treadle would be my second.

this is a tough one.
i have four machines now.

Dream Machine2
Janome Skyline S9 (for travel)
Janome Continental M7 (because i am ridiculously self-indulgent when it comes to machines)
big-box Brother (backup travel)

i guess if i absolutely had to limit myself to one it would have to be my Brother Dream Machine2.
it doesn't sew as well as either of my Janome machines but comes tolerably close.
it has a large work area, is embroidery capable, a scanner, and plenty of other bells and whistles.
it isn't easy to travel with, but i have done so and could again if necessary.

a harder question for me to answer would be which machine to buy if i had none and could only get one (without having to consider cost.)
there's nothing on the market i know of that includes everything i consider essential for top-notch embroidery plus greatest sewing.

Jingle i love your answer. i would keep all of mine. maybe in a year i will add another Bernia. i have 4 Janome

and one Bernia.

I am down to only 9 machines right now and would not give any of them up! I have 4 singer 221s and 4 Pfaff's 7570s I use them for my 4H classes and for my own sewing. Waited too many years to get just what I wanted, and I don't have all that many years left, so keeping what I have as long as I can!

Mine will all stay right here. I could never choose just one. I have a Singer Treadle , 2 Featherweights, Janine, Bernina, 2 Vikings and all are loved.

Let's make it tougher - you live in California and you are fleeing the fires -

If you had time to grab a machine - - - - and had room in your vehicle -

Oh bearisgray that is a really tough question and at this time I am leaning toward.......................................oh shoot I can't decide lol, Probably my Brother embroidery/sewing combo machine but please don't take away my vintage ladies as I love them all.

Oh wow now you really are making it hard but probably my featherweight.

Right now the only one I would take because of sentimental value is a dinky mechanical Brother XR-57 which is over 15 years old and still works great. I learned to FMQ on it. Any others I could do without or find again including featherweights.

Power was out for two weeks due to an ice storm. I was home all day alone and about stir crazy. I glued an empty spool of thread on the turn wheel of a small brother I took to classes and it worked great as a crank one. I pieced all day until sundown.

I guess my vintage Singer. I know it can be fixed much easier then my fancy machines.

I would keep my Pfaff ICON for sure. I have a Pfaff 7550 and a serger too. Then I have a treadle machine that has been handed down several generations and it's my turn to have it. And there is the long arm.....That is a tough question to answer.

My Bernina 704, a FW and my black 301 long bed would be going. I can always buy new clothes and other stuff. And I have a large SUV. :)

don't think I can make a choice. I have narrowed down my machine "herd" some over the last couple of years--now I have the LA, the Consew upholstery (would part with it probably), my Elna Quilt Pro Queen (which is going back for repair this week--top thread gets hung up), my Brother Simplicity (my travel machine), my original Deluxe mechanical (won't give that up) and my Singer treadle. All have a purpose!

I could get another Pfaff Ambition and green Singer 185K3
My Grandma’s treadle would have to go but it will eventually anyway.
I am storing a Singer Spartan that belongs to our daughter so she’s going to make that decision !

My pick to keep is my Aunt’s FW (celery green with original sales receipt)

Interesting...recently, my DD was doing a house flip and was told by the current owner she could take whatever she wanted. The late, previous owner was a sewer and owned several machines and because I've sewn since I was 12, DD thought I might know something about them. Even though she told me I could keep them, the plan was for me to test them out and then sell them on Ebay because she could use the cash...among them were 2 sergers (which I have never used before) and were a bit intimidating, but after doing some internet research, I discovered they were fun to use! I would have kept one if I hadn't promised to sell them. Then there was the Bernina 1008. I'd been sewing on a very nice Husqvarna for 20 years and I loved all the bells and whistles she had, but I hated the fact that if I sped up the stitches got smaller, so the first time I fired up that Bernina, the angels sang! I could go as fast as I wanted and the stitches stayed exactly where I set them! The Bernina is a basic mechanical machine with no computerized built-in fancy stitches but I love it! Kept it, sold my Husqvarna and gave DD the money.

That's a really hard one, like which one of your kids would you sacrifice?

I have to say my Bernina but also my FW. So I would need to keep two. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images...es/biggrin.png

I could get another Pfaff Ambition and green Singer 185K3

I bought the beautiful green Singer 185 thinking it would be a great travel machine. LOL It's heavier then my full size Bernina. It's a great little machine and I like it better then my FW but too heavy to tote around.

. Lol!! I'm right there with you! I LOVE my sewing machines and all the stuff that goes with! It would be a very sad world for me to not have my toys!!
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I have about 7 machines now and if I could keep only one, it would break my heart, but i would keep only the Bernina 180. Its the most versatile machine I own. I sincerely hope I never to make that decision because I don't know how I would let my mom's 301, the FW's and grandma's treadle go.

hydra web
 

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Hydra - off - Mop.... that means you never wash your hair?

I currently have four machines. Only two are mine. I have a friend who constantly brings me "machine rejects" that she finds wherever! I look them over, package them up, and donate them. She'll occasionally ask me if I use them, but I always tell her I'm partial to my machines. I'd find a way to keep both of mine!

Why choose? I'd better go put them all in the car, just in case I have to get away fast. :D

only one? Don't know if that's possible.

I have 4 machines. One will go to a daughter since I have finally learned how to use the free motion feature of my Pfaff. The other two are vintage Singers. One a featherweight and the other a treadle that just needs a new belt.

Choosing just one would be difficult because they each serve different purposes. I will answer the question after I learn how to use the treadle. https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/smile.png

I suppose it would be the Janome 6500P as it has all the different stitches, although I really only use straight and blanket stitch, and once in a while a zig zag. But my Janome 1600 is my quilting machine....and I have an older model Janome that I still love and my Singer 99K. On second thought I don't want to even think about giving up any of them...LOL

Of my 4, I would probably grab the 1972 Sears Kenmore. My Pfaff 2044 is tired and showing some quirks and once the motherboard goes it's toast, I've never really bonded with the Singer 15-91, my 201-1 is great, the bobbin winder on the Sears is awesome, the machine has done everything I've asked.

Macy baby, you could open a museum or shop! Wow! How many machines is that? Do you cycle through using them to keep them in working order?