As someone else said, it just happens. I was given my first machine as a gift over 20 years ago by a boyfriend. I kept the machine but not him. After I got married, my husband bought me gifts; a serger one year, an embroidery machine another year, a 9" machine on a small frame another year. A friend gave me her old Wow, and I bought a Singer in a cabinet at a garage sale, and another 9" machine from a friend.
I have never purchased a machine from a dealer (not counting the serger that my hubby bought). The only machine that I don't use is the first one, from the boyfriend.

I have 7 machines. Mostly vintage singers with exception of my computerized quilt PFAFF. Each has there own features and strenghs (15 treadle, 15-91, 201-3, 285, FW).

I recenty learned to do basic repairs on them and it seems I always find them for around $20 or free. The art of sewing is lost on many! There is something about saving them that makes me feel good.

I recently purchased a Featherweight which I plan to use on rainy days in the RV while camping.

When one is serviced always have a machine to use. I set my machines in different parts of the cottage for different things. Juke on my long arm . Bernina ready for sewing any small quilt. Small portable machine now to take to classes.
I also hand sew so machines wait for me to come back. I also have janome and brother which do not work correctly having been dropped but still run them occasionally.also hav vintage machines which also play with .
I must admit I am single and live with 3 dogs who fall fast asleep with the running of the machines. They also snuggle while I play on the computer.

I'm a newish quilter and used to think exactly the same way. I quickly 'outgrew' my first Janome as the lack of 'needle down' drove me nuts. When I upgraded to a new Janome, it about paid for itself with the in-built thread cutter, lol. I can set the speed with the slider (with no foot control) which makes FMQ so easy - everything is controlled by your hands.

Having bought the first one in a half-price sale, I sold it for what I paid for it. :)

At a quilt show a few months ago, I saw a Pfaff Expression 4 demo. I was impressed not only by the throat space and IDT so I didn't need a walking foot, but the fact that there was an auto pivot feature. I can set it so that as soon as I stop sewing the presser foot lifts a little - a godsend for machine appliqué which I do a lot of.

I bought one from my local dealer a few months ago and the other week when I tried to FMQ on it for the first time, it skipped stitches. It's now back at the dealer and luckily I still have my Janome, which I take to class - the Pfaff is too big and heavy.

In short - until there's a machine that has all the features you want, has a huge throat, built in dual feed, yet is still light and easy to carry, people will probably need different machines for different things.

I only started quilting a couple of years ago but had three machines by the end of the first year, a second hand Pfaff, a new one (bigger throat for FMQ) and a Janome Jem for classes. I have given the older Pfaff to my DSD after we did some sewing together and she loves it, so now I have two. That's probably how it will stay.
Annie

for a long time i had (2) machines- my big machine---viking, with embroidery unit---and a small 1956 singer---the singer i took to classes, i didn't like hauling the viking around-
and when the viking needed service i had a back-up to use...the viking (croaked!)
and thank goodness for that little (old) stand-by singer- i still am able to sew a beautiful straight stitch while shopping for a new machine.
used to have 3 or 4 brother's and a white too---for the kids, grandkids, friends to use when taking classes, working on projects---i wound up allowing each to be (adopted) by the family member who loved it the most.

I have two. One for home a Husky/Viking Diamond 850 and one I take to class or to the cabin, an 8 year old Kenmore. The Kenmore is my favorite. The Kenmore needed some work and long story short, 3 months later, I still don't have it back. (someone wasn't doing their job, then the cords got lost and the machine got damaged then they still were not taking care of it. I can't get it back till I pay for it, Im not paying for it till it is fixed right) I am thankful for the Viking. Don't know when I'll get the Kenmore back, if ever. Supposedly around the first of February. I am now considering getting another back up machine, just need to decided what and find it.

We have a bunch of machines. One serger, a Pfaff, Babylock, several Singer Featherweights, a couple of old small machines (don't know the brand), an upholstery machine, an antique tailor's machine (very small in a case), a Grasshopper, etc. etc. Love them all! Mostly use the Pfaff and Babylock sewing and embroidery. Also have a small Babylock to take to classes. It's like collecting paperweights, only they are larger!

Right now I have my Bernina,which is my main machine, a Janome I bought last year when my Bernina was being serviced, a 1952 Featherweight, I use it for paperpiecing. A beautiful redeye treadle (sits in my diningroom) and an 1865 hand crank. Plus I have given sewing machines to 3 Granddaughters and 2 machines each to 2 of my daughters.

I guess I can compare it to pots and pans, your needs change and your skills grow. I have a 11 year old janome 10000 - then when quilting became my primary interest, I bought a husky 875q - larger harp, auto thread cutting. I bought a few singer featherweights - I take one to classes. My goal is have one each for my grand daughters for when they set up their own house. I now have a singer sphinx treadle (a prepper convinced me to have one), and I love it. And then there was this cute one - well - at least I have stopped buying pots and pans!! Oh by the way, the Janome 1000 has taken up permanent residence in my dd's house. She may be on her way to become a quilter!

Why not? Most have different purposes. I have one machine in a table, one for travel, a serger, an embroidery machine, and two older machines. For years when I did garment sewing I only had one machine. I've also given away a couple of machines so I'm not totally hopeless.

I must confess I have several - a Bernina 820 (my main machine), a Juki 98 TL because of the bigger throat which I bought BEFORE my Bernina, a Babylock Serger with Air Threading, a Janome 350E embroidery only machine & I just bought Singer's 160th anniversary machine (actually bought it for my daughter but then she decided she wanted something else for Christmas so I decided to keep it for myself). I also several vintage machines including a 1946 FW, a 3/4 Singer + 4 other vintage machines( of which 2 were given to me). I may have to find new homes for 2 of them as I am running out of room. These machines are for decorative purposes only except the FW. 2 of them don't work but I really like the decals on them but alas I may have to give them up for some room.
This is my only hobby (next to golf) & I don't feel guilty at all. I just love sewing & quilting & love ALL of my machines & the modern machines get used all the time.

Sometimes it's like eating potato chips :D

I wish I had more than one machine...well I just wish I had a different machine than I have now (it's a pain in my butt). But I can only imagine different machines are used for different projects. Like one machine might be good for basic piecing or it's a good travel machine while the other machine is perfect for quilting your projects or machine applique.

Because I can....:D

I started getting multiple machines because when I went to trade in the "old one", it was cheaper to just buy the new one without the trade-in. They were having a great deal on new machines, so I kept the old one for my "workhorse". I have all Vikings, except for all my old antiques, the Singer that was my mother's from 1935, and several old machines that have been given to me. I don't often use the old ones, but all the Vikings are used for different purposes...the Diamond is exclusively set up for embroidery, the SE has the walking foot on it all the time. The Topaz 30 has the 1/4" foot on it for piecing. And the old Designer I is used for general purpose sewing.

I only have 2. A small one with multiple decorative stitches, and a larger straight stitch machine with a big throat. Sometimes tempted by others, but really these 2 are more than sufficient for my needs.

I used to be a one sewing machine only gal with a serger. I used my Viking Lily for garment sewing and started quilting on it. I decided I wanted a machine with a larger throat space, so I bought a Juki 2010Q and mainly used it. That was until last summer and fall when my DH and I went on a vintage sewing machine spree - don't ask me why, but we had great fun hunting! I've just recently started using my Featherweight and absolutely love it. It is a great machine to take to classes. I also have a Singer 99 set up in a cabinet waiting for me to try her out. Of the 40? vintage machines (crazy, huh?), I'll probably only use four - the FW, 99, 201 and a 15-91. DH is going to clean them up and we have some cabinets to refinish, so it will be a while before they are ready to use. But I can now see having several machine set up for different projects and for different purposes. The other vintage machines (hand cranks, treadles and electric) will be for display - they are just so pretty and interesting to look at. Plus I will continue to use the Viking and the Juki. They each have their own strengths.

I have 2 Brother embroidery machines, 1 small 4x4 frame, then the big one (to me) 8X11 frame, then I have the 4 Singers just sewing machines they are ones that I have bought over the years, can't seem to part with them all sew great. always need a back up or two((::)) I of the Singers is an industrial factory sewing machine that I use for heavy
sewing like jean quilts..repair of jeans..

Well like others have posted I like the older Singers that make a beautiful straight stitch for piecing. I have several machines and use them for different types of sewing. 2 Featherweights, (was given 1 with the card table from my husband's cousin), Had 2 301-A's and gave 1 to my daughter, a 99 with the dome wooden lid/cover, a treadle that is in the process of becoming "unfrozen", a Babylock Imagine serger (that I love!), Bernina 180E, 2 Necchi's that may be beyond repair-but have been wonderful machines. So I guess I have 9 at the moment and if I happened to stumble across something that needed a home and to be loved again I would probably bring it home with me. I just remembered I gave away a featherweight, 2 White treadles and set one at the curb for the trash man so I have had another 3 that could be added to the 9 - but who is counting?

I have 3. A Bernini because I wanted a good machine 12 years ago. Since then I bought a featherweight as it is small and light and easy to travel with. I have my grandmother's treadle and can't bear to part with it

Sometimes it just happens. When people comment on what my husband thinks I always say, "He understands that though he COULD do woodworking with a single power saw, having the correct tool for the job makes things easier and turn out better. He encourages me to get what I need." And, he does. But, he has a heck of a woodworking shop, too.

I only had my 1985 Sears Kenmore and a throw away Singer serger for years. I wore those out. So, I bought a sewing/embroidery combo and a new serger thinking I was set for life. I was not. I wanted to sew while that embroidery machine ran. Someone at church gave me a small, mechanical machine. I hated that thing. It was okay for small projects but nothing big. My sister now has it.

So, I went looking for another machine with a large harp. I bought a Janome 6600 which I love but it is too heavy to take anywhere.

I had always wanted a treadle machine. My DIL gave me her grandmother's. Then I started looking on line at vintage machines. I like tinkering. I wanted a FW but didn't think I would find one. So, I bought a 301 which my husband was SUPPOSED to paint red for me. He wouldn't because it was so nice. He said, "Buy another and I will pain it." I use the 301 when I go to class, retreat or want to sew in the basement by the fire.

In the mean time I found a 1936 FW and a 99K. Both were good prices. Now, my husband has a "bug" about vintage machines. So, I bought another 301 for him to tinker with and paint. I do a lot of piecing on the FW.

When my grandmother died I inherited some money and bought a HQ16 quilting machine and frame.

I also found a heck of deal on a used portable Janome - $15. My DIL had started sewing. I got it for her to use.

When my DILs are in it is very handy to have multiple machines set up and running. At Christmas, my MIL's single machine quit and my SIL showed up at my house to sew all day. Since I was sewing I needed multiple machines going. Forgot, I have my MIL's Juki upholstery machine in the basement right now.

I have 2 sewing rooms, one upstairs and one down. I have 2 machines just for quilting, one to go on my frame, which is currently & unfortunately dismantled, and the other is set up in an L-shaped arrangement in a corner of my downstairs room. I have one very basic good quality, lightweight machine, easy to transport. I use my upstairs machine for piecing and embroidery. I have a Singer treadle that I've had for over 50 years. I have a serger. And, finally, I have a spare ... an old computerized workhorse that is way too good to get rid of and would not bring enough on trade-in.

Wow !! and I thought having 5 was cool .. LOL actually 3 and a pink serger !LOL Gotta have back up, in case one goes down. I have a Pfaff ambition, 2 Brothers, a Riccar and the pink serger.

I bought a Janome in 1993. Then I needed a machine and bought a Brother at WalMart just to have something to sew with when I was away from home for a couple of months. Then, hubby bought me an Innovis-D with the embroidery module about 7 years ago. Then someone gave me an old Morse Fotomatic. Then, last year I found a 301A at a garage sale for $25. They all work and I can take the 301A to quilt retreats. The Innovis is my favorite. The Morse and the Janome are backup machines. The WM Brother is available if anyone needs a loaner or I'm going to be camping for a while.

Why does it matter?

I like to collect them I guess, my intention was to buy clean them and oil them and then sell, but I ended up keeping them all. I just bought two more an old Singer in a cabinet,another Singer Futura ll in a big cabinet just for the cabinet so I can put my Futura in it and then I will sell the other machine after I finish cleaning it and oiling. My DH is always with me when I buy them he always says yes most of the time.

Good thing I have 2 machines since my Brothers broke and is in he shop! (BooHoo) I have a pretty good Singer that I am now using.

For years I had 2 sewing machines - a serger and a mechanical with a few decorative stitches. DH bought me a wonderful Pfaff with a lot of decorative stitches and my sewing enjoyment grew fanatically. When I got heavy into quilting I realized that I needed a second machine for those quick jobs like mending and dresses for new DGD, so I bought a fairly basic and lightweight brother. I have added an embroidery machine to the mix, and bought a 1925 Singer 127. So, as of now I have 5. I will inherit my mother's Singer model 15 when she is through using it (not soon I hope), and I'd love to have a long arm (not likely to happen). I love sewing and sewing machines, but I think I would draw the line at 7 (if I were lucky enough to get the long arm).

I have a Bernina for my main machine. Then I bought a Brother's to take to classes and to use as a back up to my Bernina. A couple of years ago I was able buy a FW which is now my class and back up machine. A couple of months ago I bought an embordery machine which I love. Right now my Bernina is sick and I am debating to get it fixed or by a new machine..It is 20+ yrs old and I bought it for sewing clothes before I stated to quilt,

In a couple of weeks, after Monday, repair surgery to my right hip, I will decide if I can justify a new machine with the medical bills. I think I can so will pick up a machine that I can quilt with and is also an embrodery machine.

The break down:
Serger-to serge ;)
Juki TL98E - straight stitch piecing workhorse
17" midarm on frame - quilting
Viking - anything other than straight stitching
Featherweight - when we go bye bye

My husband one time why I needed so many sewing machines...I asked, with sincerity, why he needed so many saws. He now understands!

lol I have many machines.I just love them all.I have 2 Husqvarnas designers se and diamond.a babylock straight stitch,babylock serger,and 5 featherweights,3 singer 99's,and 2 singer 501's.I just love both kinds -newer and vintage-I admit I hoard them.to quote my 5 yr old grand son-I can not control myself.

I have 2 machines,because I couldn't part with the machine we bought when we were first married 52 yrs. ago. It still stitches like a dream. I enjoy sewing on it in the afternoons; it is in a Southeast Bedroom, and I can look out at the birds, bushes, ect,and enjoy also the Sunshine.
My Featherweight I bought 9 yrs. ago when I Retired. I love it, as it gives a great stitch, and is fun. It is in the family room, and I sew on it in the evenings when we watch tv.
The grand daughters enjoy sewing on it also.
Mariah.

I have three janome machines. Two of them embroider. Always need a back-up

I've seen many posts about people saying they have several machines. I have a sewing/embroidery combination and that's my only one. What do you do with the different machines?[/QUOTE]


I had a kenmore for 25 years then hubby thought I needed an upgrade so buys me a newer Kenmore, the I thought I needed a quilting machine so we got me a Pfaff 2048, my friend had an embroidery machine that I enjoyed so he surprised me with a Brother Innovs 900d, and in the past month the pfaff and brother quit so I hauled out the Kenny and he just purrs along, that is why I have three machines.

P.S. the first kenmore still works, my daughter is using it.

I have a big Pfaff with a big throat made for FMQ that is really heavy. I bought the cheapest mechanical Pfaff made to take to classes and sewing "crops." It is light and easy to tote around, and has the two stitches I need--straight and zig-zag. I keep the big one for quilting and the little one for piecing. I love having two good machines!

I "only" have 4 machines - one is my first machine, a Kenmore I bought when I first moved out on my own in the early 90's. For years and years that was my ONLY machine, but I didn't do much sewing (mostly just curtains and the odd hem here or there, and very rarely a small baby blanket). Then the quilting bug bit me and I decided I needed something more modern - I wanted a drop-in bobbin, needle up/down function, etc. so I bought a Brother Cs6000i. It's a good little machine, but "little" is the operative word here. After making just a couple of quilts on it I got tired of the small harp and how it always scoots away from me as I sew and decided to invest in a larger, more heavy-duty machine, and got a Janome 6600. Oh how I love my 6600!! My 4th and most recent machine is a Brother Pe770 - it's an embroidery-only machine, which is a lot of fun.

I don't want to get rid of my Kenmore because it's solid as a rock and still works after all these years - it's a great backup even though it's very simple, plus I have a sentimental attachment to it since it was my first machine. My little Brother I use as my portable machine and as a loaner when a friend needs it, and it also has a free arm (which my Janome lacks) so it's handy for certain (non-quilt) sewing projects. It's small and light so it's easy to take out and put away often. The Janome is my main machine that stays set up 24/7, and of course the embroidery-only machine is it's own thing. So....I have four sewing machines. :)

Sometimes it just happens that the sewing machines multiply. My initial machine was a "Stradivaro" - I'd never heard of the name either, then I bought a Sears Kenmore that I used for years until I literally burned out the motor - not good when you see smoke coming out of your sewing machine - maybe I really was sewing too fast. LOL. After the Kenmore I bought a Singer, but after a year or two traded it in for a Janome 4000 - I was just not pleased with it's performance with all the quilting I was doing. Then along the way I got a FREE Brother machine at the local recycling center, I bought a sewing machine in a cabinet for $25 - good deal I thought - this was before the Brother. I wound up giving this machine to my sister and when she passed away it went to her DGD. The Brother came in handy when I needed the Janome serviced. I then inherited a Sears Kenmore in a cabinet, which I eventually gave to my DDIL. I still have the Brother, then my girlfriend gave me a Sears Kenmore that she had picked up at the recycling center, and it has about the same bells and whistles as my Janome, so now I have 3 machines. Out of all the machines, I only bought three of them and the rest were "rescues". I think I'm covered now.

I think I could repeat at least once every girl's reason for having more than one sewing machine--and I do have one of every make possible, working and non-working, plus a Gammill LA on l4 foot frame. I LOVE the FWs (5, some in better shape than others); HAD to have a 301 and got 2 for the price of 1 about a year ago; a workhorse Singer 201 that does all my straight stitching work; a Special Edition Elna (the 50th anniversary edition) that is my very favorite and stays out and ready for anything I want to use it for; a HV Designer I that I am supposed to learning to do embroidery on; and a blue million others that just happened to catch my eye at yard sales and flea markets for $5 or so. I clean them up and give them to whoever mentions that they would like to have a sewing machine.....It is a good feeling in my heart to see that I am not the only one who feels this way.

I have my Bernina 1230 that I have had for about 20 years and will keep it until it decides to quit sewing (which I hope is never!)...I have my featherweight...which I got from my aunt.,..it was my grandmother's machine...I have my Brother PQ1500S for machine quilting....has the wider arm and sews fast! I also have a Bernina 180 with embroidery unit....which I bought at a great price, but never have really used it a lot...I love my 1230 so much. It does have some fun stitches that I do get it out sometimes to use them, but haven't really used the embroidery unit as I thought I might...sometimes think of selling it, and then I end up keeping it...just in case.

That is a list of my different machines and why I have them all....the only other machine that I may buy "someday" would be a smaller, lighter weight machine to take to classes. I do haul my 1230...have a case on wheels so it isn't too bad, but something lighter weight would be easier.