What is the "box feed"??

I'm getting into machine applique I need a nice blanket stitch. The deco stitches on my Pfaff aren't very pretty! And, it has the thread cutter and knee lift that I love on the 2010Q so I think it might become my piecing machine as it has a box feed that it supposed to be really good.

The fabric cupboard is full, so I had to feed the shopping demon in some other way. lol

No, seriously, one of them - the Pfaff, is supposed to be the backup machine when Quilla (my Baby Lock) goes to be serviced or to take to class. Then I recently got a HQ Sweet 16 quilting machine. I guess I am lucky that my hubby supports my habit and so does the checkbook (at times).

I have a Bernina 440 with a BRS when I wanted to start quilting my own quilts. It replaced my very nice Husqvarna, but that is now at my summer place which I use for piecing and making clothing when I'm not golfing :)
I have a serger for clothing and many times I use it to sew the backing pieces together. It creates a nice seam while triming the selvage edge elimenating the step of cutting it off as it does it while sewing the seam. Then after learning the free motion quilting with the Bernina 440 and BRS on small baby quilts and doing one large bed size quilt I realized I really like the quilting process ( and pieceing my own quilts) and felt that if I sent out the quilt out for quilting it was not "mine" anymore. So I never had anyone else quilt for me and started having tops pile up. I started investigating the LA's and finally bought one and never been happier. It is so much fun. And now I quilt for QOV. Anyway, that's is why I have four. Oh, and I did buy a blind hemmer off ebay. Don't use it much and probably should give that one up.

I have 3 machines in use at all time, due to pure laziness, one is set up for quilting, one for straight stitches in white and one in dark colors!

Great question!

My 1972 Singer Stylist...gift from parents when I was in Jr High.
Janome 9700 sew/embroid...Bought it in 2006 or 2007...i forget.
Janome Decor 3050 bought in 2007. Portable!
1953 Singer Centennial model. It was my late aunts' machine
Singer Serger 14U84 (i think). from 1986. I bought it from a friend who was cleaning our her mother's home. 2010
Janome 1100 Serger...bought in 2011
Brother Cover Stitch...bought the floor model...cheap price! Bought it in 2011

Now I want to upgrade from my 9700 to a more 'modern' machine w/USB capability....but probably won't any time soon.

Wow!

Sandy

Why so many "junk" cars!

Sandy

There are lots of reasons to have several sewing machines. Acquisitions over time, handed down from family, for different types of sewing, and my OCD - obsessive-compulsive-disorder :0/
I have the Singer featherweight (from Aunt Sandi), Gramma's Singer 66 treadle, a Wheeler&Wilson treadle, a Household treadle, an 1890's Pfaff model B handcrank. A Singer 15-91 that was a $20 garage sale purchase that didn't work, but I dismantled, cleaned it and put it back together - and it now runs perfectly.
My newer machines are a Pfaff Grandquilter on a 10 foot quilting table, Pfaff Quilt Expression 4.0, and Brother 4500 Duetta for sewing & embroidery.
And there are two other machines - I forget . . .

I have an old Pfaff that I had before the embroidery Pfaff I got. Keep it as a backup, or let a friend use it from time to time. I have an Elna Lotus that I got even before the Pfaff. It's so small and portable, I take it when I travel. I have a mint green old Singer that's a bit bigger than a featherweight I got at the quilt show because it is MINT GREEN! And it was only $50. And my son just got me a featherweight, and I don't intend to part with that either. Sometimes I just like to sew on something different, so I keep them all!
Oh yes, and a treadle that does work, but is mostly for decor.

I have a Bernina Artista 185 for sewing and assembling quilts. A bernina serger, a Bernina embroidery machine, a Brother embroidery machine, a featherweight a Bernina 220 with is lightweight and very portable and a treadle machine. I use the Artista daily, the serger and the Artista when I am making Linus quilts. I got the stand alone embroidery machine because it can be running and sewing while I am using the other machines. I got the second embroidery machine because it has a larger hoop size and all of the software for the Bernina embroidery machine also fits it along with it has a USB capacity that the Bernina machine doesn't have. I use the smaller, lighter 220 Bernina when I need to take the machine out of the room or my house. I purchased a mint condtion Featherweight at a yard sale for $20 several years ago. I only use it on occasion. I learned to sew on one as my mother owned one that she purchased in 1936. When she passed I let my neices have it since she had also taught them to sew with it and I had more than enough machines. The treadle is something else I got cheap and it mainly provides a place for my cat to nap under the window in the TV room.
I have a definate weight problem so I am not interested in clothes. I spend most of my spare time and money making Linus quilts and or bed quilts. I handquilt everything but the Linus quilts and also do some crocheting. If my only daughter every gets around to having a baby I will become a tiny clothing expert in a hurry.

You could be my twin, I love sewing machines and loved them as a child, I wasn't able to have one until I was grown & working and it wasn't until all 4 of my children were through school and on their own that I realized that owning more than one machine was legal! Even DH helps-if we spot a classic vintage machine that needs help we bring it home, clean & oil, get it working, often give it to someone who will give it a good home.
I have about 20 machines, ranging from $5 garage sale finds to TOL's. All are in working condition and all get used, my friends come over to sew for various charity projects, so much fun!

I have 2 Bernina's, 2 Brothers, 2 sergers, and my late MIL's featherweight. I am hoping to get a Brother 1500 soon. I also weave and have more than one loom!

I forgot to list my little child size Singer that I learned how to sew doll clothes on almost 38 years ago (yikes!). I still have it and it still works....I am sentimental so no parting with old treasures :)

Gee..I have to change my total up to 5 machines. I forgot I have my Mother's old Kenmore machine that is still in the cabinet. I haven't used it yet but I do use the top of the cabinet as my pressing station in my studio.

I have two.....the same ones:p
My pfaff hobby 919-1 I bought almost twenty years ago
I do everything on it, patching, quilting ( although it has a normal sized throat) , sewing curtains, canvas, jeans and leather.
I bought one that is only three years younger and less used, for reserve.
I can sew, eat and sleep with my machine so I don't want another one.
and ok, newer machines do have some nice extra's to make things easier, but hey, as long as you've never used them you can't miss them!!

A Singer bought in 1990's, a Kenmore that I love, a 301A, and a modern Brother that is my go to machine.
Am interested in acquiring more. Each seems to have its own personality and all are my friends for that reason.

I am so impressed with this thread. Interesting to know all this. I do not have any of the machines I once had. I realize now that I got rid of them due to ignorance and lack of role models. I had a Singer when I turned 15 but never had "Home Ec".I did start sewing lessons from a local store but was threatened by someone as I walked home from a lesson late in the evening. I don't know what happened to that machine. I got a Singer soon after I married and my then husband used to read the patterns to me very slowly while I sewed. Got rid of that machine probably because I
couldn't figure out and was intimidated by the tension. I then got a lower priced Kenmore and got rid of that probably for the same reason. I still have the featherweight that I bought in the 90's in AZ. I attempted to have it fitted to a treadle base I bought as a piece of furniture, that was unsuccessful. I now have a Viking Designer that was out for service for 6 months two years ago. During that time I bought a Janome Horizon. I realize that I still have large gaps in my experience with all these machines. I love the needle down feature, the knee lift (which for a long time tried to use to make the machine go), the big throat, thread cutter, table, push button instead of pedal. I do not like the fact that I cannot enlarge the alphabet and the fact that the needle threader doesn't work anymore. I wish I could go to a place and list all the things that I find very important and that I want in a machine and do without all the other stuff. I guess I am showing my ignorance.

I have a couple of Berninas and some old singers that I have come across in travels. I just love having them even if they don't all work. Sewing has brought me so much joy for over 50 years, I just consider them all good friends. I even have two treadles that I use for nightstands. Now that I live in a different part of the country, I feel the need to keep one with a daughter for those visits. I can't help this addiction. In fact, I'm proud to have such good "driving" skills.

I loved reading through this thread! I have a 1973 Kenmore which is my primary machine for piecing and quilting, a basic Brother that appears to be about 10 years old and was purchased at an estate sale and is my backup when the Kenmore decides to take a break, and a Brother combo embroidery/sewing machine that I picked up on Craig's List for no reason whatsoever. I've definitely caught the bug and look for used machines at every estate sale.

[QUOTE=sulyle;5796782]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

Darn! I just went into my sewing room and noticed I have three old machines not two. Forgot that DD just returned one that she had borrowed for the last few years.

Yep, me too. I also have a serger. I sold my other old one as I just didn't have room for it and it didn't suit my purposes any longer.

Me too. I kept my old one of 20 some years and got a new one that did more embroidery. Then while I was looking for a FW I found an old red eye at a garage sale, then I found a FW. I used the FW to take to a friends house when she needed some things hemmed and taken in, so light and easy to move. So I don't use them much, but sure is fun to go and play .

'

I have six machines, 1. is the first I bought in 1964 2. is a White Jeans machine I bought in 1993 or 1995, stored away and I need to get rid of it. 3. Is a Quilter's Star, I think by White machine, needs to be serviced, used it for several years, small throat, I thought it would be better than the others for quilting. 4. is a Juki TL98QE with 9" throat, wonderful for quilting, a great machine. 5. is a Babylock Jane with a 9" throat great for quilting , I use it for piecing and back up for the Juki. 6. is a Brand new, never used before Vandervoort machine, Singer 15 clone, made in Japan. Made for a defunct dept. store that used to be in St.Louis. It was given to a Grandson, his Mom didn't want it,I gave him 100.00 for it. I have used it for piecing, prefer the newer ma
chines.

So I use two all the time.

I have 2 emb/sewing combo machines, 2 more sewing machines, (one I take to classes etc) and a serger. I normally have both emb machines going and am serging/sewing on the others all at the same time.

Who says I can't multi task? :D

I only have one machine but I'd love to have three. One for piecing, with a permanent 1/4" measure, one for FMQ, and one for costumes/clothing. I spend a lot of time switching out presser feet, thread, etc. It would be nice to just be able to switch machines easily.

i like to have 2 at least so i have a back up. last few months been using my back up as my favorite died. time to keep my eye open for another one.

Check Craigslist. One can usually find a 60s-70s Kenmore at a good price, $20-$30. These all steel machines can't be beat. Just be sure to get one with low shank foot and a center homing needle.

I admit that it is a sickness. I have (1) Mamaw's treadle, (2) Mama's Singer bullet shuttle electric, (3) 67 blue Singer with cams-my first machine, (4) Janome 9500 sew/emb, (5) Singer 3-thread serger, (6) Kenmore free-arm, (7) brown 401a. They all have their special talents and I keep 4 ready to use at all times.

I have 2, my basic Kenmore which has a zig zag and works great but was really small to machine quilt on, and my Juki2010Q that I just got at Christmas for quilting. I use the Juki for most piecing and quilting but I can use the Kenmore when I need to zig zag, or sew clothes as it has a free arm.

In Juki's words about the F600:
Box Feed - Industrial Sewing Machine Technology
In order to provide beautiful seams and outstanding feed performance, Juki adopted box feed system. The conventional feed mechanism is oval motion. This eliminates material shrinking and shifting. The accurate feeding system provides superior stitch quality for a variety of light to heavy weight fabrics.

• Capability to sew from light to heavy weight materials
• No Fabric shrinkage even sewing on extra light weight materials
• Thick handles can be sewn with ease

From what I read by users of this machine it is similar to Pfaff's IDT. Feeds the fabric evenly and doesn't pucker up. Some say they don't need to use the walking foot attachment because of the box feed.

Well, I have 4. I still have my origonal machine that my parents bought me (used) in high school. It's a 50 yr old Viking with cams. I still use it on occaision, and keep it around as a backup and for something to teach my kids on. Then I got a new Viking in 2005 that I love it's a "Scandinavia 200" Just a few decorative stitches, but it has done everything I needed it to do for the last 8 years, and I have my Elna serger that I've had since 1996, and I just got a Babylock "Crown Jewel" that I love!

If I had it my way I would like to add an embroydery machine! And maybe one day an antique one with the origonal treadle, but if that never happens it's no big deal.

So apparently my ideal sewing machine collection would include 6 machines. LOL! And here I think I'm just so "basic" as I really only think of my "Scandinavia" and serger, but I guess the other 2 are sewing machines too huh? Though the old Viking spends most of it's days in the case unused. Perhaps it's time for more sewing lessons. But my 12 yr old DD is afraid of sewing her fingers. Hehe, gotta get her to practice lots to get over the fear.

Some were given to me, my bernina, by a dear friend that knows I sew. I just get tired of using the same machine. I have an old green sears kenmore that I just love to piece on. She is good for nothing but that. Sometimes one starts "acting up" and I put her down for a nap and grab another one. I feel I am fortunate to have choices.

I have a Bernina 820 and from Wal*Mart I have a Brother. We are leaving for FL today and I am taking the Brother. It's lightweight and easy to handle. Also, I do not want my Bernina traveling in the car for such a long period of time.

3 Pfaff sewing machine, a Pfaff serger, a Brother and a Janome.

I have 3 Janomes and a Singer overlocker (serger)

My first Janome I bought in 2001 after owning a Lamair for over 30 years. I had been doing some research because I had decided to buy a new machine. I won $500.00 from my husband, in a bet. I couldn't get to the machine shop fast enough after work. I bought it on a Friday afternoon leading into a long weekend. Fun weekend. I use this machine for going to group or workshops. It's the lightest machine.
I started Patchwork lessons in 2003 after losing my youngest daughter. Something to keep me focused. In 2007 I bought a quilting frame at a quilt show. Soon found that my machine would only quilt about 3" at a time. Tedious. I also gave up cigarettes which allowed me to save. By 2009 I had saved $2000.00 and bought a 6600 on special. By then I didn't have room to leave the frame up and it stayed in it's box. That's about to change now I have my quilting room although I read on this board just days ago that even the 6600 is really too small. I'm saving again towards a long arm.
In 2010 one of our little group passed away suddenly and I bought her MC10000 from her husband. Oh what fun I've had with this machine.
Lastly is my overlocker which I have had for about 30 years. I still use it when I'm doing charity sewing and on the odd occasion I make some clothing item for myself.
Ten years ago I would never have imagined owning more than one machine. My how quilting has changed my life.

I have four. Two are Featherweights - a Centennial model that was my grandma's, and a white one that was my mom's. I got them when they passed. One is an old Kenmore in a cabinet that was given to me when my favorite aunt's mother-in-law passed. My aunt didn't sew and didn't want to just get rid of it. Then my hubby bought me a nice Janome for Christmas about 3-4 years ago when I decided I wanted to machine quilt. I'm not really a collector - it just sorta happened. The Kenmore will be going to my aunt's granddaughter as soon as I find the time to take it to her (she lives a couple hours from me). She wants to learn how to sew and it's a good basic machine, and since it was originally her great-grandma's, it seems like the thing to do. I don't ever use it.

Ditto for me

I have 2 - a 40 yr old Singer Touch and Sew, and a Pfaff Embroidery machine I got 5 years ago. Most quilting has been done on the Pfaff. The Singer has been in the basement, and I don't go there much. Right now it's on the main floor, so I'm using it. The Pfaff is portable, so I take it for quilting bees and weekends. Also have a Baby Lock serger that I haven't used too much. I'd like to get a smaller and lighter weight portable machine like a Singer Featherweight.

I piece on one, sew apparel on another and embroider in yet another one!

My juki is like yours but model TL98Q. I love that machine, it's a work horse and so easy to quilt on!

I remember seeing my first embroidery only machine and saying "who needs an embroidery only machine, who spends that kind of money?" That was my trip into machine buying. I have sewn for a long time - 68 now, started at 10. I bought a Viking Rose when they were just one step below the 1+. Forgot my first Viking, a 6420 that I killed with use. I've had all kinds of machines in the years since. I now sew with a Janome 7700, a Juki 98Q, Juki F-600, Viking SE, and a Babylock 10 needle, and a Juki 5 needle serger. I love them all. I didn't mention my oldies but goodies, a gorgeous handcrank that was my sil (I picked it out for her husband for Christmas, she died the next year, but she loved that machine), a 301, 201 (still the most beautiful stitch I've ever seen) and 2 221's. and a Maximatic Necchi - I consider Necchi to be the most fabulous of all vintage machines. There was nothing made like them. I am slowly rehoming as I have too many machines, 6 set up right now. The 10 needle, the Janome, the 98 & serger Juki's and a 201 with walking foot attached in a lovely table.
If you have 1 machine what do you do when your main machine is embroidering. Especially in the 10 needles case as you walk away from that machine and need something to sew on.